The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-21

IL W. y NJ
down the aisle. The crowd vas worse
than anything the Balkans had ever
produced. To the right was a display
Of elk stockings. To the left . pale
pink corset on . pale white ngurtno
decorated the view. And Ill about
him were women. prodding him With
umbrellas. shrieking when his medals
struck them. pushing him and pulling
him. He lost his glove. He stopped
to recapture It. Rut his sword jabbed
q woman and she yelled. Another
stepped on his finger. He had to leave
the left glove on the noor.
Gently he asked. Where y the
muster" and they laughed.
Presently he spied two men: they
wore derby hats and looked kind.
He said he was on his way to the
entertainment, and they asked him
who he was.
I'm q diplomat"
What. a democrat?'
No, 4 diplomat. A. minister"
What kinda Minister"
And when the man with the medals
mentioned his homo In the Balkans.
the boys In the dorbics said they'd
never heard Of that kind Of minister.
Then he decided that he didn't really
want to hear old music and inquired
about an exit.
1.-THE men were very pleasant" the
diplomat recalls. lone came on either
side OF me and rather pushed me
through the crowd. Somebody said
a man was being arrested, but didn't
see him. They got me out a side door.
and my big car was nowhere about.
But I got a taxicab and went back to
the hotel"
Back in his expensive suite. the en-.
voy took OF his costume. packed up his
sword and his medals. folded away one
glove. put on his working clothes. and
went down to the lunch counter to eat
a solitary supper before going back to
Washington. Then he figured up that
1t had cost his government something
more than 5000 to send its amiable
diplomat down to a Philadelphia de-
partment store just for the ride.
The Lure Of Liquor.
Yes, the United States Of America
loves the diplomats. Not, usually. for
any Of the subtle. secret reasons that
you hear whispered. But from motives
that are childlike: because they dress
like knights Templar on parade; be.
cause they bow so low over a lady's
hand: because their names shine out
To Iatt "a FOL har tSh
Therefore. when the embassies and
legations. paying their tax to democ-
racy's curiosity. are obliged on Friday
afternoons to fling wide their doors
and bid the world come In. the worlds
wife pulls on white kid gloves, grabs
q card case, and scrambles for a place
near the refreshment table.
There Is another reason for the
popularity OF the embassy. Diplomatic
liquor. be 1t breathed low. Is said to
be both good and abundant Moro
than one Washingtonian. making
ready for the Friday afternoon Pill.
grimage. checks OF the stopping
places where the best champagne IS
served and hurries in and GU. Of
those drawing rooms where the orange
punch Is merely orange punch.
Girls from the neighboring schools
come and eat up the sandwiches.
Light fingered guests find a silver ash
tray, picture frame. a gold paper.
weight attractive and easy to curry
in a friendly pocket. Buffers have t.
be detectives as well as symbols o.
aristocracy.
The guests often behave more like
pay -as-you-drink patrons at an ole
time saloon. They feel free to order
and to criticize what they have or
dered. A debutante. slipping cham.
payne at the Italian embassy,
shrugged her velvet shoulder almost
into Nob!l Donna de Marines face
as she whined. Ugh. this stun tastes
like vinegar!"
The Mexican embassy. with its ru.
mored unlimited liquid expense &C.
count, Is popular. But not even an
arid embassy would be ignored en-.
tirely. The proper official people come
because 1t 10 the proper official gesture.
The hungry and thirsty come to eat
and to drink. The curious come to see.
The climbers come to be seen.
1t IL not surprising. then. that the
British ambassador. Sir Esme Howard,
or. rather. his wife. Lady Isabella,
dares to challenge the open door pol
icy OF the Friday afternoon at homes.
and declines to give the public free.
for-alls that her sisters In the diplo
matte corps are afraid to abandon.
The school girl out for q thrill: the
sight seeker out for a peep at A for.
eign count: the light fingered out for
a crested cigaret holder: the climber
out for an invitation-these cannot
pass through the big front door OF
the British embassy.
British Supremacy.
When Lady Isabella has an at-home
she prefers to know the names Of her
guests. Admittance is by card. But
even with such precautions some OF
the cave dwellers. and. doubtless. some
Of the disgruntled who didn't get
cards. sit back and point with dismay
to the news that q former carpenter
10 invited to dinner. and that THAT
creature who has been divorced three
times and IL loaded with diamonds "
10 On tie guest list.
But tAe British embassy, with .
prestige THAT dates back to the days
Of Lord Pauncefote. sits on q little
throne, q step or two removed from
the other little thrones that line the
avenues. You can always tell
throne because the nag pole In front
marks II a. an embassy.