Show ditiway in the diplomatic quarter the advance agent of a theatrical company which was to make a visit of three nights in washington had sum mouses in legal phraseology prepared and sealed with wax notifying the receiver that he must appear at the box office and buy at least one of ad bittance mit tance for the play they wore formally addressed and ecat by messenger to the prominent peo pie of washington A number of foreigners in tho diplomatic corps received them and not understanding the peculiar methods resorted to by the americans hastened to the secretary of state to demand protection protesting that they knew nothing of the matter mentioned in tho summons and that it was a breach of national law to arrest an accredited foreign representative it required tho combined efforts of secretary gresham and ills several as cinstant secretaries to explain the thing to the foreigners without hurting their feelings or wounding their dignity washington letter |