Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29

LONDON. April 10. 1906.
Nx ~ ARK Twain probably would be
~ pretty we'll satisfied If only he
could come abroad now and see
IL the various mansions which are
being occupied by the official
representatives Of the American govern
ueut at the different capitals of Europe;
aud incidentally get a glimpse Of the style
which some of these dipiomatists are now
engaged in putting on. Probably he would
be little gratihed. too. for Mr.. Clemens
would discover that certain rather causic
advice whIch he rendered to the State De-
partment at Washington by means of a
magazine article several years ago has APP
parently been taken 20 heart and that there
IS now nothing whatever TO complain about
either regarding the way in which the vari-
Gus American ambassadors abroad are
housed or as to the capabllity OF these gen.
tlemen for keeping up In a worthy manner
the dignity of their respective positions.
The boot. IN fact. is emphaucally on the
other leg, and judging by recent occur
rences the government at home Is fully
conscious OF this and prepared 20 take
effective action in all cases where the
anxiety OF an American ambassad or-or
that of his lady-to hObnob with royalty
and generally make a big splurge In high
society seems In danger OF leading them
10 give the cold shoulder to folk OF their
own nationality, or to treat the latter's
suscepubilities with lofty indifference.
-
SO. apparently. It would not be a bad
thing for the American ambassad doris at
the courts OF Europe to take notice. II is
said TO be a fact that at no time I'm the
history OF the United states have It's for
elgn representatives generally put on so
many "frllis" as those accredited to the
European capitals are DONG at present, or
caused anything like such 4 stir by the
style OF their establishments the upulence
OF their surroundings and the brilliauce
OF their entertainments.
Needless 10 say, "a moderate amount OF
this sort of thing has become rather neces-
sary II the United States is to be ade-
quately represented abroad
But there is limit and perhaps n good
many Americans in Europe who had not
heard OF the state maintained by the Bel
lamy Storers In Vienna may have thought
X had been reached the other day. when
the Paris Figaro compared the opulence of
the present foreign representatives, OF the
United States with that OF the princely
dipiomausts or other days. such as the
Cardinal de ROhan at Rome and the IA
NOUS Due de Morny at the Russian cap!-
tall
This comment OF the FIgaro's was apro-
pcs OF the style put on in Paris by Robert
Mccormick, who was recently transferred
from Russia to France and the famous
journal might have added that In no way
has this new tradition among American
ambassadors been demonstrated more
strikngly than by what seems to amount
10 an understanding that each shall install
himself in a mansion calculated TO eclipse
all others in the capital to which he is ac-
credited.
Perhaps the most noticeable example of
this tendency is Whitelaw Reid, who in
Dorchester House. London. has as his
embassy one OF the finest. IL not the finest,
private residences In the metropolis but
Charlemagne Tewer, In Berlin. runs him
close with the Pringheim palace, equaled
in splendor by the official residence of no
other foreign ambassador to the court of
Wilhelm H. while in the cars capital
George Won L. Meyer n making a great
show In the Kleinmichael palace, which is
one OF the most splendid residences on the
fashionable Serghievskia.
The American embassy In st. Petersburg
takes It's name from famous Russian
minister whose family was ennobled by
Catherine the Great. 1t is sumptuously
furnished, and In winter IS often decorated
outside with blocks OF ice artisticalIy
carved and electrically lit the effect being
especially striking. Meantime. at Rome,