I have a wealthy friend in Paris who is spending his money not
very wisely, but not very wickedly. Some of his acquaintances
suggested to him that it would help him socially and give him
more prestige, if he could go to America and induce President
Roosevelt to appoint him as a member of our American embassy in
Paris. So he came to Washington and went to see the President,
who very kindly granted him an audience. He spoke the little
speech that he had prepared to give, beginning by saying, “I
think that I could serve my country, perhaps, if I should have
this appointment in Paris.” President Roosevelt spoke right up,
as he is apt to do and said: “My young friend, a man desiring
to serve his country does not begin by saying where he is going
to serve.”--CHARLES R. ERDMAN, “Student Volunteer
Movement,” 1906.
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