Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
The British Ambassador Not Typical DIPLOMAT But Earnest Servant of
M7IdMnGIM0S1MM 81

Washington knew him no more. save for
the brief visit in 1904, until he returned
last year as ambassador.
During his service as secretary in Wash
ington, Sir Cecil renewed his intimacy
with Theodore Roosevelt during the lat
service commissioner. The two walked
and rode and played tennis together.
and talked politics and grew close to
each other.
The present ambassador became a figure
in the social life Of the day at the capt.
tai. Since his recent return a minor ILL
ness. contracted in New Hampshire, has
limited his physical and social activity.
Only recently was he permitted by his
physicians to attempt much real work,
and not vet is it safe for him to venture
out with immunity to night affairs.
Nevertheless the life of the capital in
terests him keenly, and he has had an
opportunity to contrast it with the life
that existed during the first Cleveland
and the Harrison administrations.
What impressss him particularly is
the change that has come as the result OF
growth in the population and the &C
cession of many families of wealth not
associated with government affairs. In
the earlier day society was more compact
and its individual parts were seemingly
closer together.
There survived, in those earlier days,
many of the notable figures Of the war
between the states. Wade Hampton Of
Hampton's Legion, was here, for one,
and Confederate brigadiers were many in
Congress. Gen, w. T. sherman-"a most
fascinating character as Sir Cecil has
described him: Gen. Phil Sheridan, and
numerous others were met daily. In
many an amicable conversation the war
was fought over and over.
1t was the particular delight of Mr..
RnnSaveIt n bring n
promptu joint debates the leaders of OPP
posing sides just to hear them talk. and
the young English diplomatist was usu-
ally present also 1t gave him an ex-
cellent opportunity to learn from the
mouths of the men who had made Ameri-
can history the facts relating thereto.
Thomas f. Bayard. Judge Endicott.
Whitney, who began the construction of
the new navy, these and other cabinet
officers of note with whom he came in
contact socially and officially contributed
materially to the education In American
politics of the young secretary of lega-
ton.
At the time the North American fish
cries conference sat, all Washington
none more so than the British delegates
were interested in the courtship by Jo-
seph Chamberlain of Miss Mary Endicott.
daughter of Secretary W. c. Endicott of
the War Department. The head of the
British delegation was assiduous in the
attentions he paid to this stately daugh-
ter of New England. The marriage that
resulted was one Of the first notable in
ternational alliances. During the court
ship it was a stock subject Of debate
among the delegates as to whether Mr..
Chamberlain took his duties as lover
more seriously than his duties as dele
gate.
During the earlier part of his stay in
Washington Sir Cecil served under Sack
ville-West, that austere, silent minister,
the last man in the world Of whom an
undiplomatic act might be expected.
whose career in this country was cut
short by his unfortunate Murchison let
ter, so called. Contemporary gossip at
tributed to the minister's clever daughter
the explanation: Father never would
have written the letter at all If I had
been there. The trouble was that he was
all alone at the seacoast with nothing
to do"
The letter. it will be recalled was in