The consequence was that only sons of wealthy parents could adopt such a career.

I once told some delegates who interviewed me in connection with the subject that a change of the system depended entirely on themselves and their increased munificence.
A certain amount of social polish was just as necessary for diplomats of the old regime as was the requisite allowance for their household and a knowledge of foreign languages.

So long as courts exist in Europe, the court will always be the centre of all social life, and diplomats must have the entree to such circles.

A young man who does not know whether to eat with his fork or his knife would play a sorry part there--his social training is not an indifferent matter.
Preference is, therefore, not given to the aristocracy, but to young men of wealth familiar with European society etiquette.
That does not mean that a diplomat is to consider it his duty only to show himself at all the parties and fetes given by the upper ten thousand, but it is one of his duties, as at such places he might gain information unobtainable elsewhere.

A diplomat must be in touch with all sources from which he can glean information.
Individual capabilities and zeal will naturally play a great part; but the means that a Government places at the disposition of its foreign missions are also of the highest importance.
There are people in the East--I do not know whether to say in contradistinction to the West--who are not immune to the influence of gold.