Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23

list of the subjects in which they are
questioned:
Modern languages-French. German or
Spanish.
Natural. industrial and commercial re-
sources and commerce of the United
States.
International maritime and commercial
law.
American history, government and In
stitutions.
Political and commercial geography.
| Political economy.
Modern history (since 1850 of Europe,
South America and the far east.
| Arithmetic.
An oral examination is also held at the
Department of State under the direction
| of two other members of the board-Mr.
| Carr and the third assistant secretary OF
state. This Is conducted to determine
the character. disposition. address. man.
ners, health. personal appearance, readi-
ness. Judgment. discretion. resource full
ness. accurateness of information. expe-
rience and business capacity of the can
| didates.
Foreign Language Essential.
| Language is now an absolute essential
| to entrance into the service Unless a
man has mastered at least one modern
| foreign tongue he cannot even take the
examination. While a candidate Is TAX
ing the oral examination. Mr.. Milford
Stevens. chief translator Of the Depart
ment of State, is very apt to be called in
to discourse with him in the languages
which he claims to have mastered. Recent.
ly a candidate claiming ability to speak six
foreign tongues, including modern Greek,
proved his ability to Mr.. Stevens, who be-
sides having command of all european
tongues. including Russian, speaks
Chinese and understand Arabic ONLY
a third of the candidates pass this rigid
examination; OF the fifty-four designat-
nine reported. and of these only thirteen
passed Those who are successful re-
ceive notice in three or four weeks and
| their appointments are then made at ir-
regular intervals. depending upon vacaYl-
! cles. They are not consulted as to lie
posts to which they are to be assigned
and the successful candidate who has had
his heart set upon some picturesque city
of Europe. may find himself accredited to
some distant island in the south seas or
lonely spoy on the African coast. But,
of course. he is sent to a country using
one OF the languages in which he has
qualified Yet, proficiency in French is
as liable to result in his being sent to one
of the lonely French colonies as to France
itself.
Naturalized Americans are no longer to
be accredited as consuls to their native
countries This is another of Secretary
will our interests be guarded by any one
whose loyalty will not be entirely with
the United States. come what come may.
Good Travel Money and Pay.
Upon receiving appointments to thei,
posts the successful competitors are or.
dered at once to the new consular school
and receive travelling expenses at the rate
Of cents mile for the trip to Washing.
ton. Their four weeks at the school being
completed. they receive their first months
salary and are then allowed mileage al
the same rate to their posts. From New
York to Liverpool this travel allowance
amounts to about $175 which for one
person is considerably in excess of or.
binary steamship fare. bat it would not
cover the expenses of a wife, family OF
children and the usual household furniture
taken abroad by a married consul A
graduate Of the school now about to sci
) out for Tasmania will receive about SeO(