The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-22
(Rebecca Isley-Casper in the New
York Worid.)

in the war, and the Parliaments of
the warning nations ring with eloquent
tributes or orators to them. The
United States is, happily, not at war.
1t has. none the less. its heroes of this
world war. They are the American
diplomats.
The declarations of war made by
Great Britain against Germany on
August 5 was Il call to Gen. French to
command the British forces on the
Continent, assisting France. He left
iondo at the head of his soldiers. in
fultlment of duties set forth in ex-
Y,licit language in his commission
duties for which he had been in
training for forty years. He put into
action arrangements OF his Govern-
ment which had been thought out
through Il decade Of preparation and
which were projected with whatever
assistance the Government could buy
with money OF coerce through its Su-
preme authority. All contingencies
had been provided for. The formal
eau to action was like touching an
electric button to start the wheels of a
vast, complicated machinery built up
10y infinite patience and labor
Gen. Joffre leaving Paris a few DAYS
previously to direct the forces of
France III Alsace-Lorraine; Gen. Won
Emmich already in quick movement
in Belgium with Il contingent of the
German army, and Gen. Won linden
burg with another contingent rushing
into Fast Prussia to meet the Russian
advance, were likewise the executives
in plans matured with infinite pains
down to the most minute details by
The highest military genius of their
nations with ample time, adequate
financial resources and nlimite au-
thority in perf5ct:ng them.
\ Different Matter to Diplomats.
The call which came to the Alneri-
eau diplomats in Europe as d result
OF the war was everything tina was
different. Gentlemen of distinction at
home in their various walks of life,
they went abroad for a few years of
elegant leisure, accepting their posi-
tons for the sake of the honor and
pleasure of representing the President
of the United States in the capitals of
the old World Not being able to do
it upon the salary going with the
office. they have been spending from
five thousand to one hundred thOuS-
and dollars q. year in maintaining the
dignity of the role. AS the Consuls
and Consul-Generals look after every
thing pertaining to international
commercial relations, the duties Of
the diplomats were SO largely social
that the American public long ago
acquired the habit of call @ them
ornamental"
In the space Of twenty-four hours,
dlteT August L, the certainty Ol q
general conflict of the great powers
fell with a sudden blow upon tens OF
thousands of American tourists travel
ing in Europe. This classification in
cluded all classes in the scale of So
ciety, from the millionaire on the
other side with his wife and daughters
for their annual parade Of the pea
cock alleys of the big hotels, to the
country school teacher who had de-
MED herself pretty clothes for ten OF
twelve years to get together the
money for this one trip abroad, ano
to he immigrant with his American
citizenship papers upon which the inF
was scarcely dry reviSiting the Lane OF
his birth. In twenty-four hour:
many of these tourists had had SOM
sort of unpleasant experience which
brought them the astounding knowl'
edge that they were caught in tn
meshes of war. Startled, outraged
they struggled to get free. Straight
way they made for the nearest Ameri
can embassy or legation. Peremp
torily. with the voice of a sovereign
people, they demanded what they hat
been denied elsewhere. Sometimes
was ready money to pay for food ant
shelter. Sometimes it was what the.
had been accustomed ~arrogantly t
receive from fawning hotel lackeys
Whatever it happened to be. they ex
pected the American officials to get i
and without delay. The diplomat
We're. by the unwritten law of thei
native land, the Servants" of tn
American people. That went withou
saying.
Open House and Open Office.
From Copenhagen down to Madri
the tourists from the United State
instantly turned their faces home
ward, their plans. disarranged ty tn
violent upheaval. 1t was worse tha
an earthquake. 1t was a succession Q
earthquakes. each more terrifyin
than the one preceding. The threat
enlng danger drew nearer and tn
only refuge lay beyond the seas. TIL
number who have finished the jOurne
and arrived safely at home withou
the assistance of the American diplC
attic or consular officers is SO Sma
mat 1T Is not worth considering. Am
baSsadorS, Ministers, COnSuls and sec