Show stumped the secretary when richard bicey was secretary of state he frequently gave expression to the opinion that appointees to the consular service should speak the language of the countries to which they were respectively accredited it is sa d that when a certain breezy and enterprise enter pris ng w estern poll bician who was des rous of serving the cleveland administration in the capacity of consul at one of the chinese ports presented h s papers to mr ainey the secretary remarked an you aware mr blank that I 1 never recommend to the president the appio of a cons il unless he speaks the language of the country to which he desires to goa now I 1 sup pose you do not speak Chinese 7 whereupon the westerner grinned broadi it mr Sec said he ou will ask me a question in chinese I 1 shall be happy to answer it he got the appointment new york times |