Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-04-05
Diplomatic
Mission
II Was My First and
My Last

Il "


" ~ AEAAA~A
:
am the daughter Of an American
admiral When my father was retired
he Joined us in Washington, where
we lived. At his death, his income
being cut on, I found 1t necessary to
do something to add to the small In
come Of my mother and was given a
clerkship in the navy DEF Ntment. but
the salary was small, and l confess
looked forward to the humdrum life
before me with dislike.
Notwithstanding our limited re-
sources l maintained my position ia
society. Washington does not suffer
socially from commerclallsm as other
American cities l was invited just as
often after my entrance upon my clerk
ship as before. Indeed, l occupied
better social status than many newly
rich people who. having suddenly ae-
quired wealth. settled in Washington
to spend It.
One evening during a reception at
the White House the wife Of mem
Der Of the Russian diplomatic corps
sought me out and drew me away from
the thropg for a chat. She gradually
led the conversation upon myself and
asked me how l would like to enter
the diplomatic service. Upon asking
her what she meant she explained that
diplomacy was synonymous with chi
canery. There was a constant effort
between the diplomats Of the world to
get possession Of each others secrets
and thus forestall action. l was inter
ested, and the lady proceeded to tell
me that women were usually mixed
up in these affairs and were relied on
principally by their husbands to ex
tract information from their diplo-
matte rivals. Then, after pledging me
to secrecy. she told me that the Rus
sian embassy was at that time in want
OF an attractive woman TO obtain n
secret from a diplomat and that she
would be paid literally for the service
rendered
OF course the lady was sounding me
to learn If would undertake the mat
ter. | neither accepted nor declined.
leaving her, intending to think it over
] did think 1t over and came to a de-
cision that may be considered peculiar.
determined that l would not dishon-
or my fathers name by becoming
spy; but, being infatuated with the
idea of swimming in that undercur-
rent Of duplicity that had been men
toned, l resolved to accept the offer.
but not for pay. had an object in
view that concerned my own individ
ual self far more than Russia when
had made up my mind l called on
the lady who had been given the COM
mission to employ me and told her !
was ready TO listen to proposition.
/ dare say that this may be consider
ed whipping conscience around the
stump, but at the time was not aware
Of doing anything dishonorable. / was
employed by the Russian embassy-no
particular person in it was specified
to get secret from the secretary of
legation Of Great Britain. 1t was sus-
peeted by the Russians that England
was making a secret treaty with the
sublime porte. Russia has always been
at issue with the other European pow
ers as to Turkey, and ever since the
Gar Nicholas l. was outwitted by the
British minister, just previous to the
Crimean war, Russia has been eager to
get even with England by some sharp
diplomatic move. | was therefore EN-
ployed to draw this secret from Ed
ward Claiborne. who would surely be
cognizant of 1t, who had chosen diplo-
macy as a profession and was expect
ing soon to be raised to the rank Of
ambassador.
At the next important social func
ton, given by the secretary of state.
member Of tie Austrian embassy asked
permission to present his friend Ed
ward Claiborne. What the Austrian
had to do with the matter did not
know. Evidently he was either In some
way connected with the plot Or was be
ing made a tool Of. That was nothing
to me, but l experienced q peculiar
sensation Of pleasure at being launch
ed in the whirlpool Of diplomatic chi
canery. l graciously permitted the in
PRODUCTION and found Mr. Claiborne
very agreeable. Indeed, he was Of the
best type Of English gentleman, not no
BILE. but well connected at home and
In every way desirable refrained at
this first meeting from anything con.
nected with the work | had undertak
en-. l simply endeavored to make my
Golf az II,
saw at once that he was an intellectu
al man, and treated him accordingly
that is, | talked Of anything but
welghty matters. Girls make mis-.
take in thinking that men of depth
wish deep women for companions. One
might as well expect a lawyer to tail
law for amusement However, I per
mitted Mr. Claiborne TO do most Of TIL,
talking, leaving Kim to cbat as he liz
ed. Small talk is all that can be in
trodueed at social functions anyway.
Mr. Claiborne asked permission til
call upon me, which was. Of course
granted. We occupied the same house
as when my father lived, a two story
lriek near - circle, and it had In {.
al the attractiveness Of simplicity. Ny
visitor told me during the evening that
he would sail for sngland on leave Of
absence the next week. told him that
was about to go abroad. and by com
pairing notes 1t turnei out that had
engaged my passage on the same
steamer on which be had engaged his
THAT Is, knew nay friends Of the