Evening star., 1922-07-09

+ flying with a wreath in its mouth,
/ grasping lightning in one of its
talons; cuffs embroidered in the man.
| ner of the cape: white cashmere
breeches: gold knee buckles: white
silk stockings and gold or gilt shoe
buckles; a three-cornered chapeau
bras, not so large as those used by
the French nor so small as those of
| the English: black cockade. to
which lately an eagle has been at
| tached: sword. etc. corresponding.
The secretaries have the same cos
tune. with the exception that their
coats have less embroidery than that
of the minister.
1T is usual at all European courts
on what are called gala days, such as
birthdays of the sovereign, marriages
of princes of his family and other
extraordinary occasions, for the for
cign ministers. as we'll as other per-
sons of distinction connected with the
court, to appear in uniforms more
splendid with embroidery than upon
occasions of ordinary levees. draw
ing rooms and diplomatic circles. A
decent respect for the usages of the
courts and suitable compliance with
forms there established make it
proper that the minister of the
United States should adopt this Gus
tom and wear on those occasions a
coat similar to that above described.
but embroidered round the skirts and
down the breasts, as we'll as at the
cuffs and cape, all the other parts of
the dress remaining the same. The
coats to be distinguished a S the great
and the small uniform. There should
| be a white ostrich feather or plumet
, in, the minister's hat, not standing
erect, but sewed round the brim."
John Quincy Adams in 1928. re-
ferring to the engraved design then
used on the uniform worn by minis
ters of the United States at foreign
courts on occasions when full dress
| was required, commented that this
uniform was adopted for the con-
venience of using the same dress
upon all necessary occasions and at
every court. ..
The use of it, he added, ris in no
case prescribed by this government,
States abroad may wear at his dis
cretion any dress conformable to the
customs of the place where he may
reside"
Within the next few years the
American dress was toned down con-
| siderably. Mr.. Van Buren, Secretary
|, of State in 1929, in a circular to the
diplomatic agents of the United
States. instructins them that from a
suitable respect to what is under
stood to be the usage at the several
courts of Europe" President jackson
suggested as the dress to be used by
agents upon established occasions:
"A black coat with gold star on
each side of the collar near its termi-
nation; the under clothes to be black.
blue or white, at the option of the
wearer; three-corpered chapeau de
bras: a black cockade and eagle, and
stee1-mounted sword with a white
scabbard."
In 1853 Secretary of State Marcy
I sent a circular instruction to each
member of the American diplomatic
service. stating that the department
would encourage. as far as practica-
BILE without impairing his usefulness
to his country, his appearance at
court in the simple dress Of an
American citizen. Should there be
cases where this cannot be done, ow-
ing to the character Of the foreign
government. without detriment to the
public interest, the nearest approach
to- it compatible with the due per.