A YANKEE CONSUL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 3

A YANKEE CONSUL.

The United State? Consul at Maracaibo, Venezuela, is Mr l'luinaclicr. 11c is a lar«« man, who dresses in ample, comfortable white, clothing and speaks willi a superb German accent. He lias been Consul at Maracaibo for soniethin;; like a quarter of a century. Administration succeeded Administration, yet l'luiuaclier runs on for ever, WhvJ That's the story. Over and over again Mr. Vlumaclicv'S successor has 'been appointed, say those who know, and packed up and aot off for ,Maraeaibo. Over and over again Plumacher has received his successor with the greatest politeness. "Ah, zo you arc der new Consul. Delimited to know you. Do-mono\v I geelY vou ze keys of der goiiz.ulate and dell you vot you must do. But to-day it is'doo late.' Ve dake a lcedle valk." And the "leddle valk'.' invariably leads to tile cemetery. 'Plumachcr casually points out a ■'rave. It is that of So-and-so—very nice man—excellent Consul—held the job seventeen days—then-yellow feverfour hours—poor fellow! . Another grave—very tasteful. That of Mr. What's-his-name-appointed Consul at Maracaibo by Abraham Lincoln. Ustcd a week. Malarial fever. Verv sad case. Another "But. say," iflflectt Plumachcrs successor, eye's .bulging out of Ins head, "what kind of a joint is lliisi" "Oh, very pleasant, extremely pleasant," answers the permanent Consul. « Deli"htful-if vou gan geep alive. Look,"'eve ist der grave of Snut iConaul in '73-wst gase of yel ow fever in der- history ot Maracaibo-but vot's der madder?" To cut a long story short, Plumachev s successor invariably takes the next steamer heme, and Plumachcr still reigns supreme as United States Consul" at Maracaibo.