Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1904 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

Hew Minister to Pimu. The transfer of John Barrett, minister to the Argentine Republic?, as minister to Panama is recognition by the president of the qualities Mr. Barrett has displayed as a diplomat among the peoples of South America and In

tbe orient Mr. Barrett is admirably adapted for the duties of his new position. By his success in enlisting the co-operation of the South American countries in the St Louis exposition he has shown his ability to deal successfully with the Spanish speaking races, though, strange to say, his command of the Spanish language is very limited, and he has had to depend upon the interpreters in the employ of the legation while at Buenos Ayres. In this connection an American who attended a function at which Mr. Barrett was a guest in Buenos Ayres recites the following monologue which Mr. Barrett delivered to a prominent Spanish woman who opened a conversation with him in her own tongue: "Spanish I no talk. I study Spanish. Get along well. Think speak Spanish soon. Very fond of Spanish. Delightful language. So easy. So simple. So much like French and Latin. Sweet sounding tongue. So musical. Charming language. So easy.” ' V Von Moltlce 11. ... Within a few weeks a Von Moltke will again figure as head of the general staff of the Prussian army. Von Moltke 11. is the nephew of the great strategist of the later nineteenth century, to whom for long years he acted as aid-de-camp, and will consequently be no stranger to the palatial quarters of the Konigsplatz when he enters them as chief. Count Helmuth, who bears the Christian name of his great kinsman, is fifty-six years old and has passed the whole of his military career in staff and court employments. He never commanded a brigade or a division, much less a corps. On the day of Count von Moltke’s death he became aid-de-camp to the emperor. A Young Saltan. The sultan of Zanzibar is only eighteen years of age and is under the regency of Mr. Rogers until he attains the age of twenty-one. His majesty is a woolly headed youth of negroid type, bnt he is an old Harrovian for all that, having been educated at the famous school at Harrow, England. He married at the age of sixteen his little cousin of eleven years old, bnt he did not take his wife when he went to attend the coronation of King Edward. Counteu Steen Official Society. A subject of animated discussion among the women who constitute what is known as official society in Washington Is the lawn fete for the benefit of the Russian Red Cross which the Countess Cassini is arranging for May 6. The Countess Cassini is the niece of the Russian ambassador and presides over the household of the Russian legation. She Is very popular in

society and has never hesitated to respond to appeals for charitable objects. But while the personal popu; larity of the countess and her unfailing generosity would under ordinary circumstances insure the immediate and generous co-operation of the ladies in official circles In the fete announced the executive order of March 10 that all government officials and employees refrain from any expression of opinion or sympathy that could be construed as a violation of neutrality was for a time an embarrassment to the countess’ friends in political life The strain has been relieved, however, by an official statement from the state department that participation In the lawn fete for the benefit of the Red Cross fund will not be In any sense a Violation of international ethics, as the neutrality of Bed Cross societies was established by the Geneva convention.

JOHN BARRETT.

THE COUNTESS CASSINI.