The New York Herald Newspaper, June 8, 1874, Page 4

4 AMBRICAN ART IN PARIS. Art and Artist Life in France. What Our Painters and Sculptors Are Doing. ‘A VISIT TO AMERICAN STUDIOS. Paris as an Art Centre—Life in the Latin Quarter. Panis, May 14, 1874, There are about seventy-five Americans who are 4 m ciassteal art. The figure is well constructed, the modelling is Neshy and broad, the planes well marked, and the composition of lines and masses of shade peculiarly happy. Besides the American patnters, sculptors and art students there are also abouta dozen American architects in Paris, of whom, perhapa, Mr. Rich, of Boston, and Mr. Avery, of New York, are the most known, though all take honorable rank in their profession. AMERICAN ART STUDENTS IN PARIS reside chiefly in the Latin quarter and at Mont- martre. They are @ pleasant set of gentlemen, who pay their way and live with commendable frugality. Their conduct, indeed, is exceptionally good and they are generally a credit to their country, They meet im little knots at eating houses to take their meals, and “La Mere Fuchs,” on the Boulevard Clichy, sees 8. great many of them. There is also & ordémerie, Or miik shop (which in Paris is a cheaper sort of eating house than an ordinary restaurant), situated at the corner of the Rue Jacob and the Rue de Seine, which ts much frequented by artists. Their breakiast costs from twenty-five to fiity cents, their dinner about the same. Indeed there is little or no difference between them. For that they get abundant either artists or art students going through the schools in Paris, The art atmosphere, or standard of work, is perhaps higher here than in any other European city. That is to say, the aims and en- doavors of the students are more sétious, and artiste already well advanced in their profession | have opportunities of comparing themselves with masters of their craft who are m no sense inferior wo them, Among the most prominent American artists at ‘present in Paris may be mentioned MR. D. R. KNIGHT, in whose studio | saw an unfinished picture of great promise, which he has entitled “Captivity.” It is very carefully studted and seriously painted. The epoch chosen by Mr. Knight 1s that of Louis XV., and the architecture, draperies, costumes and accessories are all true to the period. The subject delineated in this picture is a young brunette | Deauty in Watteau costume, who is seated at an open window and gazing abstractedly out at the tree world beyond. A melancholy expression enhances the lovely tace of the girl, and her ‘delicate complexion is well contrasted with that of @ wrinkled, yellow old duenna standing behind, Bavagely but coldly keeping guard. The girl is surrounded by flowers and pet birds, and she | seems to have ali she could sigh for except lib- erty, Technically the painting may be described broacly executed and highly finished. Thecolor is rich, mellow and refined, the composition sim- | ‘ple and pleasing, the drawing correct and the xuodelling good, in the rendering of the textures ‘©: flesh, silks, stone work and foliage, the artist has | ucceaded in giying each its individuality. ‘Cap- | rivity” is far the best uhfinished pictire Ihave ‘een In any American studio this year, and Mr. Knights genius as a painter is a subject of general | ‘nd respectful mention in Parisian circles. 1 no- Sentinel”—which were admirable for their tone | Garbizon” stands next upon my list. Barbizon is themselves in wet weather while waiting for a | tare, and crowded with artists, who have become ue artist playing a piano accompaniment to his { Present, apparently in a critical capacity, howls a | 10 what is doubtless an awiul “row.’? The com- i understand that most of the heads are likenesses | ‘He has invented also some capital shooting coats ental, nearly 300 competitors. He has several good pic- Mr. Charles Dyer, of Chicago, is still in the East, studies are spoken of by competent judges as par- Mr. Baird, of Chicago, has been lately devoting | for English and French periodicals. paintea, It is a group from French peasant life, | chila’s grandmother, is perhaps the strongest many pleasant recollections behind him, returned | speak so plainly of his talent and industry that it | Mr. Waiter Blackman, of New York, though pro- picture making aside while in Paris and confines lent black and white portraits in the intervads of | studio in the Rue de Cherche Midi and 1s under- Californian subject, representing the discovery of Tracey is the representative of Western art in Beckwith, all model and from nature, as earnestly as their most pardonably so, without honorable mention of Mr- ‘who is the oldest American resident artist tn Paris, | Mr. Champney, Mr. White and Mr. Way, all of | artist of the iairest promise. To the names of the | Mr. Arthur, Of Philadeiphia, ana Mr. Mansfield, of | ail tne artists in Paris icei the influence ol a I have to mention 4 {ull length nude female | THE MODEL’S FIRST SITTING. | into # position where every line of her figure is yficed, #iso, In his studio two charming little pic- | tures—one entitled “Evening” and another “Ihe | and coloring. | Mr. Henry Bacon’s. picture of “A Rainy Day at oue Of the favorite artist haunts near Fontaine- Dieau, and Mr. Bacon has shown how they amuse ood light, The dining room of a tocal tavern, With its mixture of rude and fashionable furni- noisy because they were bored beyond endurance, is the scene chosen by Mr. Bacon. He has painted own singing, A rivai biows on a hunting horn an air which is probably different, for adog, whuis | cismal remonstrance; and two handsome girls, | prettily dressed in blue and gray, atop their ears | Position of this study is natural. and the picture | as {ail of character, expression and skilful painting. | ol Tewident American artists, so that Mr. Bacon’s | picture willsome day have a high historical value. aud gaiters. Indeed, the artist’s costumes are | cone with a kindly spice of humor very bold and | Mr. Ward, of New York, brother of J. Q A. Ward, | the sculptor, is pushing steadily ahead. In the | competition for places at the government school | last fall Mr. Ward was admitted second among | tures in THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF DESIGN. but ts expected back in Paris, He is exercising | his brush meantime on interiors. His Venetian ticularly good. Bis chief attention to landscape and animals, | while his spare time is given to designing on wood | Mr. Wyatt Eaton is steadily progressing, and has | nearly completed the best picture he has yet | and represents a young mother proud of her crow- | ing baby. The head of an old woman, probably the point of this exceilent paimting. Mr. Charles Dubois, of New York, who has left \ on @ visit to his native city, where he has two | large landscapes in the Academy of Design. These would be superfiuous to write 01 them while Ameri- | cans can judge of their mertt for themselves, fessionally a landscapb painter, is one of the most indefatigable students at Gérome’s. He has put himself solely to stuaies. | Mr. Welsh, of Philadelphia, is doing some excel- | his studies at Bounat’s studio. Mr. Tracey, of California, has recently taken a stood to be working bravely. Me is enrolled as a pupil of Carolus Duran, and is busy with a large | the Yosemite Valley, where a party of the first settiers are pursuing a body of fying Indians. Mr. Paris, and his picture is wortny o1 his reputation. Messrs. Love, Weir, Daentrey, Lowe, Daplyn and ‘STUDENTS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF DESIGN are drawing, painting and composing from the enthusiastic friends could desire, This list, which I fear will be at best but incomplete, would be un- John O'Brien Inman, Mr. Ginoux, Mr. Van Schalk, ail of New York, and of Mr. May, also of New York, and who has attained very high celebrity as a his- torical painter. | Boston, ciaim likewise handsome notice; and Mr. | fom Gaylord must be named as a young American | American students, too, should be added those of Mr. Volk, of Chicago; Mr. Pardessus, of New York; | New York, from every one of whom much Is ex- | pected. Indeed, it is not going too far to say that neattay and bracing art-atmospnere. Among the works of American sculptors in Paris figure by Mr, Howard Roberts, a young gentieman pf Pniadelpmia, The sabject is A beautiful girl is shrinkingly devoting herself to the requirements of art, She has naturally fallen graceful and charming, but so modest is the ex- pression of ber face that one feels necessity alone uld have overcome her reluctance to such a | ) ode of earning bread, and that a hard struggle has et made before the drapery was removed, which now hangs in delicate folds beside ber. The figure js seated in @ carved chair of artistic shape, and | around ber He the palette and brushes of & painter. Nv. Howard Roberts has evidently gone to nature dor inapivetion, though he shows careful training , | granted to private galleries and art treasures. | ‘The painters and sculptors wio belong to it give | | @ mint of money, | and wholesome food, and their favorite dish is a | beefsteak. They drink French beer, which ts now | Very good, or ordinary wine, which is still better. | The lodging of a student costs irom $6 to $12 @ | month for one furnished room, the price varies ac- cording to neighborhood and accommodation. It | is said that some of the students are FAMOUS FOR MIXED DRINKS of a sort which much exercises the minds of | French folk, and one gentleman irom the far West is one of the few advantages which Italy has over France. Male and female models in Paria receive the same rate of payment. It is fixed at five francs & sitting for a mode) of the best class, and inferior models charge one franc an hour. They often strike for higher wages, but collapse in about two days, begging earnestly for work again, with that half pathetic, half ludicrous power of entreaty which is peculiar to the southern races. There are not a few highly respectable models, One is a physician’s daughter, who supports 4 family of thirteen persons by permitting the chastened eyes of art to gaze upon her exquisite loveliness and to make i¢ immortal; one is an English watchmaker, @ very worthy man. But it 1s the custom of ai professions in our day to allow midd:emen to pilfer @ greater part of their earn- | ings, and therefore, of course, a set of greed farmers of models is in existence, These MODEL FARMERS | are in the habit of enticing children trom home and pocketing their gains. When they are caught dealing sharply with a minor the law interferes and gives them some trouble. The model farmers usually pay about $40 @ year to each of their live atock, while a good modei may easily gain $3 a day in Paris. It is therefore only right that a susiness which has such large profits should also have some risks attending it. Thus Suisse’s school for study. ing from the life, on the Quai des Orfévres, was closed im consequence of alleged sharp prac- tices, and M, Suisse was arrested, Some English models, with whom @ model farmer who supplied M. Suisse had unfair dealings, were sent back to their friends, and several pictures for which they had given sittings were thus ruined, It behooves American artists in Paris, thereiore, has lately been observed to mingle swiss cheese ; to make sure that their models will not attract the with apricot jam, to the consternation of “La Mére | | Fuchs.” They have another habit, which sur- | | prises the French people; for they start away on Sunday mornings tn the summer time to walk | twenty or thirty miles into the country, sketching | as they go, and do not place much faith in the na | | tional omnibus as:a means of locomotion. They also have boat races between St, Cloud and Su- | resnes, and that again ts not a French way of amus- | ing oneself when such nice boiled snails and Iried minnows will help to pass the time more agreeably, and young ladies irom millinery establishments | are such cheerful company. But between the American art student and the Parisian badaud there js but littie similarity. Fontainebleau, Barbizon, Cernay and Pontaven, in Brittany, are the favorite resorts of American | artists in France during the summer time, when Paris ig like an oven. Tueir favorite games on these rare holidays are billiards and the playing of practical jokes upon persons who give a some- What too easy credence to wild stories of the man- ners and customs of the Americans. Thus they giub all their money and put it down in a heap, as though they were plajing for high stakes, or they ostentatiously flager large Knives and revol- vers when a marvel-loving stranger is near. Itis a harmless amusement. Those who cannot leave Paris play a good deal at BASEBALL IN THE PUBLIC GARDENS. To say the truth, very few students who take to their profession in earnest can go touring about, forthe long days of summer are their busiest time. The models at the schools sit from seven till twelve inthe morning, when most young fel- lows are ready for breakfast. Then there is copying in the museums till, four in the \ alternoon, and the drawing class at the government school again from four to six. Alter that there is night working in private schools and atudios, Artists who have won name andjame are almost as busy as students during the brightest months of the year. Their models come;to them from eight till tweivein the morning and again from one to five in the afternoon, which Makesa working day of eight hours’ hard study from nature alone, There is little romance ina painter's We now. Either the virtues have much increased or times are harder than they used to be. Ihave not heard of even one imprudent mar- riage or a single elopement in which an American artist was concerned. Paris bas many advantages as a residence for ar- tists and some disadvantages—not many. Among the latter may be named the ancient custom of tagging or hazing a fresbman on his first entrance into a studio. He has to pay a footing of twenty or farty francs, which ts not always convenient to & youngster who has possibly a slender allowance for his own needs. The government or national schools of painting are free; but about forty francs @ month must be paid for admission to a first class private studio. The governiient schools are di- rected by Gérome, Cabanel and Pils. I have heard no complaints about their management. The ma- jority of Americans prefer to study under Gérome, and an introduction to that distinguished painter 1s always given with unlailing kindness by MR, WASHBURNE, OUR MINISTER IN PARIS, It often happens that after astadent has been | learning his profession for several years in America he finds his previous studies almost useless when he comes to Paris, and is therefore apt to feel dis- couraged. For the first six months he has gener- ally to unlearn all his acquirements, and is thus thrown a good deal off his balance. The advan- tages of Paris as a school of art are, however, un- deniable. There ts, in the flrat place, the best in- struction to be got in Europe; a great number or | excejient models; cheap living, compared with ] the prices of other capitals; the companionship of bard-working feliow students; lectures on history (Taine lectures on history at the Beaux Arts) ; lec- tures on perspective and lectures on anatomy; the pubite libraries for works on costume; the Musenm | of Cluny and the Museum of Artillery for accesso, jes and arms. Moreover, admission is readily { | The fine collection of Mr. Stuart is always open to every applicant ior the favor of viewing it. An American artist in Paris need never want for | company or for help and counsel. Both artists and art students agree well among themselves and pull kindly together, About two years ago THE LATIN QUARTER CLUB was founded, to promote good fellowship among English and American artiste. It already numbers | apout fifty members and is a growing institution. each other mutual assistance and criticism. They meet once a week, and have a president, vice pres- be abruptly stopped at a critical period, THE DEAN OF THE MODELS IN PARIS 18 a curious character. He was a friend and fellow pupil of Meissonier, and gave some promise ol ex- cellence ag an artist, wien his career was spoiled by his being drafted for a soldier. Now he works as a model two days every week and paints on the other five, Frenchmen not being very conspicuous for respect to the Sabbath day, This old gentle- man has a funny little house It is only one story dear. His little house !s barred and grated like a castle in the Middle Ages. He will not open his door till the visitor who comes to see him sends his voice througa a slit im the panel, and replies to all inquiries respecting his name and business. The dean of the models delights to astonish his neighbors by giving currency to the rumor that he ig@ great artist. He beseeches his clients to call upon him in carriages or on horseback, that his neighbors may be enticed to compliment him on the rank of his admirers and the spiendor of his renown. When his clients do come on horseback, gentlemen who are not sorry to humor the weakness of an old man, they can look over his chimnes; for @ horse with its rider 1s as much taller than hishouse. Stiil, the lit- tie house is the dean’s Own property, He pays taxes for it, and has an upright look about him when showing his receipts with the government stamp upon them, and talking, as Frenchmen ‘will talk, Of his landed estate. Very mercifully sentto them are the harmless vanities of the poor; they cheer and comfort millions who would otherwise have nothing to keep alive thelr self- respect, and so might drift away to utter worth- lessness, The dean of the models has many vain foibles, which are but as many salegusrds to his happiness and honor, both thereby “being pre- served very bright. He is fond of pringing forth from @ nook or cupboard some ancient bit of trumpery, furbished up with a loving care which must have cost him infinite time and patience. Then a genial ist who loves the merry, honest dean, and possibly respects bis weakness, as genius ever reverences the tailings of the good, will ask bim, “Where did you get this beautiiul thing?” The dean is not being smoked, “Ah, my young friend, that 13 a relic of my former magnificence. You see I have preserved some wrecks of a great fortune.’’ Like- wise, Whenever he is engaged as a model he makes a formal contract, or, 80 to say, leases himself out upon conditions, as becomes a land owner. He stupulates that he shall have half of his time free to paint, himseli, His ambition 1s still high; he hopes yet to become a Michae! Angelo. He ts only sixty years old, and—a model. A DANGEROUS MODEL sat some time ago for a friend of mine, and my friend had a pimple on his neck. “I will 1x that pimple,” said the model, abruptly; so he whipped out a lancet with alarming promptitude, and coula hardly be refrained trom performing an operation on his employer. This model was a physician. He talked Latin and showed he was a scholar of high attainments. In fact, he was a Neapolitan, and the “King, honest man,” nad overturned him, as His Majesty struggled up to the crown of Italy. There are many other varieties of models, some droll enough, others who make one’s heart ache, Icannot, ana I think 1 ought not, to concluce | this letter without A PLEA FOR AMERICAN ARTISTS IN PARIS, whose claims upon the attention of American connoissieurs do not seem to be properiy under- stood, The day is far past when artists of reputa- tion would condescend to seek for patrons; but even genius may be pained by neglect, and fame itself brings but a cold message till it comes back silver sound, [rom one’s own country, It has come to pass, for no intelligible reason, that Americans who visit Europe have been be- guiled by @ false tale that modern art survives only in Italy. they go to Paris their primary ovject is to visit theatres and restaurants. Nevertheless, as I bave said, the AMerican art atmosphere in Paris 18 much superior to that of Rome. There are more workers and better workers in the capital of France than in the capital of Italy; and 1 could mention several who have attained a high rank of excellence. Their pictures deserve to be admired and they deserve to be bought. There are both pleagure and profit to be derived from @ visit to AMERICAN ART STUDIOS IN PARIS, ident and treasurer, elected every three months, | This club was created by Americans, and its first | presidents were Americans. At present the pres- | ident is an Englishman. The subscription to ine Latin Quarter Club is one franc a month, and any artist is admitted to it wno can speak the English language without @ foreign accent. Moreover, the cost of everything which an artist can require in the practice of his profession is much less in Paris than in New York. COSTUMES AND ACCESSORIES MAY BE HIRED at the reasonable price of $6 amonth. Brushes, canvas and colors are much cheaper in France | than in the United States, and the rent of @ studio is considerably less. In short, an honest, trugal gentleman, who has @ real love for art, and enough trust im the fature to bear some privations, not too hard, can manage to live very well 10 @ furnished apartment for F¥IVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR IN PARIS, including the expense of @ warm fire in winter time and @ large appetite in all seasons, with school fees counted into the bargain. When he takes a studio, which means, or ought to mean, that he is able to earn money as well as to use it, his annual expenditure may still be kept, by prud- ence and self-denial, wituin $8008 year, That ts to say, a very good studio may be had for $300, | with ali that belongs to it, if an artist can steadily make up bis mind to resist the strong temptation of plaster casts and engravings, which seem s0 | cheap toan American, but which run away with Of course an extravagant man may spend anything; but even pleasure is cheap tn France, and at any of the villages round rontaine- bieau an artist who wants change of air among the birds and woods and flowers may live for five francs a day, all included, There are about 1,000 moaels in Paris, who go regularly round to painters’ and sculptors’ studios asking for work, Their names, | addresses and good points are inscribed in the ar- | tst’s reference book, and when he wants them he sends for them, They are mostly Italians, and there 18 a great deal ol jealousy among them, The prices of models in Paris are about double | | the price of models in Rome, and the cost of modeis | their existence. and the address of every painter and sculptor. among them may be obtained at the office of the American Register, in the Rue Scribe, where Mr. Ryan or Mr. Cramer {s always ready to give all the information which can be desired to travellers Jrom the United States. At present it is a national joss to Americans that so many fine paintings by. their gifted countrymen should be, purchased for. foreign galleries, snd oiten far beneatn their value, while the princely magnificence of the rich and. cultured among oar citizens is unacquainted with It 1s said that a word to the wise is enough, Let me hope that I have written irand that it will not fall to the ground. HEBRBW FEMALE DOWERY SOCIETY. This philanthropic association, of which mention has already been made in the HeRatp, held a ses | ston yesterday morning in the chapel of tne | Hebrew Orphan Asylum, corner of Third avenue | and Seventy-seventh street. Mr. Lazarus Morgan- thau, the projector of the society and President, was among the attendants, while Mr, M. Good- heart, the Vice President, occupied the chair. Mr. | Eaward Lauterbach, chatrman of the Committee | on Laws, reported @ constitution and bylaws, | which were, after considerable debate, partici } pated im by Messrs. Thalmessinger, Louis Strassburger, Benedict, Hess and others, } adopted. The organization, which ts duly in- corporated, consists of seventy trustees or | managers as active members, whiie' the ministers | of the various Hebrew organizations, presidents of | the same and the President of the Orphan Asylum are honorary trustees. As soon as the fund is opened and there are any applicants of Jewish orphan maidens who are about marrying, whom the | committee find worthy, a sum of not less than $500 | nor more than $1,000 will be donated to each with | which to start in lite. There exists considerable | enthusiasm among the various charitabie institu. | tions in regard to this society, The young girls | now being educated at the Hebrew Orphan Asylum | may look forward, on attaining their majority and | when entering @ married life, to receive such @ bounty as will assure tuem the proper means of | honorable livelihood, often have differences with & magistrate, for they attention of the French police, or their work will | bigh, a marvellous thing in Paris, where Jand is so | which is not seldom, for artista are kind hearted | tempered art- | replies, With asidelong glance, to assure himself he | all radiant, having @ voice like @ clarion with s | When they go to Rome their firsy | care is towisit American art studios; but when | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY. JUNE 8, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. OUR CONSULAR SERVICE. What Consuls Are and What They Should Be. OFFICIAL LIFE IN EUROPE. Curious Phases of Routine—Salary ys. Courtesy. THE SERVICE IN FRANCE, Paris, May 23, 1874, Ihave lately been brought into personal commu- nication with a great many American consuls and Il desire bere to express my thanks for the unfail- ing courtesy and ready assistance which I have in- | variably received from these gentlemen while ful- | filling my duties ay correspondent of the Nsw YoRK HERALD. They understood perfectly that in giving the press prompt and easy access to all sources of information within their knowledge | they were in fact serving the public of the United | States and tne interests of truth. They acted upon that understanding frankly, handsomely, and have | never had a single complaint to make against an | American consul. I think it right to say this because there is some- thing excessivély painiul connected with the criti- ciams to which Americans travelling in Europe subject diplomatic and consular representatives, Most ofthem are tourists bent on pleasure, and | few are mindful of the fact that it is an easy task to be critical upon the actions of a neighbor with whose position and circumstances we are not, perhaps, very well acquainted. It is, of course, | very clever to have one’s wits about one, to be | quick at splitting a har and finding out things which 1ook, on a superficial view, ike failings or | packslidings; but the censures we pass, however | smartly worded, are seldom just and never gen- | | erous. Ik does not seem to enter into | the consideration of the sharp-tongued traveller | that the fault of which he complains, when there is @ fault, does not rest so much with the consul as with the consular system at present existing, | which 18 in several respects an objectionable sys- | tem, for reasons which I shall endeavor to point | out, without prejudice or a desire to impute blame | to any individual. Reforms, indeed, of the most | necessary sort are so difficult co oring about that | he 18a poor reasoner who sets up such obstrnc- | tions to his own arguments as personalities and hard words. THE IMPORTANCE OF TBE OFFICE. | Tt must possibly be conceded that among the | diplomatic and consular corps of the United States | there are, though I have not met with them, some | men who spoil their places, and are unfitted either | | by character or education for the responstble duties | | which devolve upon them, Their nomination was a biunder of those who appointed them, and | doubtless arose irom the vague notion which Jre- | quently exists respecting consular functions in \ high quarters. An American consul in many | | foreign cities is a personage of considerable Im- portance. In some places he is almost a prefect, | agin the cities of the East. In other places he is | more than a European king. In every case he en- | Joys the local rank of a colonel in the regular ; army, and he is, moreover, a magistrate invested ' with serious powers. In Egypt and Turkey, in | the Barbary States, in China and Japan he | may fiue or imprison his fellow countrymen almost at pleasure, In Europe, wherever there | ig not an American legation, bis word decides upon | their social position and character. To pitchiork a needy office-seeker abruptly into such a position as | this 1s not right; and ifit 1g done there is no great wonder if he does not always know how to con- duct himself it it. A tailor fs not generally em- | Ployed to repair a lock, nor is @ suit of clothes | ordered trom a blacksmith. We train our soldiers | ; and sailors at military and naval academies; we | take pains to insist that all men in the learned | protessions shall give evidence that they have re- | ceived a proper education; but governments in all | | countries seem to think that any person will do | | for @ consul, who is sent out to represent his na- tion and to whom must be intrusted the uncon- trolled management of much of the weightiest business which is carried on between man and mmne requisites for a good consul are @ sound | knowledge of commercial law, tair abilities, clean | hands, a liberal education, a firm character, con- siderable patience and absolute impartiality. Neither a government nor a people can be well | served by discreditabie oficers, and it is worthy of consideration whether men of energy and reputa- tion are likely to be found who are willing to fill appointments of which the tenor is at best orief, always uncertain and which require the highest | qualitications, while they are inadequately remu- nerated, Able men, who have nothing but their ability, Will always be eager enough to accept consulates, knowing litt!e more of them than taose by whom they are appointed; but when these able men get warm in their places it 1s to be feared that unless they have enlarged public minds as well as smal public salaries they will be tempted to serve their private inverests rather than those of their coun- try. | REWARD GOOD SERVICE. No improvement can be expected until consular @ppointments are not only thrown open to the | best men—that is to say, to those who have a prac- | tical knowledge of commercial and international afairs—but also until good service is adequately | rewarded. Up to arecent time consulates have been considered merely as prizes in the official lottery, to be won by any successful politician, The men who gained them were often as ignorant as carp, and when they desired to learn their ) duties their term of office expired while they | were still boggiing-over the first rudiments of in- ternational law and foreign customs. It would not be jogical to assume that because a man is a politician he has no aptitade for consular affairs, or that he may not study to fulfil the im- | | Portant functions of an American representative | with intelligence and discretion. It may be possi- | ble that he possesses ali the special qualifications necessary for his post; but if he has no practical | experience they will be nearly useless to him and | to others. Every country bas its usages, ite language and its mode of conducting business, | Uniess they are known to aconsul he might as | well be a stick or a stone, for all the value which his.advice can be to his ieliow citizens in difficulty. Now it ts worthy of note that the interests of tne | United States abroad are essentially commercial, ‘We do not want to go to war, or to upset thrones, or ta strengthen one people at the expense of another; we have no concern with the intrigues of | courts and the tricks of diplomacy. We want to trade with all the world, as saiely as possible; to gee our way clearly to extend our commerce, and to protect it when we have extended it, Our Miniaters as well as our consuls, no matter who they be or where they be, are tn every es- sential respect representatives of our commerce. THE STUMP ORATOR'S REWARD, We possess undoubtedly a sufficient numoer of commercial men who would be willing to perform the duties of consuls without any salary at all, and whose varied acquirements and sound business habits render tnem quite equal to the task; but it 1a equally evident that commercial men are simost | absolately exciuded irom the consular office, per- haps because they are best fitted to fillit, This exclusion is extremely improper; but it exists, to | the great cost of the nation, to the serious detri- | ment of our trade and consequently of our | finances. The reason at the bottom of it 1s prob- | ably the deplorable fact that we can find no better | way of rewarding our politicians” and | stump orators than by paying them for work | which they cannot do, It would be a| magnificent stroke of economical policy at once to | fetire all incompetent officers at their salaries, | and to replace them by men chosen tor fitness. | | The Secretary of the Treasury would see a surpris, | | ing increase in the receipts of the Custom House | 80 800N a8 the prevatling system could be altered, | THE SALARY QUESTION. A large number of ‘our consuls are at present paid by fixed salaries, while others are made de- eadent upon fees. Thia system of danending | } year, while you, @ brother consul, with a salary, upon fees should be abot and & system of unity in scale of salaries intro- duced in its stead, There ts ample evidence on record tn the State Department that, as matters now stand, the existing system has all the appear- ance of being too often turned into a private patronage market. It looks as if some consuls were paid apart—that ts to say, one consul by the government, another consul by the public. THE FRENCH CONSULATES. In France we have eleven consulates, with numerous agencies, None of the salaries attached to these placés are remanerative or make it worth & man's while to hold the ofMice unless he has private means to sustain his position. The immedtate consequence of thie syatem of underpay 16 that he 18 obliged to establish agencies and vice consulates, whereby he is enabled to augment his income. In one instance there is a consulate in France where the exports to the United States are considerably less than $100,000, while the aggregate exports of two agencies attached to this consulate aiifopnt to say $10,000,000. The fees ac- croing from the fatter;.of course, jnorgase the Consni’s inoome; but it 1s evident that the place held by the consul is worthless without agencies, and that the seat of the consul ought to be at one of the agencies, The entire export from France foots up to $70,000,000 per annum, nearly half of which talls to Paris, All the remainder ia spread over ten other consulates, OUR GERMAN CONSULS. In Germany we have more than twenty cousu- lates, with an aggregate amount of export barely reaching to the one Consulate of Paris, Fully half these German consulates might well be abolished, As they stand they are not an honor to our country. The disgrace—for, though thatis a harsh word, it is not unjust—does not attach to any of the individuals who hold these places, but to those who create these places, Within an easy ride, varying from one to four or five hours, we have between the city of Frankfort-on-the- Main, Caris- Truhe and Stuttgart, a series of useless consulates, Extremely unpleasant things might be written on the manner in which these posts are filled and the Mode in which business is conducted and the re- sources through which the consuls augment their incomes. It is kinder to be silent; for, although it might naturally be supposed that business of such importance as that connected with the United States snould require close attention, tt is nevertheless a notorious fact that few of the consuls attend, or make @ pretence of attend- ing to it, more than from three to four hours daily. The rule laid down in the consular regulations is that the consul shali keep his office open during the usual business hours, This rule is not adhered to; nearly all the consuls make the public service subservient to their own convenience, While one opens his office {rom nine till one o'clock, another, residing only thirty or forty miles distant, will make It a rule to keep tae office open from ten till twelve o'clock, them close till two o'clock and re- open from two till three o'clock, for the transac- tion of any business which may be presented. There should be one uniform practice respecting the opening and shutting of public offices, which are maintained for the benefit or communities, not for that of individuals, and consulates should conform to that practice, unless climate or excep- tional circumstances compel deviations, CONSULAR STATIONERY. Moreover, there are many other consular pecull- arities which need a little public atcention just now. While our youngsters find a harmless but inexplicaole entertainment in collecting defaced Postage stamps they might derive equal amuse- ment and more instruction from collecting the dif- ferent varieties of blank forms of certificates in use at consulates and the astonishing sorts of stamps and seals with which these certificates are ornamented. The law prescribes the use of a uniform schedule, and at one period the depart- ment would even furnish these certificates, printed under contract at Washington. In the first place the certificates so supplied were not used for the simple reason that, with the ingenions ten- dency to blunder which characterizes most official proceedings, they were printed on the heaviest kind of paper which could be found, so as to subject the consul to an enormous bill for postage. To escape this in- fiction most consuls caused their own certificates wo be printed, and in doing so each consul consulted his own taste, which was sometimes of a fanciful and decorative kind, and the display of stars, stripes and spread eagleism upon consular documents is often something quite wonderiul. Probably there are not three consulates where the certificates issued are alike. Some are printed in French, others in Ger- man, tosuit customers, while a few only are printed in our own language. The phraseology of cer- tificates is also changed in accordance with the judgment of consuls, whose ideas of composition are not always governed by a auMcient respeot for grammatical customs. The same queer disregard of settled principles exista with reference to con- sular stamps and seals impressed upon invoice certificates, A strange diversity of language aud an infinite variety of design in the eagle is dis- played, and it requires almost a special education to comprehend the meaning of these things. Sach oddities should not be permitted in public offices; there should be but one consular stamp and one mode of doing consular business, In no other country would consuls be allowed to make their oMicial stamp and seal ridiculous, CONSULAR AGENCIES, All consular agencies should be: abolished at once and forever. The system of depending upon fees is pernicious in itself, and must be upset by its own folly. It represents an error at present but too common in the minds of shallow people— namely, a tendency to invert the natural order of things, by making an end of that which is a means and a means of that which should be an end. There are cases in which a consul calls on another to relinquish a certain manufacturing district be- cause, he says, “My income, being dependent on fees, amounts only to a few hundred doliars.a are making severa! thousand dollars jor the gov- ernment.” “What odds?” continues the former to the latter, becoming earnest in his entreaties, “if you. con- sent to relinquish a certain district to cnable me | to get a liviug by enjoying fees which do you no good, inasmuch as you only collect them for the Treasury, wnereas if they beionged %o me, 1 should be able to exist.” There is @ conulate in France. It would be cruel to mention it more particularly, for the holder of this office receives $1,500 a year and perquisites, which he might be sorry to lose, He has, however, literally nothing to do for his pay and allowances beyond signing and stamp- ing the certificates of a few invoices, the total value of which does not exceed $100,000 annually. But he has agencies at Cognac—the trade from whence to the United States is very consideravie; at Limoges, where the exports comprise three or four million franca’ worth of porcelain, and at Rochefort, where the trade is insignificant. These three agencies bring in considerably more than the salary of the consulate to which they are aab- ordinate, These particulars are given merely to make the present statement clearer, and not with any view of bringing down the anger of the gods at Washington on gentlemen who may be and who probably are blameless, The order of things ought to be inverted, The consular seat with the salary attached to it should rather be at Cognac, and the present seat of the consulate should be re- | duced to an agency. THE BUSINESS DONE, Another instance of confusion in the administra- tive mind with regard to consulates may be found at Lyons, where the Coasui recoives $2,000 a year. This income is greatly augroented by the establish- ment of an agency at St. Etienne, where the exports vary from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 of Irancs. Havre, too, has salary of $6,000, and not all the work of any other port in France; yet there are seven agencies attached to the Oonsulate of Havre, inclading Dunkirk, Dieppe, &c. The fees derived trom the Havre Consulate do not cover by $1,000 the amount paid for salary, while at Bor- deaux, where the fees amount to nearly $7,000, the Salary is only $2,000, These items will serve asa guide to the inexplicable principle apon which the scale of consular salaries bes been adjusted, Likewise Marsenies has $2,600 salary, while the | receipts are less than $4,000. Thus it will be seen that, while Bordeaux haa more than double ished at once and forever, | the amount of fees, the salary is nevertheless $500, more or less, behind Marseilles. All this cer- tainly looks very much like the result of arrant favoritiam or unreasonable benefits conerred upon certain politicians by their friends in power, and it shows the total want of supervision at Washington over what is going on at the various consular stations, In most of the European coun- tries the Under Secretary of State charged with the superintendence of the consular service 18 @ representative who has some practical knowledge of his duties. Uniortunately, at Wash- ington this is not the case, Instances are knowm where certain clerks in the department had a knowledge of the income derived from ncies, but they had sufficient reasons for keeping this knowledge to themselves; and it should be noted that consuls have not hitherto been required to send in returns of fees received at their agen- cies, so that up to a late period the depart. ment and the public knew nothing on the subject. Information was, indeed, subd rosa, at command of the clerks, and, thereby instructed, | these clerks have oiten obtained valuable places a8 consuls for a term os years, or, in clearer lan- guage, the grant of an unknown sum of public money. There is oneunfortunate rule which hag hitherto regulated the amount of compensation allotted to consuls—namely, a fixed practice of granting no adequate salary where the fees are small, while a large salary 18 attached to those posts where the fees are considerable, This is wrong in principle and cruel in effect. ‘rhere onght to be @ uniformity of pay, trreapective of the amount of fees earned for the government, This would do away with all favoritism and injustice in the distribution of salaries by putting every member of the service upon an honorable equality. WHY NOT CONSULS GENERAL ? It 1s well worth consideration with respect to improvements in consular administration whether it would not be well to establish consuls general where we have now a minister resident. There seems but small necessity for havinga Minister Resident at The Hague, where there is no bpai- ness, commercial, diplomatic or otherwise, and where, no doubt, there has not been any business for along time past. }Tbe same might be said, witha slight reservation, of Belgium, where we bave had no diplomatic business lately, except the negotiation of a treaty which compels the United States to contribute a large sum towards the abo- lition of the Scheldt dues. These two mussions, therefore, might be consolidated. The salary at each place ts $7,600 and @ small contingent fund. Let there be one Minister Plent- potentiary, who might alternately reside at the Dutch and Belgian capitals, and in so determining we should follow the ex- ample of Russia and several other European Pow: era more concerned with Belgium and Holland than we are. In the absence of the Minister bust: ness mignt be conducted by the Consul General. As itis we have a consulate at Antwerp, another at Brussels and two or three smaller ones at Ghent, Liege, &c. ‘this state of things is simply absurb, none of these consulates being distant from the other beyond a few hours’ ride by rail. Before bringing this subject to a close it should be mentioned that the Consul at Oporto has three agencies; but whether he increases his salary by these agencies 1s not so clear. Possibly it might be prudent to inquire. He receives $1,500 compen- sation, while the fees at the consulate do not reuch $300, The question, therefore, stands thus:—“1f the comsviate produces $300 what do the agencies produce?” It is the same at Lisbon, where no less than seven agencies are at- tached to the Consul, who receives also $1,500, with less than $700 fees apparently. The pernicious system of issuing fancy cortif- cates impressed with fanciful seals, to which allu- sion has already been made, has a deeper impor- tance than may at first sight appear. It not only shows & want of discipline, but it hangs on to other matters not devoid of interest to the mer cantile world, and hence the question arises, “Does the consul {fill the position of an agent to protect and promote the commercial interests of his coun- try, or is he a mere commissioner of deeds ?’* In the latter case of course he has to sign and seal every document as it 1s pre- sentea to him, irrespective of its contents; but it may be urged with reason that the consular regulations instroct the consul to exercise bis dis cretion and to report on the documents submitted for bis official seal and signature. In many cased where the consul has understood his duties to he in that track he has not failed to bring himself into hot water, and in more than one instance ne has unavoidably appeared in the light of an informer. Suppose he reports to tne Treasury that it hag come to his knowledge that an exporting firm puts up a certain fish known as sardines and in- voices them assprats, there belug a large differ- ence between one and the other description of fish considered as taxable merchandise ? Suppose he finds out this fact, and reports the fraud to the Treasury, what 1s the consequence? Probably this, and this only, will be the result of his auda- cious experiment in duty doing—he will be immediately denounced by the exporting firm asan informer! Under these circumstances it ia preserable to assume the position of a simpi¢.com> missioner of deeds, to pocket as many fees as pos sible, and to let trade frauds on the revenue take care of themselves. It 1s a delicate point. The consul, according to ordinary views, would fail to do his duty if he were not to bring such frauds to light, and would place himself in the position of an accomplice. In many cases undervaluations aro not unknown to the consul; bat he dare not, for nis own social position, expose them. The remedy is simple. Make the consul independent of the mercantile community at the place of his residence by paying him such a salary as will enable him to act boldly whenever his duty to his country ia at issue, While the consul represents the wealth and the honor of the American people, it is disgraceful to witness the evidence of poverty among our representatives, The letter, bearing the signature in full of the writer's name, ig superscribed “United states Con- sul.” In illustration of the foregoing remarks it may be as well to conclude with a story, of which the truth is guaranteed on unimpeachable security. A gentieman applied to the consuls for aid while engaged in preparing some valuable statistical tables which were likely to prove o/ great value to the public service. Some of the consuls were very courteous and farnished every information im their power; some tried hard to please with- out much reference io the business in hand; some doled out scraps of doubtfal knowl edge grudgingly; others, though willing enough, knew, bat little, and therefore could tell noth. ing, and in the end a labor which would have been of incalculap!e advantage to the cowntry had to be abandoned. The Consul at Liverpool responded by Saying he “was delighted that the subject nad been taken up and would do all he could,” and did Tender efficient service. Sheela and Birming- ham were “all right; Manchester demurred; London pooh-poohed, being a capital and as mach above statistics as a kaiser is above grammar. At length the inquiries of & men of genius, in quest Of information for his country's good, and backea up by the State Department, produced the follow. ing neat answer from an American Consul;-- COURTESY AND SALARY. DxaB Srk—The information demanded by your note of —— will Oost youa guinea. I groatly ta ment the falling short of af expectation and of the courtesy that you would probably receive from Other consuls, But most of those gentlemen are reasonably supported at their residences and have adequate allowances for office rent and clerk hire, waile I pay both of these expenses out of con. tingent fees that have never amounted to three- fourths of the salary of the ungkilied laborer on the junds of the Uapitol, The allowance made by the government for my pens and ink and, papes are my compensation for a considerable amount of work demanded iu the course of the year for statis- tioal purposes, looking alter destitute seamen, & Tam not.disposed to extend the category of these services by Soumreer. Your obedient servant, (Signature), United States Consul, Comment is saperfuous, THE OOOPERS. ‘The Conference Committee of the Coopers’ Unten Met yesterday at No. 165 East Broadway to neat | Teports from the strikers, The reports showed that the aspects of the strike remain unchanged. | The strikers are determimed and say they will re- sist, if need be, two years, until Lge tained their demands, "At the present tl | are about 450 men on atrtke und 1,000 | yet unemployed. ime there men