The National tribune., 1907-07-25

is strongly of the opinion that jingo-
ism in cold type serves no good purpose
in the cause of International amity and
comfortable neighborly relations be-
tween sovereign Governments. An un-
healthy. feverish public opinion is thus
engendered which. while accountable
and responsible to no one directly and
Immediately, occasions or may occasion
misconceptions which tend to influence
the dealings of Government officials.
It is the belief of this rejecting and
in the best sense of the term strong
minded woman that the proper thing
for the public in general to do when
questions of great moment arise is to
rely upon the good intentions and the
superior knowledge of those who by
their votes have made public servants.
She deprecates the spirit of carpins
criticism toward the administrators OF
the peoples affairs, which just at pres
ent seems to be especially rife.
This practice, in her opinion, sub
serves no real good, but is capable OF
infinite harm. The evil is heightened
she is inclined to think, when the OBJ
jectS of this criticism, thru Over-sensi'
tiveness. retort in kind. Her experience
with all the Washington Administers
tions from the time of the civil war, she
declares. confirms her in the belief she
has always entertained, that there never
has been an occupant of the White
House who had not profoundly at hear
what he considered to be the true and
lasting interests of the American peo-
pie.
Sincere regret is felt over the depar-
ture of the Chinese Minister and his
family, with no prospect of return
among the diplomats, and among the
former classmates of the Minister al
Amherst. Not only is his departure a
matter of regret. but he has been abb
sent from the entertainments of the
past season, because of the death of his
mother in China, which threw him into
a period of mourning for three years
AS tho this were not enough retirement
for the proper respect of those near
and dear, the mourning etiquette of
China requires that any official who
goes into mourning resign his position
at once.
An exception was made in the case of
Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng, and the
Emperor informed him that he would
not be required to resign his diplo-
matte post, but would be allowed to
remain as long as it was feasible. His
transfer now means promotion The
Minister'S two sons, Arlee and Arlu,
both students now at Amherst and his
daughter. Mia May Li2ng, made scores
of friends. She was quite the most pic
turesque little person Washington has
known since the days of the Korean le-
the last Korean Minister, and the last
year OF quaint little Madame WI Ting
fang, who was a familiar figure on the
uptown streets in her drives and walks,
which she loved extravagantly.
Probably none of the little Oriental
women who have ever come to Wash
ington in the Diplomatic Corps ever
Fenjoyed the freedom and the fascination
of the life here than Madame WI. She
was an indefatigable caller, and scarcely
had a call been made upon her, than
she appeared at the home of that caller,
sometimes with her liege lord, some
times without, to return the visit
Miss LANG has something of the same
taste, as to being fond of the freedom
to be met with here, as compared to
that in her own country, but she is not
much of a visitor, and is far more retir-
ing in her nature than Nine. Wu. Miss
LANG has made visits only where she
or her father are very well known. She
is an extremely interesting young wo-
man, but felt keenly her inability to
speak our language, and so kept more
to herself and with her legation friends
than she would otherwise have done.
The question as to why the National
salute consisted of II guns was put to
one of the classes at Washington pre-
pairing young men LOT the entrance eX-
aminations for West Point and Annap-
oils, and. strange to say, not one of the
embryonic Generals or Admirals "hit
the nail on the head"
The coach" who knows American
history away down underneath, furnish
ed the information that the National
salute, which is the International salute
that is. the salute given to the Ma
tional fag-is fixed by Army Regula-
tons at u guns. and that the number
appears to have been in conformity to
the custom OF foreign nations at the
time when the number was so fixed.
The first record of National salute
is in Army Regulations of 1912, which
was in conformity to the numbe of
States comprising the Union, then Is,
but in 1918 new regulation WIS made
fixing the number at u, which was
at that date the number of States in
the Union. and which was at the same
time in accordance with the Kings reg
ulationS (Gfeat Brittany, which fixed q
guns to be fired as a salute on the an
niYersary days Of the birth, accession.
and coronation of the King, the birth of
the Queen, the restoration of Charles
III, and the Gunpowder Treason.
At that date the National salute in
France was also fixed at q guns, to be
fired only On Corpus Christi Day and
on the Kings birthday.
1t is proper to remark, however, that
the National salute of 2l guns at the
present time appears to be peculiar to
the United States and Great Britain, in
asmuch as the National salute of France
is 101 guns; of Germany 33 guns, and
that the superlatiye salute in the United
States Is that on the Fourth Of July of
one gun for each State in the Union, and
it is called the salute to the Union.
THE curious ideas that some persons
have regarding the Government service
and the obligations it entails upon those
who may choose to enter it," remarks
an official, was well illustrated in the
instance occurring the other day when
a letter carrier sought to be relieved
from the wearing of a necktie upon the
ground that the wearing of a neckti5
interfered with the tenets of the re-
ligious order of which he was a MEM
Der.
ITO the casual thinker at first blush
this sounds deservedly amusing, but
upon second thought, and especially
from the standpoint of Government
official who is held responsible for the
proper performance of the Governments
business, it is far from being funny of
ficially. The rules and regulations OF
the Department require that. while in
the Summer time carrier may dispense
with his coat, he must, in this event
wear neat belt, turn-down collar
and dark cravat. This particular car
rier accepted the belt and collar but
balked at the necktie, and cited in his
Il