The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-23

I'm r. ZACHARY TAYLOR sWEE-
IL II NEY, who for the next three
months will fill the pulpit of
the First Christian church here, is
most distinguished looking gentleman
tall, graceful, his white tinged hair
growing rather scantily about his in
tellectual brow, he looks more ike
the Hon. Champ Clark than anybody
else 1 can think of at the moments
they might be taken for brothers so
| noticeable is the resemblance; his cor
dial. affable manner suggests diplo-
macy, tact and keen discernment, all
of which qualities have been para
mount in his life, since for three years
he served in one of the most import
ant diplomatic positions within the
power of the United States to bestow
as consul general to Turkey-ap-
pointed by his close personal friend,
President Harrison, and resigning, as
he cleverly puts it, because the SAL
airy he received couldn't keep his wife
in clothes to wear to the state func-
TONS
DR.. Sweeney talks most interesting
ly about the orient and the vague i'm
pressions that we have of the Turks,
the Armenians, the East Indian po-
tentates and the Russians is resolved
into more definite and tangible
impression as this scholarly gentleman
reveals side that is never known
except by those who come in per-
sonal contact with them.
1.-THE Turks said Dr Cweaneu
most hospitab1e and kindly people
when uninfluenced by their religion
their religion teaches them that muir
der is justifiable when the unbeliever
crosses his path, and the brigand spirit
Is aroused in the Turk when he meets
such conditions. The Turk is the hest
dressed man in the world; he is beau
tfful to look at; the women of the
harem are beautiful, too, and one may
easily catch a glimpse of them through
their wells as they pass along the
streets, although they are safely
guarded. My predecessor was dubbed
by big attendant with one of the
harem ladies for turning to look at
her; he was clever enough not to re-
sist and hushed the matter up at
once. You know one of the distin-
gushing features about the Turks is
that they do not drink Intoxicating
beverages; most of the drinking and
all the lying I heard of was done by
the Christians.
you know. the unforgivable sin
with woman in Turkey is to appear
at two functions of state in the same
gown" DIR. Sweeney said land my
wife's gown cost me twice as much
as the salary I received, which was
$4,000 a year, and so I had to re-
sign before my term of office was
up"
Tell me something about the way a
consul general a diplomat feels when he
assumes post such as you filed" I
asked.
81 see it stated in the newspapers that
President Wilson has requested the reslg-
nations of all our representatives abroad
that are not under the civil service law
he answered. IT consider this a wise
movement and one that will rebound to
the good of the service. When an Ameri-
can first goes abroad to represent his
government he is bundle Of patriotism
and Americanism. He at once comes into
contact with different views, ably stated
by experienced, diplomats; he reads Cor
eign newspapers, breathes a foreign at
mosrhere, is compelled to speak a. foreign
language, all of which is antagonistic TO
American ideas and unless he is a man
of iron it will gradually wear down
the keen edge of his AmericaniSm and
paralyze his efforts for his country.
think an infusion of fresh American blood
into our diplomatic service every four
years will greatly increase the service.
True it deprives us Of a trained force, but