bout de papier, Vol. 9, No. 2 (1992) — Spring 1992 // Printemps 1992, p. 6
This photo suggests that the people of Wall, South Dakota (where the sign is posted) retain an understandable caution when it comes to diplomats. Would that the Treasury Board shared their intimidation.
Richard Belliveau
Ottawa, Ontario
I have not bothered until now to comment on the accuracy of Sidney Freifeld’s account of my late wife’s struggle with the Soviet bureaucracy. (She died of cancer 8 years ago today [3 December] but her indomitable spirit lives on).
Sidney’s story about “The Howling Cats of Moscow” is basically correct but Thereza did not awaken the locally employed clerk, George Costakis, about the cats. She telephoned directly to the Chief of Protocol. She would never have bothered any member of the staff at 3 a.m., and certainly not because she considered my sleep important.
Sidney, alas, ignored the amusing finale of the story. Early the following morning, our Finnish housekeeper proudly announced: “Madam, the cat safari has begun!”
Mr. Gerald Cossette’s exegis on this incident is trivial and hardly worthy of publication in bout de papier. Sidney Freifeld’s lighthearted fables of the diplomatic service, while occasionally inaccurate, give it a human touch, as did Lawrence Durrell’s memorable spoof on the diplomatic life in Belgrade.
Robert A.D. Ford
St. Sylvestre-Pragoulin, France
Gerald Cossette’s review of Sidney Freifeld’s “Undiplomatic Notes” (bout de papier vol. 8 #4) focuses narrowly on the story “The Howling Cats of Moscow” and seems to accuse the author of condoning, even glorifying, the mistreatment of support staff. Nothing could be more foreign to Sidney Freifeld’s character.
Having had the pleasure and privilege of serving with Ambassador Freifeld in Bogota, I can categorically state that he never awakened his support staff in the middle of the night — unless he had previously agreed to take them fishing at some ungodly hour.
Anyone serving with the Freifelds, for Sidney’s late wife Crenia was very much a member of the team, learned a great deal about how to foster a feeling of “family” as well as team spirit among colleagues; lessons which I hope have not been completely forgotten in today’s foreign service.
James A. Elliott
Atlanta, Georgia
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 9, No. 2 (1992) — Spring 1992 // Printemps 1992, p. 6. Read the rest of this issue →
