The Washington herald., 1909-04-16


all wealthy women. she has an eye u
the pennies. The other day rather i'm
posing equipage drew up before the door
and a distinguish bed-looking man alight-
ed therefrom and asked 10 be shown
through the house. There was no one at
home save the young son OF the fam
ily. who did the hon0rs in great style.
thinking that he was playing cicerone to
a possible tenant.
You see ne said. expatiating on the
magnihcence Of his abode. this furniture
is very rare and interesting. and has
been collected by my parents from all
over the world. That piece, for instance.
came from an Italian palace. this from
an old chateau IN the south Of France.
and that once graced the han OF a Span
ish grandee; these embroideries were
made 20 order IA Japan, that picture, as
you probably have noted, is a genuine
C0rot, and you see what handsome books
are in the bookcases. All OF these things
We VIII leave IN the house. taking IL for
granted that our tenant viii be pains
taking and careful BY the way asked
the young man finally. TO whom have I
the honor Of speaking? I don't think I
caught your name
7 am the assessor Of taxes" said the
visitor grimly, an announcement that
was a bomb 10 the young gentleman, but
IL was up 10 him 10 make good. and
he did so In the most approved style.
Taking his guest into the dining-rcOm. he
set a bottle OF Scotch and a sipllOn be-
fore him and then explained
you see all have said 20 you is just
simply a big bluf that ! give 10 every
49,
a matter Of fact the things have shown
YOU are not worth a continental: they
were all bought at auction. and while the
contents Of this room look very hand
sCne. the furniture cost only a bagatelle-
Now. ! suppose YOU VIII appraise this al
several thousand dollars. and. as a mat
ter OF fact. it is only worth several hun
dred." But the blun did not serve his
purpose. and because OF that eloquent
tongue OF his. the mother OF the young
man has 20 pay about FIVE times the
amount OF taxes that she has ever paid
before.
Ralph Paget. the eldest son Of Mrs.
Paget. the daughter Of the late Mrs. Pa
ran Stevens. who has recently returned
10 her home in England after an extend
ed visit IN this country. has been trans
ferred from Bangkok. where he has
served for the last i've years. 10 Munich.
a change that VIII be very much 20 his
liking. for. although Europeans have
everything very much their own way in
the siamese capital. there are many
drawbacks that make life there almost
intolerable at times.
The foreign Office. however In making
these appointments does not take this
into consideration. for the British inter
ests IN the East ars SO great and exten-
siVe that they send their best timber
there. and so 70 IS considered a cOmph-
ment for any diplomatist 20 hold a port
folio Ia the Orient. 20 even such a seem
ingly unimpOrtant post as the Siam cap
itaL Ralph Paget was attached 20 the
embassy here for a year IN the early
COS, and is pleasantly remembered. for
he IS a charming fellow. albeit he shows
no sign Of the American strain in his
blood.
Among the latest arrivals In town IS
William F. Sands. secretary Of the Amer
lean Embassy in Mexico 70 which post
he was promoted about a year ago. Mr..
Sands Is q son Of Rear Admiral Sands.
retired, and has been connected with the
diplomatic service ever since 1885. when
he was appointed secretary OF the lega-
tion at Seoul Subsequently he served at
Pancma and Guatemala. When the merry
war began last spring between the Cen
trai American republics and Mexico Mr.
Sands. who made a fine record for hir--
self in Guatemala, WAS transferred from
that post 90 Mexico, which was a well
deserved promotion His next appoint
msEt viii doubtless be as minister 20
some small country in South America
or Europe. but wherever he is stationed
he viii render acceptable service. for he
is a trained and disciplined diplomatist.
who has the welfare and the honor OF his
country closely az heart.
Mr.. Sands father, Rear Admiral Sands
was retired in July 1907 with a credit
able record. He was born in Washing
ton nearly siNty-five years ago. entered
the navy in 1859. and In less than ten
years after had reached the grade OF
lieutenant commander. which rank men
Of to-day are proud to attain after twenty
years service but his advancement took
place in the time Of real war and was
in recognition Of gallant service Ad-
miral Sands IS a brother-in-Iaw OF the
having been born Miss Sands.
The recc-t presence OF Jewel HAY. who
played with Jack Mason in ''The Witch
ing Hour" brings &c mind her father.
VINO was one Of the most popular men
who ever lived in Washington. Self
made ne was. having begun his career
as a purveyor Of newspapers, from which
profession he was promoted 70 be a pro
fessor Of penmanship. and was for years
one of the leading handwriting experts
IN the country having figured in nearly
all Of the notable trials IN which the
question Of handwriting was brought up.
Mr.. Hay. or Ned Hay. as he was al
ways called. finished his career as a law
ser and was widely known as an elo-
Quent pleader; but above everything else
he was noted for his never failing bon
homie and his ability to meet every
emergency, for he was always called
upon 10 straightan matters out when ev-
erybody else failed. He had a frank.
open face, clear. honest blue eyes, the
reddest OF cheeks. and a handclasp which
assured every one Of his sincerity. which
was in no small measure responsible for
his popularity.
In the early days OF Lord Pauncefotes
administration he happened 10 be calling
one day al the British Embassy when
Lady PauncefOte had been deserted by
her daughters and left quite alone 70
meet score OF unexpected callers.
She was in a terrible dilemma and
really confused when Mr.. Hay appeared
upon the scene, who. realizing her en-
barrassment appointed himself master OF
ceremonies and stood beside her the rest
Of the afternoon Introducing people 10
her and passing them on 20 the tea
table with as much aplomb and noncha-
lance as If he had been brought up to
engineer such affairs. Lady Pauncefote