The Colorado statesman., 1922-01-21

Il time. Their relaxation consisted of drive each
afternoon in their victoria, drawn by span of
horses and recognized by all people in this region
by the tricolor cockades in the tall hats of the
driver and footman.
The French ambassador has adopted the Amer
ican breakfast. When weather permits, he takes
it on the roof of the embassy instead of following
the custom with which all travellers to France are
familiar. Also, when the weather is cOngenial
afternoon tea is served a porch. 1t is at these
teas, quite informal, that the Jusserands get in
close touch with Washington society, official, dip
lomatic and others. on these occasions Nine. JUS
serand presides the teacups with the dign
fed simplicity that characterIzes her at all times
She is always well gowned, never overdressed,
appearing in anything approaching the
bizarre.
1t is considered of the utmost Importance to all
the members sof the diplomatic corps that they
make their calls at the home of the dean and his
wife soon possible after their arrival in
Washington 1t would be hard to estimate how
many calls have been made in this way, hundreds
surely, and POSSIBLY thousands. As the number
of diplomats is small compared to the rest of the
people who figure in Washington society," all of
whom make many calls each year on the Jusser
ands, person mathematically inclined might find
amusement in computing the approximate
number of visits which probably have been made
at the French embassy during the past eighteen
years.
To the casual visitor in Washington, the en-
basses and legations seem practically inacces
sble, whereas such is not the case. To say the
official homes of the foreign colony easy of
access would be nearer the truth. The represen-
tatives of other countries and their families go
more than halfway to meet Americans 1t is true
they follow the rules and regulations laid down
by polite society and are punctillous about calls
precedence and other social amenities, but they
are most appreciative of courtesies which bring
them in more intimate touch with the affairs out
side of diplomatic formalites
1t is a pretty safe statement to say that all
diplomats speak at least language other than
that which is native to them. The majority do
better than that and more less familiar with
half dozen so, speaking more than half of them
years the wives of the men who sent to wash
ington from countries in all parts of the world
have perfected themselves in languages.
There are ways of placing the rank of the
heads of embassies and legations In the matter
of precedence society dongs the ambassadors
rank the ministers, irrespective of the length of
lime of residence here. For instance, the minister
of Portugal Viscount d'Alte came to Washington
lust nine months before the French ambassador
NJ Jusserand, arrived. However, all the ambassa-
dors must pass ahead of the viscount and all the
wives of the ambassadors would precede the wife
of Viscount dAlte, if he had one
The other method of rating the embassies takes
into consideration the order of their establishment
in Washington. The founding of embassies here is
a part of history and goes deeper to the root of
international relations than the appointment of
ambassadors. The Importance of the British en-
bassy cannot be underestmated and yet Sir Auck-
land Geddes the British ambassador, must take
his place tenth in line because nine colleagues