Gilded Age U.S. Diplomacy Gone Awry

The general Chilean attitude was probably best expressed by Eduardo Phillips, chief of the Diplomatic Section of the Ministry of Foreign Relations who, in a letter to a newspaper, described Egan as a person “utterly lacking in all elements of culture and courtesy, and ever-ready to descend to the level of invective and calumny.” — Public domain image of the late 19th C. US Minister to Chile, Patrick Egan. His tenure in diplomacy was highly unpopular and controversial. 

MINISTER EGAN AGAIN. Minister Egan may be relied upon not to permit any opportunity to go unimproved for showing that he is an uncivil person. It is not to be believed for a moment that he received instructions from Washington to remain away from the inauguration of the Chilian President. Secretary Blaine is altogether too well trained and prudent in diplomatic matters to be the author of any such instructions. It must be inferred, therefore, that Mr. Egan followed his own judgment as to what would be proper under the circumstances. And this judgment manifestly shows him to be not only a boorish but a semi-barbarous person. 

The inauguration of President Montt was the concluding event of a revolution which was set on foot to re-establish liberty and order, and we should have given our approval to the proceeding independently of the controversy which exists between this country and the republic of Chili. Granting that Chili is altogether in the wrong in the pending dispute, we can well afford to be magnanimous, not to say civil. Egans course was not merely a breach of diplomatic etiquette it was an infraction of good manners. It is little wonder, therefore, that the representatives of other powers evinced surprise at the policy of our Minister. 

There is a phase of the situation which ought to have had great weight with Minister Egan, if he really entertains a sincere desire to bring about an adjustment of our controversy with Chili. We have heretofore carried on negotiations with the Junta, a provisional and many headed authority. With the inauguration of a rightful President, however, matters will be greatly simplified, authority will become more definite and the means of communication more direct. Everything, therefore, invited Mr. Egan to adopt a policy of conciliation, but inasmuch as that person is a born conspirator he threw the opportunity away and disgraced the country of which, unhappily, he is the representative. — Stockton Daily Mail, 1891

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Diplomatic Blunder Led to Faux Pas

It was bad enough that he had a faux nose to replace the one he lost due to illness, but how on earth could someone with a faux nose use snuff? And would the person even want to???— “Prince Alexander, with his wonted grace of manner, soothed the wounded spirit of the diplomatist, and on taking leave of him was so anxious to be polite that, forgetting the peculiar disabilities under which Gadban Effeudi labored, he presented him with a valuable silver snuff-box.” — Above, antique silver snuff box.

In a letter from Sophia, we find the following story: Gadban Effendi, at some early period of his life, was in delicate health, and his malady settling in his note brought about the total loss of that feature. This misfortune was mitigated by the adoption of a paper substitute, which answers uncommonly well and never turns blue on frosty mornings. But of course it is not a thing to take notice of or talk about. Yet, when Gadban Effendi was going to Stamboul last January with the Prince's message to the Sultan, a passport was given him by the Bulgarian Foreign office, which contained his signalement, of which one of the items was, “Nez Postiche.”


This brutal precision irritated Gadban Effendi very much. He demanded an audience of the Prince, and insisted that the passport clerk should be dismissed. Prince Alexander, with his wonted grace of manner, soothed the wounded spirit of the diplomatist, and on taking leave of him was so anxious to be polite that, forgetting the peculiar disabilities under which Gadban Effeudi labored, he presented him with a valuable silver snuff-box. — Daly Alta, 1886

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia