The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-30
AGAINST His tit.

II was the dull sea con and the Scru-
tator was compelled 70 resort 10 much
padding IN order 70 FIJI the daily measure
expected By It's subscribers: IL was
even obliged n print coyiops extracts
from other publications. thing only
10 De done as Last resource b. any
paper of spirit. Yet AZ this particular
time . celebrity, real celebrity, canle
for q few days s.sy 70 Oakhampton. and
refused 70 be interviewed:
Why be came was mystery. but that
be had come was fact, though from the
editors point Of view be might just ss
well have stayed away. The celebrity'S
vnobliging disposition on the subject Of
interviewing had preceded him; he was
perhaps &c only man of note in two
continents who had not submitted TO
the ordeal. In moments of seIf-depre-
citation he was won 10 say that that was
his greatest claim 70 distinction; but
even this reputation had not daunted
the hopes Of our editor. who felt con-
WINGED that the guriiest disinclinstion
must give way before the charm and fact
u the most valuable member Of the
Ecrutator's staff. But the tact. the
charm. had no opportunity Of producing
their usual effect; they might az well
baVe been nonexigtent. Celebrity, from
the privacy Of hotel sitting sent
down q curt message Of absolute re-
fnsal.
80 wonder, then. as We said before.
the editor was Disguised.
AS he media ted on the provoking
Dess Of things in general and Of the cel-
ebrity IN particular. he found his
thoughts running into such eloquent
and well-rounded periods that he in
stinctiyely drew pen and paper toward
him and wrote a editorial. which, If the
celebrity had read II, would have made
him feel very small indeed.
The article clearly prosed that what
The Public demanded IL must have for
the public spelt with capital r was II
sacred u the editor as Humanity (spelt
with q capital b is 70 the followers Of
Auguste Comte. The individual az such
exists not for his own sake, but for the
sake Of the Public in one case, or Of
Humanity in the other. The article
further demonstrated that celebrities
would not exist without Public. lIow
could anyone become celebrated On q
desert island. for inetance?) If, then.
II is " the Public that the celebrity owes
his being and the Public ms nifesTsa Gu
riosity a. 70 the opinions on things il
general Of any celebrity in particular.
the Public has a right 70 know those
opinions. and how could it know them
better than through the columns Of the
Ecrutafor?
But our editor was not always in this
dispIeased frame Of mind. As rule he
was the most genial Of men. and such
he looked that same evening as he sat
smoking his cigar on the gallery Of
handgame house in Clarence avenue.
His companion was his niece. young
girl with a pretty face and figure, and
Q nischieyous look in her dark eyer
which was particularly fascinating.
She was discoursing about the dearest
wish of her heart-that she should be-
come q regular writer for the Scru-
tator.
But her uncle pooh-poohed the idea;
she Das too young, too inexperienced.
too pretty. and at any rate il was impos-
sible 10 become writer By simply talk
ing about it, why" continued he. "io
you not write something and show me
what you can do?"
81 have written several stories, as you
know, but you won't look at them re-
piled the girl.
sob, no, the Scrutator does not want
stori4s. Write me an article on some
subject which win interest the public"
''But. what subjects do interest the
public, uncle, dear? You only laugh at
me if / suggest one"
"Oh, come nOw-you can't expect
poor editor to suggest subjects for yos
sa well as read your articles. Make youI
own choice. The world is all before You
where to choose"
@That's just what bewilders me; it is
sc haEd to choose. If only had SONG
thing definite TO 90 upon--or if COAX
ingly)-you would just look at one Of
my stories.'
But the editor voucnsafed no reply TO
this, 50 his niece went on: my firm
conviction is that should make a gplen7
lid interviewer. should enjoy it, too.
At college | could always get the girls
To tell me anything wanted TO know"
The editor laughed.
"Why not become detccfi~c at
cnce % said he
"Iwish could sighed the girl. Bnt
her uncle was not attending; he was
looking at cyclist who was spinning
rapidly past the house.
"That's the mani" he exclaimed,
~that's Camberton!"
'Oh. that nnanl"--for Kittie knew all
about the editors grievance with the
celebrity-i'he passes here every day.
i have met him several times lately
when 1 have been out on my morning
ride. wondered who he vas"
swell, must GO now eafd her uncle,
as he glanced at his watch. Good
night, child,' acd then, as an after
thought: TEL you what, Kittie, if you
can manage TO Interview Cam berton I'll
do anything you like" and with laugh
az though he had made tremendous
joke, the editor departed, leaving Kittie
TO her thoughts, which, as the poet says
Of the thoughts Of youth. were 'long,
long thoughts
afa amos II. a
Early next morning two cyclists might
have been seen wheeling up Clarence
avenue. The one in front was a man,
kio and dfeffnrr,ie had- II n0-s, man