St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-01-30
Mr.. Barrett of Vermont.
He Holds Full Hands of Queens.

The Hon. John Barrett is born diplo
matist. He has distributed tact from
Argentina to Corea and from Panama to
Siberia. He combines the latin deXterity
and neatness Of speech with the flnesse
and subtlety of Cathay. Whether he is
investigating the fshskin clothing indus
try of eastern Siberia or communicating
and receiving information at the White
House, he inspires wisdom and eXhales
eiouuence. But we love him best as
model of graceful tact, of restraint and
decorum, of amene language and de-
meanor. Such the New York Chapter OF
the Daughters Of the American Revolu-
ton has just found him. A perilous, II
fascinating society, in which much OF the
spirit of the Revolution survives. Mr..
Barrett faced the Daughters bravely,
told them about the full hands OF Queens
that he had held in his diplomatic travels,
and frankly advocated woman suffrage,
perhaps under the impression that the
Daughters are a woman suffrage club.
It is possible for Mr.. Barrett to be mis-
taken, but it is impossible for him to be
other than the glass of courtesy and the
mould Of tact. Let us hurry to meet the
royal women that have met the Hon.
John Barrett. There was great sur
prise in China when the Empress grant
ed Mr.. Barrett an audience, There was
none in the United States. AS Mr.. Bar
rett says the Empress is intelligent.
Naturally she wished to increase her
intelligence. Hers was not the harden
ed face expected to see," says Mr. Bar
rett. Whatever be her habitual express
sion, her face could not but soften in the
presence of him whom the Chinese poets
call the Son of the Wind. The Empress
and Mr.. Barrett had a nice talk. Mr..
Barrett made it so.
The Queen of Siam must be several
million diameters more intelligent:
"For four years | listened to her con-
versation diplomatic for she listened to
my conversation) sitting beside her at
the table.
! Four years of John Barrett What col
lege for women can give an education
like that? Proud as Mr.. Barrettis of his
pupil, he doesn't palliate her faults;
I'm European clothes she looks like a
well fed servant girl,
There is French delicacy, an mimi
table refinement in this diplomatic
criticism. In her native costume the
lady is ambiguous and embarrassing:
In her native dress it is hard to tell
her and the King apart Women here
would not wish to wear the costume,
and it might possibly be called improper.
1t is a sort of riding astride costume
with a display of hosiery and very little
about the shoulders. That is a warm
country, and not so many clothes are
needed"
A true cosmopolite like Mr.. Barrett is
not panied by the costumes and habits
of these outlandsh folk. The next
picture on the slide is Japan:
my only regret about the Empress O
: Japan was that she wore the European
costume, which is much less becoming
than the native dress. She is much more
interesting than the Emperor, who
: though showing force of character, ha
little personal magnetism. When he ha
; finished the necessary salutations h
! appears bored and to wish you wei
away"
: 1t is curious that Mr.. Barrett, with hi
rare knowledge of the world, fails t.
make allowance for the Emperor, VIII
was not bored, but embarrassed. A fee
ing creditable to the Emperors modesty
q The Empress heard agood long talk fror
a MIR. Barrett one morning The inter
), prefer wanted to Shut it off" but "
C was bound it should be as long as til
= Empress and | wished" Of course M,
!. Barrett had his way.
- Nobody can read the Hon. Job
~ Barrett's remarks to the Daughters o
>, "The Influence of Women" without wisl
Z ing that this accomplished and wonde
.s full man were Director of the Bureau
/, Oriental Sovereigns.- New York Sun.