The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-09-01
BUCHANAN'S COURT
DRESS QUITE UNIQUE
Diplomatic Question Dealt With
in Effective Manner

Whenever the question of American
diplomatic costume comes up the man
ner in which James Buchanan dealt
with it is worth recalling.
Buchanan went a minister to the
court of ST. James just as Marcy as
secretary of state issued his famous
order that American ministers abroad
should appear at public functions if
possible in the plain and simple gar
ments of an American citizen. The
effect of this order in several courts of
Europe was remarkable, says the New
York Sun. Upon an intimation that
the king of Prussia would regard as a
slight to himself the attendance of
anybody at court in so informal a
dress as that suggested by Marcy the
American minister at Berlin decided to
continue wearing court costume In
Sweden the American minister was in
formed that his appearance at court
in the simple dress of an American
citizen would be offensive as implying
a propa ganda of republication.
August Belmont the minister to The
Hague, conformed to Marcy's recon-
mendation, though his fellows of the
diplomatic corps prophesfed trouble.
None came, and the king went out of
his way TO be gracious to the American
gentleman in the plain black clothes.
Buchanan had much more serious
experience than his brother ministers
in this matter of costume. The Brit
ish press took up the question with
acrimony. Just before the meeting of
parliament Buchanan received from the
master of ceremonies a printed circular
to the effect that nobody would be adj
mitted to the diplomatic gallery or the
body of either house except in court
costume. Buchanan stayed away, but
the London Times reported him as at
tending and feeling uncomfortably con-
spicuoS in his plain clothes.
Buchanan, gallant old bachelor that
he was was most anxious not to seem
in any degree lacking in respect for
the queen. After while tactful per-
son connected with the court intimated
to Buchanan that the queen would be
entirely content if he would wear some
distinguishing mark that should diff
ferentiate him from the upper court
servants, who wore plain black A
sword would be sufficient for the pur-
pose, it was suggested, and Buchanan
took the advice.
With the clothes sharps and the
newspapers still discussing the matter
the day approached when Buchanan
must present himself at court, and all
who attended the .levee were curious to
see in what guise the American minis
ter would appear. There was no mis-
taking him for an upper court servant
What the men and women in the
throneroom saw approaching the queen
and instantly knew for the American
minister without the aid of the an
nouncing cry that preceded him was a
large, oldish gentleman, with digni-
fed carriage and a benevolent smooth
shaver face, clad all in black with
trousers that came down to a properly
yarnished pair of dress boots and grit
about the waist with a plain black
hiIted sword Buchanan said afterward
that, he never was prouder of his coun-
try than he was as he stood there. the
most simply dressed figure in the room.
amid a host of men in military and
other uniforms and decorated with
every sort of order and medal known
TO the courts of Europe. He wrote
home with glee describing to his niece,
Harriet Lane, the details of his dress
and his feelings upon this occasion
Buchanan's costume was entirely
satisfactory to the queen. and the plain
Pennsylvania grew to be a prime ia
vorite in British official society Soon
after his appearance at court he was
Joined by Miss Lane and all the world
knows the brilliant success of that
handsome and straightforward Ameri-
can girl in the society of Great Britain