The Washington herald., 1909-03-09
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By TIE SPECTATOR.

Is one or the best-trained diplOmatiSts OF
ms age in the service. which IS not 10 be
wondered at. since he has devoted his
Whoie life to the study and practice or
diplomacy. a short life. 70 be sure. for
ne Is now barely thirty-five years old. but
ne entered the service when he was twen-
y-tour years old as second secretary OF
legation at Tokyo; later ne was promoted
70 the secretaryship. and. in the absence
OF the minister. acted as charge d'af-
Iaires al various times. When the Iega-
uon was raised to an embassy ne was
promoted 10 the grade Of secretary OF
embassy Mr.. Wilson remained IN Japan
however only month after this change.
as ne was at that time appointed Third
Assistant Secretary OF state, an ofIce ne
ereoitaoly hlled until ne was accredited as
minister to the Argentine Republic,
whence he now returns 10 his former or
nee with higher rank.
MI Wilson was graduated from Yale
Win lhe class OF 81. and during his college
course. as well as since. he has been much
interested IN archaeology. and is a mem
Der OF The Archaeological Institute and
OF tne National Geographic Society. Some
hEe years ago he married Miss WORKMAN.
OF 81. Louis. Mo. who has presided over
tne American Legation at Buenos. .Ayres
since ner husband took up his residence
1nere- In manner Mr.. Wilson is agree
e-ole, responsive. most courteous, and he
mas 50 ingratiated himself with the peo-
pie OF the Argentine capital that the news
- ms recall Will be received there with
great regret
Mr.; Wilson belongs TO the new school
OF diplomacy, and apropos OF this too
much cannot be said in praise of the
Improvement In our diplomatic service
IN the past twenty years. which is due
70 this new school: due 10 the fact that
lhe recently appointed American repre-
sentatives abroad have been men OF ex-
perlence, education. and especial training
and that President Roosevelt and his i'm
mediate predecessors practically in
Toduced civil service in our foreign af-
fairs and, carefully selecting their diplo-
matte appointees, they kept them IN Office
during good behavior and promoted them
according 20 merit and opportunity. with
the result that the escapades and antics
OF our diplomats no longer furnish
amusement for the whole world.
II was a foregOne conclusion that
Beekman Winthrop would receive an I'm
portant Office under the new administra-
ton. for he was intimately associated.
first. as private secretary. and then as
acting executive secretary, with President
Taft in the Philippines. and between them
there grew up a strong regard and mutual
admiration II would be hard, indeed. 70
know Mr.. Winthrop well and not admire
him. for he has inherited all the agree
able, as well as the sterling. traits fof
which the family from which he sprung
mas been for generations noted The
founder Of the American branch OF this
distinguished house was John Winthrop
who was born IN Croton. England. in I5SS.
and died in Boston in 1853. He was
chosen governor OF the Massachusetts
Bay Colony by the company in London.
and came 70 Salem IN 1880. later settling
In Boston. where he died This was
Beeknan WinthrOp's great-great- grand
father, from whom he IS a descendant
In the sixth generation There IS much
protest against the intermarriage Of
American girls with foreigners these
days. but In the early days OF the repub-
lie L was a common thing. and one OF
Mr.. Winthrop's connections. Thomas c.
Winthrop. married the daughter OF Sir
John Temple, first British consul general
20 the United States. Miss Temple was
adopted by her grandfather. Gov. Bow
dOin, OF Massachusetts,. and she was for
years the relgning belle in Boston. the
toast Of her day, counting among her
admirers many OF the distinguished Of
ficers in the Revolution, among them
Lafayette.
Beelman winthrop's father was Robert
Winthrop. his mother Kate W Taylor,
and In 1903 he married Melza Riggs Wood.
Of New York. He is an alumnus Of
Harvard, graduating IN the class OF 's7.
and three years later he took his degree
In law at the same university. In the
same year he was admitted 10 the New
York bar, but before he had time TO
hang out HIS shingle" Gov. Taft offered
him the position OF private secretary.
which he Immediately accepted and went
with his chief 70 the Philippines. where
he remained until he was made governor
Of Porto Rico IN 1904. resignlng this billet
10 become Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury. Mr.. Winthrop IS an agreeable
man 10 know. an agreeable official 70
be associated with He has q just ap-
probation OF the work done by his sub
Ordinates. and the inclination &c reward
the same. Socially. both he and Mrs
Winthrop have been very popular, and
the news that they will remain at the
Capital has been received with immense
satisfaction by their friends.
When Mrs. Wickersham. the wife OF the
Attorney General, lived in WASHINGTON
she was a member Of the Unitarian
Church. now known as All Souls Church.
which was situated at. that time al the
corner Of Sixth street and Louisiana
avenue. in the quaint old building de-
signed by Charles Bullhnch. which was
torn down a few years ago 10 make
room for the handsome police court that
now occupies that site. The pastor at
that time was the Rev. Dr. Frederick
Hinckley, and one Of his most helpful
and devoted followers was Mrs Wicker
sham, then Mildred Wendell, who taught
in the Sunday school was interested in
all the parish work, and en- important
factor of Mr.. Hinckley's congregation.
One Of her former scholars remembers
her as beautiful. with the kindest and
sweetest brown eyes. light brown hair.
inclined 10 wave; a radiant complexion.
and a lovely smile, with much taste in
dress. In conversation she was bright
and vivacious. and with her scholars al
ways tender and sympathetic. Her re-
Gently published pictures. taken more
than thirty years since have seen her.
are not at all unlike her as I remember
her 70 have been"
Attorney General Wickersham's sister
Is married to the steel king OF Great
britain. Sir R A Hadheld. who is the
inventor OF manganese steel. and manager.
and director OF the Hadfeld Steel Found
~. Limited, besides being interested IN
all the important enterprises in Shelf
field. and in engineering and mining the
world over. Sir Robert HadAeld was