The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
Bv CHARLOTTE NJ. coNGER.

ceremonial the burial of the boy
brigadier'' by lamplight the other day at
West Point-a fl finale 10 an impressive
and extraordinary career, which included
the civil war from beginning to end. 1t
seldom happens that an officer is bre-
vetted major general two years after his
graduation from West Point, but this
happened 10 Gen. Merritt for his gal
lantry al Gettysburg, and he was bre-
vetted again for the same reason for his
part in the battles of Yellow Tavern.
Halves Shop. Five Forks, and so on
until the end Of the war
Small wonder that he was known as
the hoy brigader," when he was made
such in six years after he received his
first commission; and the best of 1t all
was that nobody envied him his rapid
promotions, though he was the youngest
man OF his rank in the army.
Il was Gen. Merritt who. with Gen.
Gibbs, commanded the mass OF troops
kept in Western Texas for months just
after the war. No reason was ever Off
eiaIly given for the presence there OF
this small army. and il Gen. Merritt
knew he kept the secret locked away
from his associates. 1t is no secret now
that il was there for the purpose OF
driving the French out of Mexico should
the diplomatic negotiations We had
started fail. but they did not tall. hence
Gen Merritt was prevented from achleV-
ing at that time still greater honors.
Many stories are told OF how he evaded
answering questions regarding his mis-
FESTIVE after long service in the field
and longed 10 be mustered out and so
home. His officers would often press him
TO the wall with their questions resSrd-
ing the possibility of disbanding. HIS
unfailing recourse in this dilemma was
10 say 10 his clamorous friends;
Now, gentlemen. If you please, the
twenty-seventh letter OF the alphabet
what is it?'
Then would come the answer, Let her
ripr' amid roars OF laughter, in which
he would join. And thus the quesuoners
were silenced.
Gen. Merritt was the first commander
OF the American forces in the Philippines
and 10 his work there 10 his broad I'M
Outstanding and his diplomacy more is
due than can be appreciated unul the
full history of the American occupation
bers of the Peace Commission, which met
in Paris at the end of the war with Spain
TO arrange terms with that country, re-
lied as much upon Gen. Merritt, whom
they summoned from the Philippines TO
their aid. as upon any one person, and he
not only gave them valuable information
but helped them over many rough places
that tested their diplomatic knowledge
and experience 70 the utmost Gen Mer-
rift was, according TO the testimony OF
those who knew him best. and OF those
who served under him, as accomplished
"A diplomatist as he was a military COM
mander. although the taste for these Two
widely divergent professions and the tai
ents that mark them are rarely found IN
the same person.
Improved by T. II. When President
Since Mr.. Roosevelt became President
our diplomatic service has steadily i'm
proved. The old spoils system has been
replaced by one which will ultimately lead
10 an introduction of civil service and
merit and aptitude count more IN these
later days than political pull" with the
result that our diplomatic agents receive
more consideration in foreign capitals
than ever before in the history OF the
government The faux pas Of our dlpio-
matte representatives under the old sys-
TEN would MI several bulky volumes ana
hardly a person who visited Europe under
the old regime but could add some inter
esting stories 10 it, IL is rare nowadays
that an American diplomat is ignorant or
the language of the country TO which he
is accredited, and ne has come to appre-
ciate that a knowledge of the court or
official etiquette of the capital where ne
may be stationed is as essential as a
knowledge Of the Constitution Of the
United states.
The latest important diplomatic ap-
pointment made by the President Is that
of John W Garrett as minister plehl-
notentiary and envoy extraordinary 10
Venezuela This is Mr.. CARROTS nrst
mission. but he has served a long ap-
premiership, has had a thorough school,
ing. and no one who knows him doubts
his ability to undertake it. Mr.. Garrett
is the grandson Of John W. Garrett
one time president of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and a son Of the late 7.
Harrison Garrett, who was killed In an
accident while cruising in his yacht
The Clean, of the New England
coast His mother was a Miss Whit
redge, of Baltimore, handsome and dis
tinguished woman. who, after the death
OF her husband, devoted herself to the
education OF her sons, and when they
matriculated at Princeton took up her
residence there that she might be near
them. Mr. Garrett married, two years
ago, Alice Warder, the youngest daugh-
ter OF the late b. H. Warder. and by
this marriage united to his own consid-
cradle fortune one almost as large.
Diplomat and College Graduate.
His wealth. however. is by no means
Mr.. CARROTS chief recommendation for
a diplomatic post He is an alumnus of
Princeton, and when he entered the dip
lomatic service he begans at the very
bottom OF the ladder as attache at The
Hague, thence he was transferred TO st.
Petersburg, and from the Muscovite
capital TO Berlin. From Berlin Mr.. Car
rett went as second secretary to Rome,
being promoted at about the time Of his
marriage, TO the rank of secretary
Speaking Italian fluently, being devoted
TO music. and possessed Of abundant
means 10 entertain, il Is natural that
Mr.. and Mrs, Garrett should be great
favOrites in the foreign colony at Rome,
and they have been such favorites, that
news of their transfer to Caracas will be
received there with the deepest regret
But diplomat, like a soldier, learns TO
accept the fortunes of the service with a
good grace, and since it gives him add
cd rank, Mr.. Garrett viii not so much
mind giving up his gorgeous palace in
one of the oldest cities in the world to
take villa in one of the newest.
Richard Harding Davis has called
Caracas the Little Paris" and in this
new world Little Paris" John Garrett
Will find enough 10 keep him busy for
Caracas is q stra taa.ic r,oirt L.. -