The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-23
ny JOHN ELFRI;TH WATKINS.
NuSbiiirrtf,n q

Washington, ID. G.
Nov bobs up again the vcxed prob
" lem: What shall our diplomats
wear at the royal courts Of tho
old world:
Between the Scylia OF statutory re-
strlction and the charybdis of kingly
displeasure our ambassadors and min
isters have been warily steering with
IN recent years. although the state
Department has allowed them to APP
proach dangerously near Il violation of
law in tho matter OF adapting fancy
huds for tho formal functions OF GER
tain cxact!ng rulers. particularly the
German Kaiser and the Muscovitc Car.
Our chanccllerics abroad awaited
Tho test. and IL came the other day,
when James w Gerard presented his
credentials 70 William II. In AN in
tcrvicw printed in tho summer Am
baesador Gerard had expressed his in
tontion of adhcring 10 the precedent
OF Ambassadors Tower and Lclshman
that OF wearing court garb frst per
United under the Cleveland regime and
Sinked at br the state Department
'vcr since That a man Invited to
court ought TO wear what his royal
host expected his guests To wear was
then the expressed opinion Of Mr.
Gerard. but after receiving certain in
structions from the Secretary Of state
William Jennings Bryan. he appeared
the other day Mt the royal palace
garbed in tho dress Of u plain AIncr;-
can gentleman
WhHt the I.Rw Suys.
Lack OF distinctive dress may inn
nose some hardships upon our anbas-
Ssdors and ministers, and may sub
iect them 10 indignities. but after All
is said. Mr.. Bryan IL but executing and
roiterating the strict letter OF the
law OF tho land II was nearly 4 half
century aEo--in 1857. To be exact
when Congress- by joint resolution
prohibited persons in our diplomatic
service from wearing any uniform
or official costume not previously au
,hor'zed hy Congress
However. nv authority OF a sim
older law, diplomatic officers who have
tcrVcd in the civil war AZ volunteers
may, upon occasions OF ceremony. wear
INC uniform OF their highest rank by
hrevet or other commissions. Thus
under this act, Ambassador Gerard
NIGH, have entered tho Kaiser's pres
oucc in II major generals uniform. lad
hc served In the C!vil War with that
rank
But in spite OF the statutes our am
bassadors and ministers. although not
adopting what strictly speaking might
hc termed n uniform, have often worn
some article Of apparel suggestive OF
iheir cflcial station.
generation after Congress forbade
the uniforms. which our diplomats had
worn in the old days, this much meet
ed question Of their proper apparel
was revived by the court OF st. Peters
burg. This was during the second
Cleveland administration.
In the pen pictures OF tho gorgeous
ceremonial attendant upon the present
Cars coronation there stood in bas
relief. for American readers consunp-
ton. tho figure OF Clifton II. Breckin-
ridge. Americas envoy. habited In Il
quaint garb. including knickerbock
ers and long hose. This sartorial eff
fcct had been prescribed by the court
chamberlain. Mr.. breckenridge. In a
Quandary. doubtless Queried the state
Department for instructions and it
was decided that the sartorial effect
planned for our representative was
neither uniform" nor an official
costume" and therefore that II did not
come under the taboo OF our statute.
The Muscovlte court. with Its medic
val taste for all that is picturesque.
proceeded TO again get upon the nerves