The Washington herald., 1908-05-03

/ ly believes In its ultimate supremacy
and is cock-sure that he Will live to see
America the mistress OF the seas, and
when Richmond takes up a belief he is
quite as dogEed in adhering to it as was
his celebrated ancestor. Elder William
Brewster. ef Mayfower fame. He Is
however, not as modest by long way
as was that worthy. for although Elder
Brewster preached and expounded, he
could never be prevailed upon to admin
lister the saoraments. Now. put Rich
mond in the same position and he would
not hesitate TO administer the sacraments
or anything else / cannot, in fact, Inn
agine a situation that hero Hobson would
not feel himself adequate 10 meet. Do
you remember the kissing episode in his
career? Why, say, Hobson took 10 that
kissing as naturally as a duck takes to
water. and the distinguished Nj. G. went
of into peals of laughter
1t it a long way from Plymouth "a
Greensboro, Ala, yet it Is authentic that
Mr.. Hobson is a tenth IN descent from
that fgmous elder, who was the shining
| light OF the struggling colony and its
main dependence in the terrible famine
during which heswas invariably resigned
and cheerful. When nothing but oysters
and CLAIMS We're set on his table" says
an old chronicle, ''he would give thanks
with his family that they were permitted
| to suck of the abundance Of the seas
and Of the treasure hidden in the
sand" But. like his descendant, Elder
Brewster was an enthusiast, and loyal
and unflinching friend, as was proven
by HIS fidelity to hts employer, William
Davidson, Queen Eilzabeth's secretary of
state. who incurred the displeaspre Of
that queen by withdrawing, according
TO her orders, the warrant for the eXecu-
ton Of Mary. Richmond Hobson, indeed.
is the stuff that heroes are made Of, and,
although he may not be so picturesque
q figure on the floor of the House as he
was IN Santiago harbor and a Spanish
prison. he may yet be of quite as much
service to his country.
Thank heaven and the American Con-
gress that diplomatic bill has finally
passed and that the future viii see some
improvement IN the administration Of this
important branch Of the public service, -
said a much-uaveled official Of the gov
ernment at dinner Of old cronies at the
Army and Navy Club last week. There
was much hihlutin talk about our diplo-
matte record, much pulling OF the eagles
tail. and screaming Of that bird in CON
sequence: a pitiful display Of ignorance.
and much sneering by some at things
they did not understand IN the debate
that preceded It's passing, but we can
forgive all that, now that there Is to
be a real reform What I have seen
among our diplomatic representatives on
the other side would not be credited by
the ehauvinists in Congress, who are
blinded by their own conceit Twenty
years ago I happened % be at one Of the
European capitals on official duty. and.
Of course, went 10 call upon the Ameri-
can Minister at that post. His lega-
ton was in an UnfashiOnabIe Quarter-On
the top floor OF a very common apart
nent house. IL was a boiling hot day.
and after climbing four fights of stairs,
I was almost ready 40 drop Repeated
rings of the bell. however. failed 20 bring
any response. and was about to retire
in disgust. when tie door was opened a
crack and head pOked out
rs Minister -- at homer I asked,
rendering my card.
Wal, what do you want Of the min
ister?" asked the man at the door. as he
held It inhospitably to me-
Then I explained my official position,
my special mission in that capital, and
gave him my name. whereupon he threw
open the door, displaying himself in
Shirtsleeves. with nothing but stockings
on his feet.
Come right in he said: come right
in rT-4orsrht r-o.- r,,7uE.f b., sl,,--
foreigners, and have to be careful how
I receive them.
I was led into a much-disordered draw
ing-room. through which I could see the
dining-roOm. in even more disorder. the
remains Of some meal still decorating the
table. The minister explained that his
wife was away and that nc aas keeping
bachelor hall and doing about as he
choose. It was a sordid. miserable place
and I made my call as short as possible
Later I heard that this man was noted
for his parsimony, and evidently trying
on his meager salary as minister TO
feather his nest for the rest of his life
II was said that he attended the funeral
Of one OF the officials of the government
in a hired cab. his wife and daughter
sitting inside, and he. the minister of the
United States, occupying a place by the
driver. Our minister at another capital
received me in his bedroom. He was
living en- garcon, il seems, and used the
chancellory OF the legation for his so
cial as we'll as his business affairs. It
was told of still another American Dip
lomat that. his feet hurting him during
the progress of state dinner, he bent
down and slipped off .his shoes. but that
when the signal was given TO retire from
the dinng-ToOm he could not find them.
and so was compelled TO follow in the
procession in his stocking feet tt IS
far cry from this democratic simplicity 10
the elegance Of the Reids. the Towers.
the Whites. and the GriscOmes. but there
is no self-respecting American, unless he
is a demagogue. posing before 2 deluded
constituency who could not prefer the
latter to the former"
young politician, who is beginning to
have more than a local reputation. had
a grewsome experience when travelling
about in "Ole Yirginy" lately with which
he has been entertaining his friends. His
business carried him to a very small and
unfreQuented town. where. delayed by
business, he missed his train and was
forced TO stay all night. The accommo-
dations offered him at the village tavern
were not very luxurious, but he was quite
tired out and his head had hardly touched
the straw pillow before he fell asleep
About midnight he was awakened by a
bright light shining in his eyes, and start
ed op suddenly IN bed to see lamp on
a table in the middle of the room. before
which sat a huge, black negro, his arms
folded and his great eyes bulging out Of
his head. A look of the most terrible
horror overspread his face, when Mr.. Y
quite as frightened. he admits, as the
darky was, demanded. IN a fierce voice.
What in the devil are you doing in my
room?" and ne jumped from his chair
and darted from the chamber. With his
Mr. \ laid down again
and composed himself for sleep In a