Miscellaneous Mentions

Miscellaneous Mentions

J. J. Jusserand, French Ambassador retiring, announced the postponement of his departure until Jan. 6, in order that he, as doyen* of the diplomatic corps, may remain to give the President the diplomats' New Year's greeting. When M. Jusserand retires, the senior member of the diplomatic corps in Washington will be Senor Don Juan Riano y Gayangos, Chamberlain of the King of Spain and Ambassador of his most Catholic Majesty at Washington since 1913. M. Jusserand was appointed Ambassador to the U. S. in 1903. Burton K. Wheeler, onetime Vice Presidential candidate on the LaFollette ticket, proclaimed on returning to Washington: "I am a Democrat and never ceased to be a Democrat." Governor-Elect Ferguson of Texas: 1) announced that there would be dancing at the inauguration but that she would "sit out"; 2) sent to Manhattan for two new gowns, one for the inauguration, the other for the official reception.

John W. Davis with Mrs. Davis, arriving in Plymouth, England, bound Mediterraneanward, exclaimed: "We are in search of sunny skies!"

* The doyen, dean or senior member of the diplomatic corps obtains this official honor by virtue of having had the longest term of service at a given Capital; although, of course an Ambassador always outranks a Minister. The doyen (and subordinate members of his Embassy), followed by other Ambassadors (and their suites) in point of seniority, heads the official Diplomatic list published by the State Department; he takes precedent at social functions; he is the first diplomat to receive the official call of a newly arriving Ambassador; he heads the diplomatic corps as a body on ceremonial occasions; and, in emergency or under special circumstances, he is spokesman of the corps.