The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-27
A DUPLICATION OF IDENTITY.

II
We cheerfully give space in all the
quantity desired TO the elucidation OF
the distinction that exists between Mr..
NEWTON DEXTER of New York and
| Mr.. NEWTON DEXTER of Providence
| and the rest of the world,
while reserving the right to insist,
as our correspondent allows that we
may, on our sentiments expressed alb
stractly with relation to DEXTER Of
Providence and trusting that DEXTER Of
New York is the kind of fellow to
properly share in the tribute which has
called out the following communication;
To THE EDITOR OF THE News:
sIR-As a newspaper man, always regret
to spoil a good story. and TO spoil good odi-
torial actually pains me- but in the interests
Of truth and accuracy must do so in this in
stance.
Your loader of Saturday night read well and
was in accordance with facts for about half
column. Had you stopped theie, all would
have been well. II is an unfortunate circum-
stance that many of US never know just when
the ornithologcal and scientific attainments
Of Mr.. Newton Dexter Of Providence will be
endorsed by tho public generally, and not I'M
likely by tho park commission. But whom
you swung off into tho enforcement of the
silver stamping law Of the State of New
York. and connected MIR. Dexter with that
movement, you were distinctly on the wrong
track. Doubtless you have been informed by
NJ ofI Haf IA
that he is not Mr. Newton Dexter of New
York.
Newton Dexter OF New York is quite a diff
ferent chap from Newton Dexter of Provi-
denco. 1t is doubtful If he ever shot bird,
either In the interests OF science, or OF the
dinner pot. IL is certain that he never sailed
up the Amazon or any other river of North
America, and il is equally certain that he
never heard of tho new museum at Roger
Williams Park.
Yet Newton Dexter OF New York knows a
thing or two, and is nothing. IL not active and
enterprising This silver stamping law origi-
mates, if am not mistaken, with Mr.. John +.
p. Lawton, the efficient secretary of the Cor
ham Manufacturing Company OF Providence.
The bill was introduced In the winter of 1894.
1t was passed in New York and Massachu-
sets. but failed OF passage in Rhode Island.
Had IL been supposed. however, that New York
and Massachusetts, would have passed the bill,
ii would probably have gone through here.
The contention OF our manufacturers of cheap
wares was that the law should be passed by
Congress, instead of by a state here and there.
The bin provides a penalty for whoever sells
or keeps for sale, goods falsely marked "ster-
ling" or "coin silver"
Now Mr.. Newton Dexter of New York has
been engaged for several years past in form
ing organizations of retail jewellers to reform
various trade abuses. While he had moth
ing to do with initiating the legislation
which led to the passage Of this particular
law. no approves of II. and he is now going to
test tho law, to soc II 10 is worth any thing.
In this cndeavor he will have the sympathetic
support Of both retail jewelers. and frst-class
silvorsmiths. The fact that Mr.. Dexter of New
York and Mr.. Dexter of Providence bear the
same Christian name, Is, perhaps, while not
universal, sufficient to have led you into u
somewhat amusing error.
The circumstance will give me. as publisher
of The Manufacturing Jeweler. an opportun-
ity TO point out the episode as an awful ex-
ample of the untrustworthiness of general
newspapers when dealing with trade topics,
and to emphasize the necessity Of special
journals whose writer's are skilled along some
particular line, and who never. or hardly ever,
make mistakes. IL Is certain that none of the
wide-awake trade journals will accept the
printed statement that the majority of the
silver samples put In evidence by Mr.. Dexter
contained only four ten-thousandths parts OF
silver. when four hundred ono thousandths was
probably meant. That was a case of "when
you sec IL in The Sun IL isn't so.'
WALTER b. FROST.