The New York herald., 1922-10-01
Continued from Pu0e Nine.

SpScSHeSs every IuluS was as We WiSneQ,
as informal as if it had been in a private
residence. except that a toast was pro-
posed to our guests and their Governments
and responded to by the dean of the Diplo-
matte Corps with a toast to the President.
At the second dinner, Mr.. Knox having re-
tired, our guest representing the State
Department was the then Secretary of
State William Jennings Bryan Our COM
mittee chairman in his welcome to our
guests made a complimentary allusion
to Mr.. Bryan. and at the conclusion Of
the chairman's brief remarks Mr. Bryan
rose and to general surprise began and con-
tinued at an embarrassing length a DO
litical speech.
Guests looked at each other astonished; !;
no one there except Mr.. Bryan. it seemed.
was unaware that discussion of domestic
politics. or politics OF any kind at social
affair largely attended by members Of
the diplomatic corps is listed in the cate
CORY Of things which "are not done" Aside
from that Mr.. Bryan was not one of the
hosts; he was just a guest Just as were
several OF his assistants in the State
Department; he had no more authority
TO .speaw for a committee. or to give tone
to the style of its entertainment, than any
other guest. Elders among the diplo-
ers with their silver and glass: they wanted
to continue without oratorical sauce their
enjoyment of the excellent dinner: juniors
grew nervous as the speaker went on
taking away time from the after dinner
dance. On, and yet on, the eloquent
gentleman talked until over the spirits Of
the diners a chill descended. nipping So
ciability. The affair was a frost What
had promised to be an annual social event
of interest just fiivvered out A third af-
tair of the kind was not attempted
Mr. Bryan is a citizen of many remark
able qualities of mind. some of them admir-
able, and the wonder is, therefore, all the
greater that in spite of his abundant
opportunity to learn the conventions which
govern social relations. especially those
which apply to the social life in diplomatic
circles. he remains either in ignorance or
Indifference. Another fact which adds
mystery to the Commoner's attitude in this
respect is that he did not lack an ex-
ample which should have attracted his ad-
miration as It did that of many in Wash
ington, who declared that Mrs. Bryans
lawn parties and other entertainments
during her husbands term as Secretary
OF State proved her to be a hostess Of
much personal charm whose guests en-
joyment was enhanced by her tact and
her plans and piIotings- Washington
hostesses know how many they are-re-
vealing her possession of social equipment
which concealed its own devices; the art
which conceals art. if you please.
There is an international association
called as I remember. The Inter-Allied
Parliamentary Union. which has a semi
official recognition by a number of Gov
ernments- A little time before the war
three or four members Of the Japanese
Parliament, returning from the annual
convention of that Union. were guests
at a dinner in the Shoreham Hotel in
Washington. given in their honor by some
gentleman devoted to the interests of that
Union; but because of one of those mys-
teries of diplomacy our Government was
not officially represented at the dinner.
although one of the guests was the Secre-
tary OF State. Mr.. Bryan The Japanese
members of Parliament accompanied by
the Japanese Ambassador arrived at the
exact minute and hour noted in the invi-
tation. and forvhalf an hour were agree
ably occupied in meeting old friends. max
ing new acquaintances and enjoying the
pre-NOlstead battle cry of freedom
How" The Japanese supposed that the
Secretary Of State was to be there repre-