The Washington critic., 1890-01-28
MEN or MERIT.

MEN or MERIT.
Colonel Fred Grant is as enthusiastic
over his duties and prospects In Vienna as
a big, healthy boy at play II IS no depreca-
ton of his earnest, serious pursuits to say |
that they are animoted by the rerrc of
youth. The boyish spirit is the genuine
bottom Of the manly man. II assures the
ingenuousness, simplicity and frankncss
which the common etruggler loses when
reason is matured. While the virtues stand
in the way of political advancement, IL is to
Colonel Grants credit that he is unrcserved
in manner, and in mind as open MS the sun
light. If the republic were ofllcered through
out by his peers, politics would mean some
thing more than o war of personal ambi-
tions. Besides extraordinary love for his
father, he has inherited the Generals sym
pathetic and generous ideas. Time, travel
and patient study Of every detail Of life,
are broadening and deepening these gifts.
Though partisan, his opinions are greatly
in advance of his party's dogmas. Those
who think the greatness of his father is
going TO remain the bushel of his light will
some day DO undeceiyed.
The Colonel has converted the American
Legation into typical American home, by
transporting thither all his household fur
niehings ard treasures. u required un-
common skill TO adapt these TO the huge
apartments so as TO produce the cozy effects
Of the American residence, but Mrs. Grant
succeeded so well that she must feel proud
Of the praise and admiration her friends and
guests so lavishly bestow upon her.
The busy little genius who Is building up
the afternoon Sun in New York is in the
all-round scnse the brightest product OF
American journalism. Pale, without that
)ennness which Cesar looked upon with
distrust; purely classic in features with the
far seeing eyes OF the mariner who patrols
the ships bridget the muscles of the pan
ther playing beneath fasbionable-Attin
clothes that TO q careless observer make
him seem frail; precisely quick in move
ment and erratically quick in mind, he
must be bundle Of paradoxes to all save
| those who know him well. He is still a
| youth, but not so young as he looks, With
the accomplishments of the European dip
| lomat he combines the modesty and defer
ence of the German scholar. He plays
with languages like Father Proutt, and is
familiar with every nook and crook of
every metropolis. He spent the years
of his youth in the colleges of
the Continent, and studied the
sciences in foreign tongues. lie went West
when scarcely out Of his teens and dabbied
inlbig values at Kansas City with the cool
ness and success of a veteran of the Street.
He began on the San at the tail end of the
staff only u few years ago and crawled up
its vertebral column till now he is become
a part of its vital nucleus. On the collapse
of an apple-stand or the overthrow of the
French Republic he could write with equal
facility, with the assurance of holding his
reader 10 the last line. Handsome, gay,
| graceful athletic, he is the favorte OF
every circle of women he meets. Valiant
witty, profound and generous, he is ad
mired and respected by all his comrades
Such is Arthur Brisbane of the New Yor,
San.
Labouchere has at last found cred jim
McD ernott For weary months ant
months the English Liberals have beer
tracking the protean dynamiter all ovel
Europe while he has been nnocently dis
porting himself in London under tn,
cice ropnge of Tom Fielders of the New
York Herdld. They had hoped to get :
''squealn from McDermott before the Par
nell Commission, and were particular,
industrious in their. search for him jus
previous to the tragic end of Pigott Oni
of their agents, q priestly-looking Irisl
detective, who assumed the name of Wilson
ransacked Paris at the triiliDg expense o
&l0 day, accomplishing nothing NOR
wonderful Than TIE inspection of the con
cert halls and cafes, and the confusion of
young countryman who was imposing o,
the Latin Quarter as a suspended clerical
How many Wilson's there were doing th
gaieties Of the continent at $50 a day th
Lord and the Liberals only know. Wher
the money came from for this folly will
perhaps, be appreciated by the irish Amer
leans who could have put their contribu
tions to better use.
McDeFmott tricked all his pursuers b.
staying most of the time where they leas
expected to find him. His surrender Z
Fielders is an illustration of what goo
manners and genial disposition do for tn
Journalist where the scent of the sleutf
hound often fails. Fielders was sharing
bottle of wine with some friends In tn
Grand Hotel one night when another part
of friends came in with stranger, whor
they introduced as French noblemar
, Whatever his suspicious, he (Fielders) di
not, like his comrades, suffer them {
betray him into silent expressions OF cor
tempt for Prince who spoke with dis
tinct fusion Of the Irish, Bowery and Oh
cago Bridgeport tongues. On the contrar
! he listened with the gravest end mo:
amazed attention to the wondrous tale
the nobleman told and was rewarde
later in the night, when the fumes OF th
grape had done their work, by the blu,
blooded stranger falling into his arms.
''See here,n said the mystery, on the quie
II like you. You're trump. amt II
Frenchman; Pm Red jim McDernott."
. Fielders Immediately cabled two-colunl
Interview with the supposedly dead suspec
4, and has had him within call ever sine
McDermott's story was largely fiction, hoy
ever, as there is no such titled woman
France as he pretends TO have marie
4 Though McDermott asserts that he Is u
: protected and unpuinped, it is evident
I all who are familiar with the situation tn
:. he is In the hands of the Government
f secret officers, and that the Government
n in possession of his secrets.
:. IMPAIRMENT GRIEVANCES