Milford chronicle., 1929-03-01
TALE OF SHOOTING OF
DUSKY QUEEN REVIVED
BY JOB HUNTING SEASON

| pOlltlcal forgetting is one which
old employees of the State Depart
ment remember when Administra-
tions change and the job hunters
come down from the brush to be-
siege the national citadel. 1t con-
Germs Virginia Democrat who also
changed his politics and created a
peculiarly delicate and somewhat
humiliating international situation.
The terse political record of it is
written in some aged documents in
the State Department files, but they
do not tell the story as the State
Department employees of that day
remember it. In it's day, that tale,
quietly told, swept the embassies
of all the world with laughter.
From the standpoint of the United
States Government, it was so funny
it was almost tragic. The moral of
it is obvious. Nearly anything can
happen when a Southern Democrat
changes his politics and accepts
appointment from a Republican Ad-
nlinistration.
Riley Was His Name
Riley was his name-Dr. William
r. Riley-and he was peppery lit
tie chap from the Old Dominion. In
the first Grant Administration he
forsook the Jeffersonian faith and
rose to some prominence in the thin
Republican ranks of Virginia, where
people were still .smarting from the
war between the States. In the
second Administration he was APP
pointed Consulate to Zanzibar, on
the Island of Zanzibar, then ruled
by an Independent Sultan.
Riley had been rather pestiferous
in insisting on a political appoint
ment. Perhaps the designation of
Virginia gentlemen, and a former
Democrat, as Consul to an island of
dark-skinned persons off the coast
of Africa was Ulysses S. Grants no.
ton of a good joke. But if Grant
could have forseen the complica-
lions which would arise out of that
appointment he would have kept DR..
Riley in Westinghouse might have
sent him to help in the carpet-bag
administration of some Southern
State.
Nude Black Woman Appears
Although in those days Zanzibar
was one of the ranking ports of that
East African Coast, the position of
American consul was sinecure.
Riley went to Zanzibar, twitched his
short white moustache in some
scorn at the black folk with whom
he was obliged to do business on an
equal footing, and prepared to
spend a quiet term in the hammock
of his bungalow overlooking broad
sandy beach and a green-blue tropic
sea.
But presently he became annoyed
by the daily appearance of a fat
black female who wandered down to
the beach each morning, Invested
herself of all clothing and proceed.
ed to frolic in the warm surf.
Having nothing else of particular
Importance to think about, he gave
a great deal of thought to that daily
dip. AS a gentleman, he was shock
ed; as a Virginian, he was irritated
and annoyed.
Hits on Scheme to End Display
If he had mentioned the matter to
any of his fellow-members of the
consular service or if any of them
had been present when the fat black
person appeared in the morning,
much trouble would have been
avoided. But Riley considered the
whole affair not only shocking but
disgraceful. He kept it to himself,
and after a while he began to brood
about it.
No matter how round and red the
sun might rise across the bay, with
the palm fronds black against the
bronze shield of the ocean, an
eclipse was certain to take place
in the form of a waddling black sill
houette-sometimes more than one.
Riley determined to put stop to
the naked performance, the shout
ing, splashing and screaming which
turned his mornings into nightmares
and helped spoil his highly reflect
i've days.
Peppers DuSky Queen
So, one morning when the fat
black female was stepping out OF
her scanty attire on his beach and
bending slightly away from him for
that purpose, the American consul
to Zanzibar busted her, posteriorly,
with a charge of fine bird shot from
his fowling piece, taking most de-
liberate aim from his veranda.(
In less than five minutes he dis
covered he had peppered the Queen
of Zanzibar.
Now it is an unwritten law of
diplomacy that consuls must not |
under any circumstances shoot !
queens of countries to which they |
are accredited. And as the Sultan |
of Zanzibar angrily suggested to the |
Government of the United States, |
the attendant physical circum-
stances were not only painful but |
embarrassing. For one thing, the |
Queen could not occupy the royal |
throne and for another she was |
obliged to stand up to eat her meals.
Nor could she grant audiences. No |
queen can hold proper audience
if she is obliged to lie on her royal
tummy to do so.
Explanations Fail.
1t was a delicate situation. Riley
tried to explain, but to no purpose.
1t was one of those things particu-
laPly difficult to explain, especially
under the attendant circumstances.
The American Consul was distinct
ly persona non grata in Zanzibar,
and received some threats in the
bargain.
There is nothing in the Record to
indicate the United States apollo
gized to the Queen of Zanzibar, but
Riley was recalled for indiscretions
with shotgun, affecting the royal
person of the Queen. The birdshot
was picked out very carefully and
the diplomatic incident, which at one
time threatened to become a situa-
ton, was closed.
How Blaine Solved 1t
RiInu nanna hack to Wa shin ntnn |