Evening star., 1909-02-26
WGNAUD NEAR PERJURY
Republic Lets Diplomat Starve
But Friends Intervene.
NO PENSION FOR SERVICE
Not Even Bit of Ribbon to Honor
Wornout Servant.
NATION NEEDS RICH ENJOYS
Old Age Kept From Prospective
Want by Gift of $4,000 From
Twenty Americans.
10 PENSION FOR SERVICE
JATION NEEDS RICH ENJOYS

PARIS. February 26-Henry Vignaud.
first secretary of the American embassy,
who has resigned at the age OF seventy
nine without means to provide for his re-
naming years, has written letter to the
twenty Americans whose gift to him Of
10000 insures the last days OF the vet
eran diplomat against want.
Although he has lived very modestly,
his salary hardly sufficed to meet his eX-
penses.
The letter reads:
Letter to His Benefactors.
ITO the Hon. Levi F. Morton. Hon.
Whitelaw Reid. Hon. 7. jefferson Cool
idge, Hon. Henry White. and Messrs.
James Gordon Bennett, Ferdinand Blu
menthal David Calm, Coudert Bros,
Andrew Carnegie. John II. Harjes, AL
fred T. Heidebach, S. de Jonge, Duke
de Loubat, ]. Pierpont Morgan. Munroe
g. Co, George r. Ostheimer, Seligman
Bros, Tiffany & Co, Edward Tuck, H.
A. Van Bergen.
gentlemen: After thirty-four years Of
active and incessant service in this en-
bassy. to which l have devoted the best
part of my life. and at the moment OF at
tanning my seventy-ninth year. the age
of infirmities. l feel that the hour OF my
retirement has come. l yield TO the IN
evitable. The world moves on. Inc aged
the unfit. the weak have no right to OBJ
struct that upward movement Which Is
drawing us all toward more favorab Die
conditions. and l deem 1t proper 10 Will
draw in order to make room for one VINO
is Younger and whose tastes and means
Will enable him better to respond TO the
peculiar eXigencies of our present dlplo-
matte service.
The American government havinS
neither the right TO bestow pension
upon its old servants. nor even that OF
honorinE them with one of those pits OF
ribbon whereby the older governments
of the world are enabled TO show appre-
citation of faithful service. my retirement
at nv advanced age and without per-
sonal fortune might have placed me In
a precariouS Observation-Disclosures clrcum-
stances. if not actual want.
Gift Averted Penury.
AT this very critical moment for me,
gentlemen you intervened. Dlscreetly
and without my knowledge, you substi-
tuted yourself for my government. and
you have done what it could not do in
assuring for the remaining years of my
life, rest. security. ease itself.
1T is unfortunately but too true that
alone among the governments of the
great nations ours is bound by the di-
iemma which compelS il either to refuse
admission to those who are not well off.
or if they be admitted leave them .un-
provided for when advanced age lessons
the value of their services. Your gener-
Gus initiative--a very foTtunata one for
me-is bound to call attention to this
grave question. which remains unsolved
fer so many others equally worthy of
interest and ii will show. l hope. that
I'm such cases as mine there is an anom
ally which contrasts very unfavorably
with the efforts made everywhere else
to throw down the old barriers whereby
those not favored by rank or private
fortune were formerly excluded from
access to certain privileged calings and
to provide an honorable pension for those
who have devoted their lives to the SER
vice of the state.
Most Flattering Reward.
In so far as am concerned no words
can give utterance to the sentiments of
gratitude ] owe you, nor express how
deeply touched I feel ut the willingness
with which you have all associated your
selves In the generous sentiment which
has brought forth this exceptional mark
of kindness and esteem.
The spOntanety of your action has
been for me the dearest and most hatter-
ing reward that / could expect for the
efforts I have never ceased to make to
conciliate the duties of my post with the
kindly disposition of good will due to
those who have had recourse to the en-
bassy for any public service.
Il have the honor to be- gentlemen,
very gratefully yours.
HENRY VIGNACD"