my memories of eighty years-第36节
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The compensation of our representatives abroad always has been and still is entirely inadequate to enable them to maintain； in comparison with the representatives of other governments； the dignity of their own country。 All the other great powers at the principal capitals maintain fine residences for their ambassadors； which also is the embassy。 Our Congress； except within the last few years； has always refused to make this provision。 The salary which we pay is scarcely ever more than one…third the amount paid by European governments in similar service。
I worked hard while in the Senate to improve this situation because of my intimate knowledge of the question。 When I first began the effort I found there was very strong belief that the whole foreign service was an unnecessary expense。 When Mr。 Roosevelt first became president； and I had to see him frequently about diplomatic appointments； I learned that this was his view。 He said to me： 〃This foreign business of the government； now that the cable is perfected； can be carried on between our State Department and the chancellery of any government in the world。 Nevertheless； I am in favor of keeping up the diplomatic service。 All the old nations have various methods of rewarding distinguished public servants。 The only one we have is the diplomatic service。 So when I appoint a man ambassador or minister； I believe that I am giving him a decoration； and the reason I change ambassadors and ministers is that I want as many as possible to possess it。〃
The longer Mr。 Roosevelt remained president； and the closer he came to our foreign relations； the more he appreciated the value of the personal contact and intimate knowledge on the spot of an American ambassador or minister。
Mr。 Reid entertained more lavishly and hospitably than any ambassador in England ever had； both at his London house and at his estate in the country。 He appreciated the growing necessity to the peace of the world and the progress of civilization of closer union of English…speaking peoples。 At his beautiful and delightful entertainments Americans came in contact with Englishmen under conditions most favorable for the appreciation by each of the other。 The charm of Mr。 and Mrs。 Whitelaw Reid's hospitality was so genuine； so cordial； and so universal； that to be their guest was an event for Americans visiting England。 There is no capital in the world where hospitality counts for so much as in London； and no country where the house…party brings people together under such favorable conditions。 Both the city and the country homes of Mr。 and Mrs。 Reid were universities of international good…feeling。 Mr。 Reid； on the official side； admirably represented his country and had the most intimate relations with the governing powers of Great Britain。
I recall with the keenest pleasure how much my old friend； Joseph H。 Choate； did to make each one of my visits to London during his term full of the most charming and valuable recollections。 His dinners felt the magnetism of his presence； and he showed especial skill in having； to meet his American guests； just the famous men in London life whom the American desired to know。
Choate was a fine conversationalist； a wit and a humorist of a high order。 His audacity won great triumphs； but if exercised by a man less endowed would have brought him continuously into trouble。 He had the faculty； the art； of so directing conversation that at his entertainments everybody had a good time； and an invitation always was highly prized。 He was appreciated most highly by the English bench and bar。 They recognized him as the leader of his profession in the United States。 They elected him a Bencher of the Middle Temple； the first American to receive that honor after an interval of one hundred and fifty years。 Choate's witticisms and repartees became the social currency of dinner…tables in London and week…end parties in the country。
Choate paid little attention to conventionalities； which count for so much and are so rigidly enforced； especially in royal circles。 I had frequently been at receptions； garden…parties； and other entertainments at Buckingham Palace in the time of Queen Victoria and also of King Edward。 At an evening reception the diplomats representing all the countries in the world stand in a solemn row； according to rank and length of service。 They are covered with decorations and gold lace。 The weight of the gold lace on some of the uniforms of the minor powers is as great as if it were a coat of armor。 Mr。 Choate； under regulations of our diplomatic service； could only appear in an ordinary dress suit。
While the diplomats stand in solemn array； the king and queen go along the line and greet each one with appropriate remarks。 Nobody but an ambassador and minister gets into that brilliant circle。 On one occasion Mr。 Choate saw me standing with the other guests outside the charmed circle and immediately left the diplomats； came to me； and said： 〃I am sure you would like to have a talk with the queen。〃 He went up to Her Majesty； stated the case and who I was； and the proposition was most graciously received。 I think the royalties were pleased to have a break in the formal etiquette。 Mr。 Choate treated the occasion； so far as I was concerned； as if it had been a reception in New York or Salem； and a distinguished guest wanted to meet the hosts。 The gold…laced and bejewelled and highly decorated diplomatic circle was paralyzed。
Mr。 Choate's delightful personality and original conversational powers made him a favorite guest everywhere； but he also carried to the platform the distinction which had won for him the reputation of being one of the finest orators in the United States。
Choate asked at one time when I was almost nightly making speeches at some entertainment： 〃How do you do it？〃 I told him I was risking whatever reputation I had on account of very limited preparation； that I did not let these speeches interfere at all with my business； but that they were all prepared after I had arrived home from my office late in the afternoon。 Sometimes they came easy； and I reached the dinner in time； at other times they were more difficult； and I did not arrive till the speaking had begun。 Then he said： 〃I enjoy making these after…dinner addresses more than any other work。 It is a perfect delight for me to speak to such an audience； but I have not the gift of quick and easy preparation。 I accept comparatively few of the constant invitations I receive； because when I have to make such a speech I take a corner in the car in the morning going to my office； exclude all the intruding public with a newspaper and think all the way down。 I continue the same process on my way home in the evening； and it takes about three days of this absorption and exclusiveness； with some time in the evenings； to get an address with which I am satisfied。〃
The delicious humor of these efforts of Mr。 Choate and the wonderful way in which he could expose a current delusion； or what he thought was one； and produce an impression not only on his audience but on the whole community； when his speech was printed in the newspapers； was a kind of effort which necessarily required preparation。 In all the many times I heard him； both at home and abroad； he never had a failure and sometimes made a sensation。
Among the many interesting characters whom I met on shipboard was Emory Storrs； a famous Chicago lawyer。 Storrs was a genius of rare talent as an advocator。 He also on occasions would make a most successful speech； but his efforts were unequal。 At one session of the National Bar Association he carried off all honors at their banquet。 Of course； they wanted him the next year； but then he failed entirely to meet their expectations。。 Storrs was one of the most successful advocates at the criminal bar； especially in murder cases。 He rarely failed to get an acquittal for his client。 He told me many interesting stories of his experiences。 He had a wide circuit； owing to his reputation； and tried cases far distant from home。
I remember one of his experiences in an out…of…the…way county of Arkansas。 The hotel where they all stopped was very primitive； and he had the same table with the judge。 The most attractive offer for breakfast by the landlady was buckwheat…cakes。 She appeared with a jug of molasses and said to the judge： 〃Will you have a trickle or a dab？〃 The judge answered： 〃A dab。〃 She then ran her fingers around the jug and slapped a huge amount of molasses on the judge's cakes。 Storrs said： 〃I think I prefer a trickle。〃 Whereupon she dipped her fingers again in the jug and let the drops fall from them on Storrs's cakes。 The landlady was disappointed because her cakes were unpopular with such distinguished gentlemen。
Once Storrs was going abroad on the same ship with me on a sort of semi…diplomatic mission。 He was deeply read in English literature and； as far as a stranger could be； familiar with the places made famous in English and foreign classics。
He was one of the factors； as chairman of the Illinois delegation； of the conditions which made possible the nomination of Garfield and Arthur。 In the following presidential campaign he took an act
