Frank L. Comb, Of Napa

fornia, has been appointed minister to Japan instead of Mr. Switt, who died some time ago. The new minister is a representative of the young Pacific coast politicians. ïle is thirty-eight years old and has always lived at Napa, Cal. He is a lawyer by profession, being a gradúate of' Columbia. College, New York. He was only twentyfive years old when his native town elected him district attorney. He has al so been a member of the state legislature and was in 1890 the unsuccessful candidate for publican gubernational honors. Our ministers to Japan are nearly always chosen trom the Pacific states, as i t is considered tliat tlie interests of the Pacific coast state's are more in touch vvith the affairs of China and Japan, than are our's here in the east.