Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-03
ORDER OF SENIORITY
Chefs of the Foreign Embassies
and Legations.
Is CAREFULLY MAINTAINED
Observance of Precedence of Rank and
Station in the Corps.
1T CANNOT BE DISREGARDED
Condition Evidenced by Exposition
Culinaire" Given for Benefit of
California Sufferers.

Inc order of official seniority among the
che1S OF the embassies and legations of
Washington is being maintained with all
the scrupulous care that marks the observ-
dhce OF precedence of rank and station in
the diplomatic corps. The system is said
to be in such force and vigor that mona
can disregard it's cardinal principles with
out mourning a punishment swift and sure
Moreover, ii Is asserted that the rules of
the code, though belonging to the category
OF unwritten laws, are infiexible and UNI
varying, not admitting of the slightest sus-
pension. This condition of affairs, it Is as
serted was brought out in bold relief by
the Exposition Culinaire," given Monday
afternoon at Rauscher's for the benefit of
the San Francisco sufferers In fact, 1t is
declared that the operation of the system
very materially interfered with an In
genious and benevolent scheme involving
considerable expenditure of labor and the
exercise of the highest culinary art
Brought Sorrow to His Heart.
The affair which gave point to the alleged
code, and incidentally brought sorrow to.
the heart of Mr.. Joseph o. kordina chef
of the Austrian embassy, happened in this
way: Mr.. Kordina conceived the promising
scheme of bringing together several of the
good people of Washington, especially the
society danes who are connoisSeurS of the
finished products of the cooking art. TO
survey a beautiful exhibit of rare and
choice evidences of culinary workmanship
ali Tor the benefit of those who suffered in
the California disaster His enthusiastic
belief that browning success was in store
Tor the plan If properly carried out was
heightened when Madame HengelmulIer
wlIe OF the Austrian ambassador consented
to be patroness of the exposition. All was
We'll up to that point Mr.. Kordina il
seems, however, had not given full account
to the significance of the fact that the time
of his service as a chef of an embassy In
the capital city only dates back about six
months, whereas m@ny other functionaries
charged with the all important duty of
experimenting the preparation of food for
foreign representatives to this country have
been at their posts here for much longer
period. This is true, 1t Is said, notably in
the case Of the chef of the French embassy,
who has been In Washington in that ca
pacity for twelve years or more.
Nothing Portentious of Mishap.
But Mr.. Kordina, it may be stated, zeal
Gus for. the contamination of his own idea,
saw nothing portentous of mishap in these
circumstances. With his eyes fixed upon the
end to be attained he earnestly solicited the
assistance of his fellow-members in the
corps of chefs connected with the diplo-
matte circle. The responses he received 1t
appears, only served to intensity his dis
appointment, when at last he found himself
almost entirely unsupported by his kindred
craftsmen. Only one came to his aid-Mr.
Edwin Welz. chef of the British embassy.
Mr.. Kordina was made to feel in no I'M
certain way the dispieasure of his seniors
In the diplomatic school of cookery. He was
distressed and cast down, but not in despair.
The treatment he had received, while it
aroused his Indignation, stirred him to fur
Their efforts to achieve at least a measure
of success. To a reporter for The Star the
Austrian chef declared that the idea of
holding the exposition being his own, he
saw no reason for placing the leadership in
the matter in the hands of any one else He
asserted that he had been promised support
by his fellows in the profession and said
that he felt aggrieved at the manner in
which he had been served.
Rule of Precedence.
But however much the enforcement of
the rule of precedence may have hindered
Mr. Kordina in his plans for the elabora-
ton of every feature of the exhibit, 1t is
certain that he disappointed no one of those
present in the beauty and rare artistic art
displayed in the choice creations which
adorned many tables reaching from one
end to the other of the large dining hall.
The sight was quite worthy of the BAN
quet board of kings. Good to eat, no doubt
were those projections of the caterers skill