The Washington herald., 1909-03-29
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Br IL sPECTATOR.


Corbin. Of this city That Mr. Leishman
viii make an acceptable representative
In Rome IS on the cards. for he brings
TO his new post twelve years experience
In the diplomatic service. the latter FIVE
years Of which have been passed IN Con
stantinople where he has won the ad
miration Of his colleagues IN the diplo-
matte corps by the mastery way IN
which he has handled American interests
IN the Padishah's kingdom
As Ambassador to Spain, the President
could not have found better timber than
Henry Clay Ide. who is one OF the sound
est men IN public life to-day He comes
from the Green Mountain State. was a
graduate OF Dartmouth College. a mem
Der Of the State senate for awhile, then
commissioner OF Samoa, chief justice IN
der the joint appointment OF England.
Germany, and the United States IN that
island. and member Of the Taft com
mission TO establish civil government in
the Philippine Islands. His service as
commissioner, vice governor. acting gov
ernor and governor IN our Asiatlc pos
sessions extends over six years and the
experience gained among the Spanish
speaking people eminently fts him FOR
the post az Madrid. though one OF the
older members OF the diplomatic corps
criticises the appointment because he be-
iieves that, owing 10 the youth OF the
King. younger man should have the
berth
Mr. Ioe Is sixty years young. BY the
way, and his tastes. point Of view, ana OBJ
fcrT in "a IA r4r, 70,
OF the Spanish monarch. should he be
sent 70 his court This point Is good
one. for. after all. the Office OF anbassa-
dor exists for the sole purpose OF estab-
fishing and maintaining friendly relations
with the people % whom he is accredited.
and everything that conduces 10 that
should be taken into consideration. Il is
for this very reason that the late Sir
Michael Herbert. who had been an inti-
mate OF Roosevelt when he was Civil
Service Commissioner, and the late Ger
man Ambassador. also q member OF the
inner circle OF which Roosevelt was the
shining light az that period was accred-
tied 70 this government. The influence
that Stcrnburg eXerted cannot be gain
said. for Il must De admitted that the pop
ularity Germany enjoys IN this country
IS due In no small degree 20 the talented
hls point Of view that the Berliners were
constantly making jokes AZ his expense.
Had Sir Michael lived. he would probably
have exerted equal influence. for II IS the
ENJOYS who have the capacity TO get IN
closest touch with the ruling powers who
are the most successful diplomats
Those who remember a quarter Of a
century back. when the National Hotel
was the fashionable hostelry in wash
ington. the home Of Speaker Cannon.
Senator Ferry, Senator Chandler. and
other political luninarles. VIII recall a
picturesque little boy. with long blond
curls hanging down HIS back. luminous
blue eyes. and a delicate face. who was
dressed in white blOuses and kits. with
flowing red ties He was his mothers
darling. and she garbed him IN the ex-
treme % the fashion Of that day. but
those white kits and his long blond
cUrlE and the altogether feminine way
IN which he VAS brought up were the
betes DOire OF the existence OF Charley
Sheriff.. who has Just been appointed
American Minister 10 Argentina His
training. indeed. was so effeminate that
those who knew. him best predicted he
would grow 70 be q mollyceddle. but he
has not verified their predictions. On
the contrary, ne is an earnest. clever. and
talented man. When al Harvard he was
the leader OF his class. and since he be-
gan the practice OF his profession IN New
York has been more successful than most
men who start out under similar circum-
stances.
Charles Sherriu's father was a lobbyist
when lobbyists counted IN legislation.
He left a goOdly fortune 70 his two chill
dren. Miss Jane Sheriff.. who lives IN
Washington. and 70 his son Charles. both
Of whom have made excellent use Of their
wealth. Strangely enough. Jane, OF zen
ME" Sheriff., as her old friends call
her. has never married for she is most
attractive, bright. clever. and responsive
but she IS seemingly content with her
spinsterhOod, and finds life very much
worth the living in single blessedness-
/ ApropOs OF the stealing by Japan Of the
aerial torpedo invented by Col Babbitt
newspaper men who have been detailed In
the Orient recite similar experiences A
weu-known var correspondent. during the
| ChinO-Japanese war. had a small XII
! that was SO convenient and complete in
every detail. so light IN weight. and SC
practical that a japanese officer begged
20 borrow IL. Always gracious, the cor
! respondent promptly sent the kit 20 the
friend who had asked for il. but II was
not returned - promptly as he expected
and. as Il was the only one he was
possessed of, he was compelled 70 send
and ask for #. The officer very politely
replied that he was extremely sorry. but
/ he had allowed some Of his companions
/ 10 look al it, and they had not returned
I T.. He would, however, have Il sent forth
with. Days passed and weeks passed be-
! fore the correspondent finally came into
/ his own again. one morning, however
/ the kit was returned BY q polite J2paness
messenger. who, OF course. knew nothing
about it's joUrneyings from the time ths
correspondent had loaned Il 20 his friend
until its return. but IN few days thC
mystery OF its retention was fully eX
planned Out IN the field the correspond
ent saw kits that were the exact repro
duction OF his own. His kit had beer
patented and he Immediately called upoT
/ his friend for an explanation. The frienC
/ referred him 20 the war Office. the wa
| once referred him 10 some one else. sons
one else referred him to some one else
and Il was weeks before he obtained al
interview With any responsible person
but that responsible person knew nothing
Of the theft He could not understsn,
anything that the correspondent said. TIT
/ interpreter failed 10 make HIS remarks
lucid. and the poor. betrayed man neve
/ received any satisfaction, nor the IN
I ventoT any reimbursement for his patent
unless the pride OF knowing that tn
/ Japanese army IS using the kit he pat
ented IS a reimbursement
Apathetic Citizens.
From the New York Commercial
All our reform" clubs and leagues ant
I A..-...-- - .s--s. 1,o+@,--,arf boSfos -