The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-10-09
H|CH PRICED HONOR
It Costs to Represent Uncle Sam
at a Foreign Court.
HEDGED ABOUT BY DIGNITY.

Trials and Tribuiations That eesst oil
New Ambassador - Ceremonies In
Which He Must Participate and For
Which He Must Give Lavish Tips.
An unofficial American can live more |
economically abroad than at home
that IL u fact Food Is cheaper Serv- |
ants work for less money. This being |
50. why Is it not possible for an un- |
pretenti0us Yankee diplomat to live In |
Europe for the same money as IN
Americai | put the question to a for
mer ambassador who has lived In Lon.
don, Paris and Rome.
They tell me one can go to the mar
ket and buy part OF a chicken-a
wing or n drumstick Think Of Il!
Food must be cheap there"
but the ambassador cannot sally
forth with market basket on his
arn.' said the retired diplomat.
That SUMS up the difficulty. An am
bassador cannot do anything for him.
self So he Is q shining mark for ev-
erybOdy. There Is nobody so helpless
In America. except the poor taxpayer.
Let us look into It.
InternatiOn law. which il as full OF
tine spun distinctions as common law
or domestic law. regards an ambns-
sador as the direct personal representa-
tive Of the ruler Of his country and
ordains that he be treated In u manner
befitting such very important per-
son. This accounts for the ceremony
attending the ambassadors presenta-
ton of the presidents letter of Gre
dence to the sovereign. In detail the
function varies. in different countries
but the continental custom Is IN gen
eral as follows:
At the day and hour fixed by the
king, emperor or president q court
functionary Of high degree In gorgeous
uniform appears at the abode Of the
new American ambassador. He Ii nc
companied by numerous other person
ages. somewhat lower in rank. but-
uniformed In equally bright colors. He
Is provided with three court carriages
together with attendants and outriders
He II In command OF II mounted escort
and. last, but not least, Of white
plumed band. accoutered with instru
ments Of glittering brass.
The American ambassador. probably
clustered by the ceremony. Is con.
Quoted to the first Of the carriages
which Is drawn BY eight horses. He u
politely waved to the back seat. while
his personal escort, instead Of sitting
BY his side. takes the seat facing him.
The Yankee diplomat wears frock
coat-Prince Albert. he calls it-and
silk hat. and his gloves: dictated by
his wife, are OF gray suede
Across from him sits the chief func-
tionary. attired with brilliance sell
dom seen outside Of comic opera.
In solemn stately procession the car
riages and outriders. preceded By tine
mounted troop, with the resonant band
In the van. take up the march to the
palace. On both sides Of the thorough
fare Is a curious, gaping crowd. At
that the many corps de garde soldiers
come out and present arms. and when
the American ambassador. plain
man. perhaps. arrives at the palace
there Is an elaborate presentation Of
arms and beating Of drums that COM
pletely take the gimp out Of him.
Unexpectedly simple is the SOW
ereign's reception Of the new diplomat.
but after 1t Il over the American must
again endure the ceremonious proceS-
sionai back to his domicile. Then
comes the shock.
The first secretary explains that the
sun must not set before the pourboire
IL distributed This. the ambassador
learns, Is French for tip. He also
learns that the transportation to and
from the palace has purse string TO
It. The keeper Of the royal stables
must be tipped.
1T Is an inviolable CUSTOM" insista
the FIRST secretury.
lomat.
"For an ambassador" says the 6rst
secretary. '.the rule Is $780,"
There IL probably an explosion. bnt
In the end the ambassador pays
A London editor. who was horn IN
America and received his newspaper
training on this side Of the winter. once
said:
.You can safely give a present. II
not gratuity. to any official below
the sovereign on the continent"
How about EnglandY' asked.
''rhe present should be more expen-
sive. the gratuity larger" Henry
Beach Needham IN Saturday Evening
Post