Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07

mats were the most energetic set In the
Capital, INDUCING In "three-minute in
tellectual discussions and six-ninute
flirtations, subject to Interruptions"
The diplomats differed from Anner-
cans in that their trade Is social" A
momentous question presented by one
American to another was, DO our
young women like diplomats for their
uniforms, or do they merely angle for
nuptials?" According to the feminine
viewpoint, title surely added to .
diplomats market value. But very few
unclaimed titles came to America, and
those that did needed regilding. Most
of the foreigners were taken for their
true value. A native lady would judge
them as she would Yankee Of May
flower ancestry.
Diplomacy in the republic took on
new clothes, so to speak, when, during
ClevelanG'S administration, Korea, the
hermit kingdom, decided to honor these
States with a Minister. This unique
decision carried with it an attachment,
namely, the women Who were married
to the Minister and his secretaries. The
official residence was established on
Iowa circle, and irr these Alnericanized
surroundings, Minister PAX and his
cortege could be seen in native costumes
Of fly-screen hats and skirted coats. But
when 1t came to furnishing their man
sior they employed the American motif,
and In doing so disappointed Americans
who had curiosity about Korean
dwelling.
The first reception given by the
Koreans shocked the set diplomatique,
because of its faithful repetition OF what
is commonly given in an American ON
calls NpuSe. How the Korean women
managed SO rapidly to learn Occidental
manners was most bafdtng subject.
But the women had another surprise u
store for Americanos.
The Oriental pageant was renewed
shortly when the Chinese Minister In
vited the Koreans TO attend an ofhcial
reception. Here was precedent for the
Koreans. Would they take their wives
along? In Seoul. capital Of the mother
land, II was strictly taboo to nningie
publicly with women, And the grey
heads Of the legation decided against
the women-the gentle ladies were to
be left at home.
Meantime the Korean ladies held .
privy council, too. They laid plans for
coup d'etat. While the hombres
boarded glossy carriages in front Of the
house, the women waited for their
buggies IN the rear. And the ladies and
gentlemen of the Korean legation ar
rived on the scene of fes1iity ensemble.
THE law of Allah snent the plurality
of wives, and especially the adj
herence to 1t by the former Sultan Of
Islam, often resulted in undue strain
on his majeSty's diplomats whom he
sent to countries where monoganay was
the rule. While Ambassadors from
England and France may have held
loo ding raneikfnV1e IN fha eARio1 nFT4A-
light, it was the Turkish Minister in
Washington whop the American public
was most curious about
Turkey has been represented IN the
Capital for many years, but 1t was not
until the early days of this century
that Mohanlmed'S son was permitted,
by spe 1ial pronunciamentO Of the Sui
tan, to bring his wife here. How did
the Turkish Minister conduct his
household? This was the question Yam
KEGS asked each other. Did he adhere
to the customs OF Islam?
The public prints soon sensed the
alleged to be the true stories OF how
Ali Ferouh Bey conducted the affairs
of the legation. And he, the sovereign
envoy. was shocked at such impudence
from the press.
Il am surprised" he said, that the
American press should print so much
about me and my family. 1t is con-
trary to our customs and seems strange.
$50 much has been said since came
here that it is very distressing for me
to open a newspaper. since I fear
might again see Misrepresentation Of
my private and personal affairs.
II will say, however, that have my
wife with me, because she has been Ill
for the past two years, and her ply
stefan advised a long sea voyage. .
Her illness is the ground upon which
I vas able to obtain permission to
bring her with me. Besides myseh,
there are but three or four instances
Of this same privilege"
But M. Ali Ferouh Bey soon gained
popularity in the Capital. especially
after 1t became known that on ceY-
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