Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-04-20
ANTHEM ALMOST
COST MANS LIFE
Egyptian Bandsmen Lose Music
Sadly Needed in Greeting
u. S. Consul.
OFFICIALS ALL FUSED UP
Suggestion of marching Through
Georgia." as Substitute for "stzr-
SpsngIed Banner" Accepted
by American Diplomat


BY American Diplomat
LOndOn--The pOmp and ceremony
which surrounds the presentation Of
7 diplomatic credentials to potentates
/ Of Eastern countries by representa-
/ tives OF the United States, or Of any
other country, have developed many
1 delicate and embarrassing situations
I The Eastern mind attaches great i'm
[ pOrtanee 10 ceremOniaIs and 10 make
a favorable impression all diplomats
must conduct themselves IN strict &C
cordance with precedents.
A story regarding the arrival Of Pc
ter Augustus Jay, United States con
sui and diplomatic agent in Cairo.
Egypt has reached London through
Englishmen who have made Jays ac-
quaintance.
Il seems that the ceremony cOinci-
dent to the presentation Of credentials
to the khedive requires a vast amount
OF preparation Instead OF the diplo-
mat stepping to the street and hailing
a k1ck to convey him to the royal pal
are, the khedive sends q procession OF
lancers, Iackeys, buglers and torch
bearers to conduct the stranger to his
presence. When the procession
reaches the palace gate the imperial
band strikes up the national anthem
Of the country which the visitor rep
resents and he is ushered in to its mar
tial strains.
The Music Is Lest
About & week before the khedive
was to receive Consul Jay the master
of ceremonies dashed up to the con-
sulate and asked TO see the new diplO-
mat with every appearance Of extreme
nervousness. II is customary for the
master OF ceremonies TO open a con-
versation by inquiring into the state
of being OF the consul and his family,
with prOtestatons of respect for his
progenitors and immediate friends.
But on this occasion the nervous mes
senger got right down to usiness-
Your excellency," he said. ~the
lOathsOme and unspeakably vile dog
who is leader of the imperial band has
had the effrontery but this very morn
ing 10 crawl before me on his belly
and with loud lamentations 10 tell me
that he has mislaid or lost the music
of the 'Star-Spangled Banner. The
punishment for his crime win be ter
rible, but in the meantime if the son
of q dog and a thousand dogs cannot
find the music for the 'Star-Spangied
Banner would it suit your Excelleney
If the band plays Marching Through
Georgia when your excelIency arrives
at the palace gate?'
Being & true diplomat, Consul Jay /
rose TO the occasion II might also be I
stated that Jay was born north Of the !
Mason and DixOn's line. otherwise I
complications might have ensued-
1T would please me greatly" said /
Jay. IF the imperial band should play 4
Through Georgia upon my 4
arrival"
'-Oh, Say, Can You See"
ThereupOn the master OF ceremonies
backed himself out OF the room with
many assurances OF his thankfulness
and protesting between thanks that
uAE>S VI WAlElAACA liz US VI u
band master found the music or not.
he and all of his players would have
The skin removed from their backs
" public Jogging; they would be
boiled in oil. drawn and quartered.
On the morning Of the presentation.
Consul Jay stepped into an open-faced
'punkin" carriage drawn By prancing
chargers. Two lackayes stood behind
rhe others walked ahead and behind.
The carriage was preceded by a troop
II Iancers and buglers.
As the carriage entered the pOStern
.ate Consul Jay was prepared TO hear
he air of Marching Through
Georgia" but instead. there was a
rash Of eymbals. and bandsmen. with
II the force Of their lungs and all the
pirit they possessed sent up the good
Id strains of "Oh. Say. Can You See =
Ind jay passed into the palace
through a lane Of dazzling smiles from
andsmen who had escaped a horrible
cath. They played the American ma
ionaI anthem as it has seldom been
layed before.