The Washington herald., 1909-05-15
WASHINGTON CHAT.
b. THE SPECTATOR

Mrs Chris" Msgee, as she vas usually
called. who recently died in Rome. was
well known In Washington. where she
was formerly frequent visitor at the
homes Of Mrs. Cameron. Mrs. Hatton. and
Mrs Andrews, who delighted in her go
ciety, as did everybody who knew her.
for. although she was woman Of pro-
nouneed opinions. radical in her point OF
view and given 20 expressing herself with
the utmost frankness. she had q symua-
thetic and agreeable personality and was
the most loyal Of friends.
To her husband. who was for many
years one OF the political bosses OF Penn
sylvsnia, Mrs Msgee was absolutely de-
voted; her devotion. indeed. bordered
almost upon alteration. She felt and
said that he was the most wonderful man
in the world. and when his death left her
2 chiidless widow she found 1t impossible
70 remain IN her old home, and went 10
Europe, and after trying one capital
after another. decided TO establish her
self In Rome, where her great fortune AMI
aeT musical talent soon gained her q
place in the most cultivated circle in the
Holy City.
The beautiful old palace she bought was
filed with the rsrest treasures. and here
she held small court 70 which al tai
ented people. especially musicians. were
Welcome
Il is pleasant to learn thar the future
OF Henry Yignaud. who has been con-
nected with the American Legation and
Embassy at Paris for some thirty-four
years has been provided for by generous
and appreciative friends. and that the
French government has recognized his
services in its capital by making him
grand officer IN the Legion OF Honor.
IN which he has been a commander for
many years. This latter honor was en-
urely unexpected by Mp. Vignaud. since
this rank Of the order IS rarely conferred
upon any dipl0matists save those who
have reached the grade Of minister OF
ambassador, hence II IS the more ap-
Preciated.
The Legion % Honor, by the way. was
founded in 1892 by Napoleon, when he was
First ConsOl, but It has been changed and
modified from time 10 time. so that Il
Is now quite a different society from
what its founder had in mind when he
created II. But Il has IN the more than
a hundred years since il was founded be-
come very rich. and owns large proper
ties. the income from which IS paid IN
pensions 70 its wounded and disabled
members
Mr. vignaud Is not. as his mama fndi-
Gates. a Frenchman BIZ birth, but comes
from an old Creole family in New Or
leans, where he was born nearly eighty
years ago. The first language he learned
10 speak. therefore. was French. and hts
perfect knowledge OF this tongue and
his understanding Of the French char
acter have made him an invaluable mem
Der OF the American Embassy az the
French capital 50 invaluable has he been
that when the ministers and smbassa-
dors whom he served under were changed
he vas continued IN the same post. pro-
NOTED once during all these years, from
second secretary 10 secretary, and never
transferred, as Is the custom. 10 any
other post. bEt allowed 10 remain st the
same desk for more than thirty years
He has grown from a young 20 an old
iuan in the diplomatic service, and Ihsre
IS. perhaps, no man in that branch OF the
government who has been 50 perfectly $
the right man Il the right place.
To his tact. his perennial gOod-nature,
and his unfsiHng courtesy. many OF his
countrymen VIII testify. and many. espe-
cially among the rich Young Americans
who frequent Paris. can tell OF the un-
comfortable sCrapes he has gotten them
out o. His g0Od-nature and warm svu-
pathies have made him the slave. almost
Of Americans who visit Paris. and there
iS no service he Is rot called upon 10 per-
form The most thankless task he does.
and ne does Il often. Is 20 relieve those
who go broke" No matter what the
tale OF woe. Mr.. Vignaud dives down into
his generous pockets and gives all he can.
Tor they are not plsthoric. Unhappy 20
relate, these timely loans are rare!v. paid
back; 50 after thirty-odd years service
Mr- Nignaud. 81 fourscore. IS a Door
man. and our parsimonious government
allows him no pension TO fall back on. so
II was fne OF his friends 10 create the
f';nd that viii yield him a comfortable
annuity for the rest OF his life
One word more about NJ. Vigrsud. He
IS the leading authority In the world To-
day on Christopher Columbus. and every
leisure moment he has had since he took
up his residence IN Europe has been de-
voted 10 the study and Investigation OF
his favorite subject Several valuable
books are the result Of these Iabors-
"Toscanelh and Columbus la Maison
G Abe ct les Archives Columbienne." and
'Etude CTitiqueS sur "a Vie de CoIorb. -
Mr. Choste. the former American Am
bassadOr 10 the Court OF ST James. was
n Town last week, and appropriately
lionized. At dinner given IN his honor
during his stay in town mention was
made OF his agency IN breaking I'd the
Tweed ring and the important role he
played in New York politics thereafter,
wheTeupOn some one quoted his adap;a-
ton OF Mother Goose IN the speech he
made az Carnegie Hall IN the Van wyck-
Tracy-Low campaign Of 1897. Mr.. Choate
Il viii be remembered, vas stunning
for Low. and the Republican was so de-
termined on defeating that candidate that
II was doing all II could for Croker's can
dicate, Van Wyck In the midst OF q
description OF the alliance between the
two great political parties. Mr.. Choate
delivered the following parody:
Ton PI.tt
Could eat DO fat
C-oksT could eat 20 lean.
And 50 between them both.
I cuoth.
They LIKED thu platte. clean"
TT took the house" said one OF the
convives who was present; and the
applause was so deafening after the re-
..~ -