The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20

first visit 1 spent two months with
relative occupying an official position
IN Paris, and since then l have only
wondered at the moderation of the
foreign makers of romance. This, I
fancy, is not so much due to polite
ness as to inability to grasp us. Be
yond certain point our more vivid
natives daze and terrify them.
A minister to one of the capitals of
Europe told me not long since that
during his 10 years or so at various
posts his social experiences with
Americans had been so notifying
that he had made it rule never to
invite his countrywomen (and mem
TO his house until he had carefully
inspected them. But very recently,
few weeks after he had been ap-
pointed to the capital in question,
he had carelessly broken this rule,
and with the result which might
have been expected. He was giving
his first grand banquet; members of
the royal family, the ancient nobility,
the diplomatic corps, were the in
vited guests. On the morning of the
dinner two American women drove
up to the legation and left cards,
circular letter of introduction from
the state department and a personal
letter from an acquaintance of the
minister; man occupying at the
moment position of social a. well
as political eminence. Two of the
women guests had sent word that
illness prevented them from attend
ing the banquet. Here seemed the
golden opportunity not only to fill
the vacant seats, but TO discharge
an obligation to two Americans who
came so well introduced. An invita-
ton was dispatched and accepted
The night arrived. The beautiful
house was superbly lighted and
decorated. The minister's wife. a
stately woman with a long expert
ence of the world and a genius for
dress. was helpmate for whom any
minister, American or otherwise,
might thank his stars. The company
blazed with ma gnifcence. The last
arrivals were the two Americans.
They wore their travelling suits, one
of them her hat. The minister's wife,
without even a flush of annoyance,
Went forward. received them politely,
and made but one effort to mitigate
the tragedy. The suits were fixtures,
but she suggested sweetly to the
lady with the hat that she might be
more comfortable without it. Would
she not come into the next room and
remove it? No., answered the lady,
resoiutely, Il am afraid it might get
mislaid."
Now L think it is obvious enough
that the Americans who return with
bitter words for the ambassadors who
protect themselves and their country,s
reputation from such barbarians are
the snobs, not the men whose virtues
or politics have temporarily elevated
them above the masses. They are in
furiated, these unreasonable people.
because their ambassadors have not
given them something to brag about
for the rest of their lives. They have
crowded the embassies at the indis-
criminate fourth of July receptions
the poor devils of representatives
are Obliged to hold, fought madly in
the packed dining room over one
strawberry or cup of chocolate,
planted themselves before the wife
OIL the minister or ambassador and
forced few words from her almost
paralyzed lips; but although this
gives them the right to return home
ana talk about having been ENTER
tanned at our embassy" in nine
cases out of ten they cry "snobbery"
upon their presidents representative
because they have not been invited
to dinner
is IL not function of progress to
separate the wheat from the tares?
ana what is an ambassador but one
OF the highest representatives of
progress? Certainly the personages
In imposing uniforms, who represent
soVereigns, have no such duty thrust
upon them. Their progress has
reached its climax long since.
having lived abroad myself. and
knowing the almost universal mis-
upon this question in
the United States, / think it only fair
TO throw what light / can on some of
'he dlfilculties which beset the Amer
lcan ambassador. and the position he
Is arlVen to take regarding the un-
eipreo and ignorant that happen to
De his countrymen. AS to Mr.. white
L ne must, in the common course of
pohtlcal rotation, retire from the
diplomatic service, the United States
VIII nave no cause to congrattlate<
''seii upon its loss; and ] am but
'ne OF thousand Americans who are
srateful that he has had the oppor-
unity to demonstrate to dubious
europeans that we can turn out ac
sompiished gentlemen as well as
smooth politicians. And no American
VINO mas watched his career intelli-
gently but will faa1 x-or,.