The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-10-10
HIGH PRICED HONOR
1t Costs to Represent Uncle Sam
at a Foreign Court.
HEDGED ABOUT BY DIGNITY.

Trials and TribuIations That Beset a
New Ambassa dor - 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 is fact. Food is cheaper. Serv-
ants work for less money. This being
so, why is it not possible for an un-
pretentious Yankee diplomat to live in
Europe for the same money as in
America? | pat the question to a for
mer ambassador who has lived in Lon
don, Paris and Rome.
"1hey tell me one can go to the mar
ket and buy a part of a chicken-a
wing or a drumstick. Think of IT!
Food must be cheap there"
but the ambassador cannot sally
forth with market basket on his
arm" said the retired diplomat.
That sums up the difficulty. An am
bassador cannot do anything for him
self. SO he is a shining mark for ev-
erybody. There is nobody so helpless
In America. except the poor taxpayer.
Let us look into 1t.
International law, which is as full of
fine spun distinctions as common law
or domestic law, regards an ambas-
sador as the direct personal representa-
tive Of the ruler of his country and
ordains that he be treated in a manner
befitting such a 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 a court
functionary of high degree in gorgeous
uniform appears at the abode of the
new American ambassador. He is ac-
companied by numerous other person
ages, somewhat lower in rank, but
uniformed in equally bright coiors. He
is provided with three court carriages.
together with attendants and outriders.
and, last but not least, of a white
plumed band. accoutered with instru-
ments of glittering brass.
The American ambassador, probably
fustered by the ceremony. is con-
Quoted to the first of the carriages.
which is drawn by eight horses. He is
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-Frince Albert, he calls it-and q
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 statsly procession the car
riages and outrilers, preceded by the
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
coms out and present arms and when
the American ambassador, plain
maa, perhaps, arrives at the palace
there is an elaborate presentation of
arms and a beating of drums that COM
petely take the gimp out of him.
Unexpectedly simple is the SOW
ereign's reception of the new diplomat
but after it is over the American must
again endure the ceremonious process
sional back to his domicile. Then
comes the shock.
The first secretary explains that the
sun must not set before the pourboire
is distributed This, the ambassador
learns, is French for tip. He also
learns that the transportation to and
from the palace has a purse string to
It. The keeper of the royal stables
must be tipped.
'It is an inviolable CUSTOM" insists
the first secretary.
How much?' asks the fedgling dip
iomat.
"For an ambassador" says the first
secretary. "the rule is 5000"
There is probably an explosion, but
In the end the ambassador pays.
A London editor, who was born in
America and received his newspaper
training on this side of the water, once
said:
"You can safely give a present, II
not gratuity, to any official below
the sovereign on the continent"
"How about EnglandY' | asked.
''The present should be more expen
sive, the gratuity larger" = Henry
Beach Needham in Saturday Evening