TYPES OF COUNTRIES.

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language all over the world, ought, in common decency, to be the sine qua non of eligibility. Good manners, presentable family, and such character as would make a man a desirable acquaintance in his own country, should also be indispensable; and, to make the offices worth accepting by such men, they should be permanent, or changeable only by promotions granted on the principles of professed diplomacy.

For all the emergencies of diplomatic transactions, elsewhere than in England and France, an easily acquired knowledge of International Law would abundantly suffice-or, there is experienced counsel and legal advice to be had, for the seeking out, in any capital where there is a Court. But official duty is the least part of that for which a diplomatist is called upon. However few may see, or have intercourse with him, his qualities are known, throughout the country to which he is sent, and he stands for a type-(and a favorable type, too)—of his own country's civilization, intelligence and manners. America, particularly, which is so far away, is judged of by its diplomatic representatives; and, since the gaze of every country in the world is directed especially toward America by the pointing finger of emigration, the authenticated specimen which officially represents it, is looked upon with more critical examination, even than the diplomatists of other countries, and the inferences of such scrutiny are, by no means, of trifling importance. Will the reader recal to mind. some of the late applicants for Foreign Missions, and imagine them figuring in European capitals as fair specimens of our country's best education and manners!

There are two languages necessary to a Foreign Minister or Chargé, without which he cannot discharge the duties of his office. His principal duty, of course, is to keep his own

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AWKWARD HONORS

Government better advised, than it can be by foreign newspapers, of the true state of the country he is sent to. The undercurrent of opinions, as expressed in the free and friendly conversations of society, is what he is officially bound to be acquainted with, and for this, we say, he requires two languages-the French language in the first place, and, in the second place, the language of polished manners, without which no one will exchange with him more than the most formal courtesies. But, besides this incapacity for official duty, there are awkwardnesses consequent upon an ignorance of the French language, which are a shame to the country that has sent out such an ignoramus. As compliments of course to any new American Minister, he is invited to a succession of dinners, given him by the Ambassadors of the different Powers of Europe. There is no language but French spoken at table, and there sits the guest of honor, blundering ludicrously if he tries to make a remark, misunderstanding ludicrously all that is said to him, or looking ludicrously like an idiot if he is entirely silent! It is a matter of form ‍that he is invited to every large party, and he goes always to Court receptions standing about, every where, without a word to say, or talking so awkwardly that every one avoids him, and it takes but a short time for such a man to become the laughing-stock of a foreign capital-as many an American Minister has been, under just these circumstances.

We wish our "appointing powers" could know how this government is graced and honored in Prussia, by the courtly knowledge, high principled life, and winning manners of the Secretary of its Legation, and sometime Chargé, Theodore Fay. He and his admirable wife and sweet child, after twelve years' residence in Berlin, are the beloved of that Court and capital,-.

SCHROEDER AND FAY.

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no diplomatic family better known or more respected. In the month which we passed there, when last abroad, we became convinced, that a character which would stand the test of long residence, superior personal qualities, and intellectual habits and tastes, were of far more importance than is generally supposed, in the diplomatic representation of a country. The respect with which Fay was met and treated, in all our many walks about Berlin, the evident partiality and affection felt for him by all classes, the deference shown him in society, and the consideration with which (as I learned from various competent authority) he was invariably treated at Court, could not but be advantageous to the estimate of America in that country, while, at the same time, such tribute was most creditable to himself. With such a Secretary, indeed, the injurious impression of even an unfavorable specimen of a Minister, would be partly neutralized.

We think there is already a leaning toward making our diplomacy, as it is in other nations, a regular profession. We are delighted with the appointment of Mr. Schroeder as a step towards it—for, as in the case of Theodore Fay, the admirable qualification for the office will create such reasonableness, in his retaining it, that an Administration would not remove him except for promotion, and this makes it, at once, into a profession which a prudent and high-minded gentleman might profitably adopt.

10

THE NEW PRIMA-DONNA, STEFFANONI.

WITH powers of attention overdone with extra labor, (preparing a book for the press, for which we venture deferentially to bespeak the favor of our readers, as well as indulgence for less of labor elsewhere,) we went to the opening performance of the Opera company from Havana. With so little likelihood to be pleased, seldom has one sat down to a play. Private advice that all the singers were suffering from the epidemic influenza, did not improve expectation. Patience protesting against the great delay in raising the curtain-ears objecting to the too noisy performance of the delicious overture-tenor annoying us with an ill-joined piecing out of his voice with a falsetto were other clouds upon the horizon of our admiration, threatening to shut from us the brightness of the new-sprung star. Enter the Druidical priestess, at last-unexcited with any expectation of applause, apparently-very cold and very indifferent—decidedly a handsome woman and probably trusting carelessly to that— better musical execution than we expected, but voice husky in the lower notes throughout the first scene or two, in fact, dismally justifying unfavorable anticipations. We employed the time in analyzing the renowned loveliness of the fair Steffanoni.

She is tall and large. Her face is one of those that would be frightful in daguerreotype, though beautiful in nature; not regular, but with that look of folded-up expression, as if capable of great beauty "if need were." Her upper lip is unfinished on the inside, and, during impassive singing, does not play well upon the teeth-eyes small, as is apt to be true of impassioned women, and nose slightly turned-up, idem. Her walk was most majestic and unpremeditatedly graceful. Her arms and hands were admirably full, tapering, round and white, and the dimples on her fingers were of infantine depth and distribution. Arms managed with such unconscious grace and effect, we made up our mind from the first, we had seldom if ever before seen.

As the Druidess went on, and sang her invocation to the moon, it became gradually evident, we thought, that justice had not been done, by fore-running Fame, to the finish and style of her musical conception and education. Without effort, and with a carelessness of effect that began to act like a charm upon us, she reached the full utterance and meaning of each passage, and her calm but thoughtful acting drew attention more and more from herself, and involved us in the interest of the play. It was not till the last scene of the first act, however, that she developed her powers with any startling effect. When the youthful priestess confessed to her superior that her vows had yielded to love, and the coming in of the Proconsul betrayed to Norma that it was he -the faithless father of her own children-with whom the erring one was preparing to fly, then awoke, suddenly, the indolent genius of which we had seen but the look of possibility in her face, and a great actress was before us. The voice threw off its hoarseness, the countenance its concealments, the form its languor. Those beautiful arms, bare from the shoulder, so gestured that