Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-07
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war on land and sea, nevert heless the
annals of the State Department make
probably the most romantic reading. 1t
is the department which deals with sub
tleties, with intrigues, with prestige. with
petty jealous!es, with bloodless battles
which prove the pen mightier than the
sword. War unchains the passions Of
men; peace demands that they should
guard carefully their most powerful and
most dangerous weapons, their tongues.
And those who represent the red white
and blue in foreign countries, after a few
experiences, learn that silence is gold
en-" and that, after all. the biggest word
in the dictionary is tact.
Much has been written about the handi-
cap under which our diplomats are obliged
TO work. due to the exceptionally low
compensation they receive. Keeping up
creditable establishment on a limited
has read that often an ambassador at
some of the more important posts spends
his allowance for the entire year for a
suitable house and a sufficient number
of servants. But it is also true that a
number of our representatives abroad are
very wealthy men and perfectly willing
to go down into their own pockets for
funds to keep up their expenses. simply
for the social prestige and influence their
position brings them.
Yet a glance at the blue Book would
seem to show that. compared with the
emoluments which go with the other fed
eral offices. Uncle Sam is not unpardon-
ably CLOSE with the members of his
consular service. The ambassadors to
nine of the larger countries receive ST.
500 the ENJOYS extraordinary in seven
other posts are given $4,000, and twenty
six American citizens who float the flag
on foreign soil allowed $1,000 each.
To be sure the salaries of a few of the
consuls in the smaller places do not
reach these figures, but, considering the
fact that there are fewer demands upon
their time and money, they are not under
paid. The staff of a legation or an en-
bassy abroad always includes one or
more secretaries.
AS for those whose names swell the
ranks of the army and navy circle, condi-
lions are no different than in other walks
of life. Those at the top revel in easy
berths. and in many privileges, adj
vantaSes and IuXuries which Uncle Sam 5
generosity permits; those at the foot exc
out scant existence. with, however, a
fair chance to eventually break down the
barriers OF position and caste. But
whether or not in the diplomatic. army
or navy service, ever IS IT case of
''notdesse oblige."
From the viewpoint of an outsider it
does not seem that the path of an army
or navy officer fall in such unpleasant
pIattS. Inc average business HAL cOuiu
boldly face the future did he but know
that when the years piled UP upon him
he could retire with the assurance that
he would receive - per cent of his in
come. and that when he died his coun-
try would look after his widow.
An officer OF the flag is also given a
comfortable allowance for quarters, light
and heat, which in these DAYS of the high
cost of living is an item with which to
oniure. And II these secrets does the
BLUE Book divulce. 1t is 'the little
bird that let's one in on all kinds OF in
side information. If one is troubled with
the tantaliZing germ Of curiosity, which
transforms one into veritable Pauline
Pry. let him HE to the Blue Book and
perhaps it will explain how So-and-So
could afford an automobile or why YOUR
next-door neighbor met YOU on the street
and asked for a trifiing loan or ten until
the fifteenth.
Despite the fact that 'once in so often
whatever that indefinite phrase NAV
mean there is a rumor afoot that the
tendency is to eliminate women from the
government service, a comparatively large
percentage of the employees are members
of the so-called weaker sex They are
engaged in almost every line of work
teachers, stenographers, typists. clerks
assistants in the bureau of engraving and
the government printing Office housekeep-
ers, matronS, charwOmen. Some of the
higher executive offices are also filled nv
women About the largest salary maid 70
any one woman is $4,000, the amount