Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1882 — A LIFE OF ELEGANT LEISURE. [ARTICLE]

A LIFE OF ELEGANT LEISURE.

Ol* tfte Trials of & Foreign Diplomats— Swell Chap. The following interesting sketch of the ills of those swell legation fellows at Washington is given by a correspondent of the Buffalow Commercial Advertiser: To Ihe World outside of Washington, which has an insane reverence for important dignity, it may seem that the young gentlemen who come here from abroad in official capacities are overwhelmed with business in every conceivable shape. No doubt they fancy (that is, the outside world) that these foreign ducks get up early ifi the morning, by the bright, light, and are kept bury till a late hour in the evening in sending important prir vate communications to their home Governments about lbe condition of republicanism bn tbe United States and the prospects of Its doctrines eating Out the monarchies of Luro|e. So much for the theory, and now a word or so about the practice and the actual Lets pf diplomacy from a Washington standpoint: “I am sick,” said one, “of this whole diplomatic life. It is one continued round., of idleness and sloth. How do I pass my time? It makes me ashamed when I think of it. Weil my servant has standing orders to wake me at 11 o’clock. When he comes, I tell him to come again at 12 o’clofek, and then I again tell him tp comb at 1 o’clock, because it is an irksome duty to confront the sunshine and see other people busy, and 1 always put it off till the latest moment." “What then?" “Well, I order my bath; and next to breakfast, and it is aboyt 2 o’clock before I am ready to go on the street. You want to know what next? Welj from that time on till bedtime it is one constant battle to kill the hours. I drop in at the legation, and we smoke a few cigarettes and drink same wine and tell a few of the latest stories. That is our entire business. The relations between the United States and my native Spain are so friendly that we poor diplomates are going to seed. Do not make a mistake, my friends. You think it is an easy life. You are wrong. Nothing is more wearying than idleness when forced on you by the circumstances ol the case. We are invited out to receptions ? O, yes; but that soon looses its charms. Every month I receive a handsome remittance from my family, over and above my salary with the legation, but I am tired of spending it in the old ways. I have exhausted the opportunities for pleasure and sometimes I feel as if i could envy the common mechanic who has regular hours for his work."

Slander rebuked: “They say a woman can’t keep a secret," remarked Mrs. Finsbury, with a toss of the head. *‘l say it’s a slander. Mrs. Smith told me to-day that the Fendersons had had an awful time. John came home last night in a terrible state,and Sarah declared she wouldn’t live with him another day; but they are all made up.again, and this morning they were both as good as pie. Mrs. Smith thought ’twas best not to say anything about it, seeing as they’d made up. She told me about it more’n an hour ago, and I haven’t mentioned it to a soul. I guess a woman can keep a secret as well as a man." Every woman in the room cried out most loyally, “Ofcourse she can." It was only the men folks who relaxed their features.—Boston Transcript. The Methodist conference at Nashville has elected Bev. Johu 8. Martin, of the Baltimore conference, secretary, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Summers. President Arthur’s summer cottage at Long Branch, has larger accommodations than the executive mansion.