The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-01-30
EVEN DIPLOMATS
MAKE BREAKS


! made by some diplomats during their
first winters in Washington. or course.
such mistakes are made in pure igno-
| rance of the English language and the
social customs obtaining here. But
woe to the unwary diplomat who seeks
advice of a mschievous Washington
| maid, for she is likely to lead him
astray simply for the JOY Of the sport.
Some time ago an attache OF the Ital-
| ian embassy, who had arrived In the
city when the season was in full sWln
was invited to a superb private be-
given by the wife of a prominent sena-
, tor. He accepted, and at the dance he
met charming girl who spoke very
good Italian. which added greatly TO
his enjoyment.
At supper he confided to this girl
that as he spoke very little English he
was worried as to what he should say
to his hostess, in Acknowledgements of
her courtesy. in leaving. The girl
promptly replied that she would give
him the best phrase IN use for saying
adieux to his hostess, and then she
coached him until he was letter per-
feet.
AS the guests were departing the
attache approached his hostess. Click
ing his heels together and making
most elaborate bow, he declared in i'm
pressive tones:
"Adieu. madame. l hat had a built
golli time"
The hostess was unable to control
her laughter as she acknowledged his
salute.
An attache of the French embassy,
who found the English language a pro-
found puzzle, was speaking of state
ly Washington society leader. He
wished to express his admiration for
her.
"Ah," he said. Struggling his shout
ders. "She Is grand woman. so well
deviled up"
An incensed listener, who was a
friend of the woman In question, in
dignantly demanded what he was
talking about, and found that the
F'renchman had meant to compliment
her figure by saying she was well de-
velopedl
One OF the Chinese ministers on his
arrival here received an invitation to
very large and important dinner
given by a government official He
carefully read the formally engraved
card and then wrote on it's back, "Aii
right" put it In the envelope and re-
turned II to the sender.
4 dehutante last winter went to a
large dinner at which many foreigners
were present. A South American at
tache took her out to dinner and every
thing went well until the dessert was
served.
BY that time the debutante's small
talk was exhausted, as she had had
to chat more than her fair share to
keep the ball rolling. She noticed that
the attache did not eat his ice and to
make conversation she asked idly:
Don't you care for ice creamr'
NO" he answered simply, ut always
gif me pain in my 'front.'
r. -
An attache Of the German embassy
was very devoted to Washington
girl who took keen delight in teasing
him. One afternoon they were paying
visits together. and about 5 o'clock
they took a Connecticut avenue car
to return uptown.
they both had to stand. The girl saw
sweet faced woman seated in one
corner, and she leaned over and said
to her:
Madam, my brother" pointing to the
attache. who was over six feet and
broad In proportion, has just recov-
cred from a serious illness, and he Is
very weak. Will you kindly give him
your Seat?"
The kindly hearted woman instantly
rose and offered the astounded and
much embarrassed German her seat.
The attache, who spoke very broken
English tried vainly to explain. while
the other passengers. catching on to
the situation, laughed heartily, which
added to his discontinue. He finally
boted out OF the car, exclaiming We
hemently that they were all quite mad.
The extreme frankness of q foreigner
when asked a direct question is some
times a trifle appalling to the Anglo
Saxon. The wife of a distinguished
scientist gave a dinner some winters
ago which included with her American
guests several newly arrived diplomats.
During dinner the hostess noticed
that Mon. x kept reaching under the
table in a manner that suggested the
loss of his napkin. Finally, after he
had executed this maneuver several
times, she turned to him and asked:
Pray what Is the matter. monsieur?'
He Strengthened himself up suddenly,
and gravely replied:
Il think 1t Is a fiea!"
And for the next few seconds gravity
was at discount at that table,