The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27
New Ambassador from Mexico
Enrique c. Creel Richest Member of Diplomatic Corps

The new Ambassador from Mexico. En-
rique c Creel, who is daily expected in
Washington. Will be the richest member
of the Diplomatic Corps. indeed the
wealth Of all the members OF this dis
tlnguished body combined-and some Of
them have considerable fortunes-would
hardly equal the fabulous resources Of
this modern Count Of Monte Cristo, VINO
IS not only one of the richest. but one Of
the most powerful, men in the romantic
country which he comes 20 represent at
this Capital. He owns cities and coun-
ties, railroads and steamship lines. tele-
graph and telephone systems. and has
shown, since he began life when a poor
boy as a provincial school teacher on a
starvation salary, the characteristics Of
his Yankee fOrebears-fOr his father was
an American-in his power Of accomplish
ment and acquisition. and in his attitude
toward his dependents his generosity and
magnthCcnCe, the bearing Of a Spanish
grandee, than whom there Is no more i'm
posing person. He has been called the
new Ambassador, the Cortez Of ,he TWEEN
tieth century, because he has gained all,
perhaps more. that he sought for. but,
except I'm courage and bravery and
splendid audacity. ne little resembles that
Spanish freebooter who inhumanely ex-
plotted the country he invaded for his
own and his country's benefit. while MT
CreePs one aim and ambition is to ele-
vate the people Of the land where his
great fortune was made.
Much az Eic gua4Ttr hoe Eoa, viii
be devoted to this purpose, and he is
looked upon by the people Of Chihuahua,
of which province he has long been "A resi-
dent. and for three years It's governor
succeeding his father-in-law. Gen. Terrazas
AS their friend and father And well
they may regard him with reverence and
gratitude. for under his regime the de-
cayed old capital which previously had
nothing to recommend it but its magnifi-
cent cathedral. mas taken on quite a mod
ern aspect; many reforms and improve
ments have been instituted, and the good
work is still going on. Mr.. Creers chief
effort has been toward the establishment
of public schools and under his influ-
ence the free school system of Mexico
has been completely changed, much i'm
proved, and greatly extended.
The new Mexican Ambassador is said
20 be "a generous entertainer and a grace
full host. Il is not to be doubted that under
his regime the Mexican Embassy will
again attain the prestige it enjoyed under
the Romeros. when 1t was a social cen
ter The embassy To which Mr.. Creel
comes Is owned by his government. and
when il was bui3t. twenty years OF so ago.
was counted one Of the haudsomest resi-
dences in town. but many finer houses
have been put up since then, and il no
longer enjoys that reputation. il is. how
ever. a spacious house. with large and
well-shaped rooms. furnished in the fash
ion of two decades back. Ambassador
Creel viii. in all probability, do as the
Herberts did when they came 10 the som
Der old British Embassy, with its dark
and heavy furnishings, entirely redeco-
rate and refurnish it. and make il the
smartest diplomatic residence at the Cap
ital.
The son of "a Persian consul general at
one Of the French ports. more French
than Persian, by the way. since he was
born and brought up in the former coun-
try, who visited Washington a year or
TWO ago, had many interesting stories 10
tell OF the late shah. This potentate. il
viii be remembered. made "a triumphant
tour through Europe at the time Of one
Of the expeditions there. when he was a
most conspicuous and unique figure. much
photographed and much exploited. He re-
ma fHHF
whose destinations he was entrJnced. and
during his stay there maintained "a gor-
geous establishment INDUCING in all the
designations of that dizzy capital
one OF the tales the young Persian told
was that before leaving his capital the
shah had designated the f8vorites he
wished 20 go with him. and they. proper
ly Yelled and screened from the public
eye, were packed in with the others of
his suite, but, through the oversight Of
one of his stan. specially beautiful and
enticlng OdaisqUe, one near and dear 10
his royal breast was left behind Her alb
Sence was not discovered until the roval
traveller was already on the ocean and
then there was a great ado in the quar-
tiers reserved for the harem 1t was fatal
TO tell the master, but il was inevitable
that he should find out that one who
frequently diverted him, even as Sche-
herazade diverted the historical Shahriah.
was missing. and when this knowledge
came TO him the royal chamberlain re-
ceived wigging from the p0teutate he
served that me will never forget either in
this world or the next. There was, Of
course, nothing 90 be done until the shin
reached her destination, but no time was
lost on her arrival in cabling back 10 Te-
rrt.r--
doubtless Wept her Eazelle-like eyes out
over the painful thought that she had
been pUrD0sely left behind. and as soon
as possible she was. with her attendants
and In suitable state, dispatched to her
impatient husband. If the lord of a harem
is entitled 10 that designation There was.
doubtless, a rapturous meeting on her ar
rival at the hotel Of her master. but of
that the conSuIs son knew nothing. as
the ship had already left the port on her
arrival and she was sent on to him in
Paris.
Another story which this genial youth
told. apropoS Of the Shah's visit. was
that when he came 10 breakfast en- fauiIIe
at the home of the consGl general ba-
nanas were served as IL first course The
august guest, never having seen a banana
before. ate the fruit. peel and all. which
made it obligatory upon the host. his wife.
and children. of whom there were eight.
TO follow his example, but, said the mar
rator, evidently corrupted by French re-
publicanism, shah or no Shah. I would
not eat banana skin, so. when no one
was looking. I threw my peeling under my
chair
This brings to mind a story told by
former Minister to Washington on a noted
British general, either Baden-PoweU or
Roberts, who, when on a visit to Con
stantinople. was entertained by one of
the local maguatcs In Turkey thor ie