The Press., 1897-03-11
A HETEROPHEMIST
HOW HE INJURED THE FINANCIAL lN- TERESTS OF THE CONFEDERAcY

HOW HE INJURED THE FINANCIAL iN- TEREsTs OF THE coNFEDERAcY. MT. Blank Was Sent to England to Solicit Aid and FaiIed-The Message He Sent to MT. Memminger Was the Opposite of What He Supposed.
 The Southern Confetleracy was only 8 few months old when financial agent was sent to England on a very impor- tant mission. MT. Blank was a politi- clan and banker. He was also an ele- gant gentleman, with many influential acuuaintances on both sides of the wa ter.
 Before leaving Richmond he had long talk with Memminger, the secre- tary of the treasury.
 of find that England will aid us," he said, "I will send you word by some reliable blockade runner. It will be very brief message, but you will under stand it, while it will mean nothing to the enemy if it should be intercepted"
 The confidential agent slipped through the lines, and ill less than a month was comfortably established in London. In the metropolis he found many southern CTS and many prominent Englishmen who sympathized with the secessionists. He saw MT. Yancey, the Confederate minister, every day, and the two work ed together ill harmony. MT. Yancey was a practical man and was not long in coming to the conclusion that no aid was to be expected from the British gov ernment.
 '.The abolition sentiment controls here," he said to MT. Blank. "Some of the statesmen would like to help the south in order to break up the Union, but the people will never consent, The south will have to fight alone. '' Blank felt pretty blue when he heard this, and that night he wrote the single word successful on a thin slip of pa per and sdllfully secreted it in an or dinary coat button. The next day he was visited by southern friend, who remained with him for an hour or more. During his stay he removed the top but ton from his coat and sewed on one given by MT. Blank
 'I understand it all, = he said when he left. "If I get safely to Wilmington, | I will go at once to Richmond and give this button to MT. Memminger. Iprefer not to know the nature Of the message, as you say that it explains itself, y
 "Yes," replied Blank, lit will be understood by the secretary, and as it refers to a state secret I cannot say any thing about it. "
 The two shook hands, and the gentle man with the precious button took the next train for Liverpool, where he boarded a steamer bound for Whining ton
 The steamer was chased by Federal cruisers, but she managed to reach he1 destination without any serious mishap. In the course of two or three days the mysterious traveller called on MT. Mem minger in Richmond and presented him with button. The secretary cut off its covering in a hurry and smiled wher he read the word ''succesSful. "
 Did MT. Blank show this message to you?' he asked
 No. We both thought it best that should remain in ignorance so that nc telltale expression of my face would be tray anything if the enemy captured me.
 At meeting of the cabinet that aft ernoon MT Memminger was in higl spirits. He predicted that the war would be over ill 90 days and said that England was preparing to recognize the Confed eracy and send over her warships tt break the blockade.
 ''I have this' he said, from my con fidential agent, MT. Blank. y
 The name commanded respect, ana when the secretary said that under tn circumstances a loan of $15, 900, 900 ne gotiated in Europe would be sufficien everybody agreed with him. The week rolled on, and Erlanger ill Paris adver tised for bids for $15, 900, 900 ill Confed crate bonds. MT. Blank read this at Iii London hotel and dropped his paper il his agitation.
 Well, I'll be d-d!'' he remarked Must be mist Ike. I'll run over an see about it..
 The next day he was at Erlanger' office in Paris. The French banker in formed his visitor that there was Il mistake, and then Blank swore vigo1 ously. The bids rushed in from all qua1 ters. If the demands of these specula tors had been met, $500, 900, 900 in Con federate bonds could have been sold When this fact became known, MI Blank again relapsed into profanity.
 He could not stand it, and, despit the danger of the trip, he made his al engagements to return home. His inter view with Memminger was a storm one when he arrived at Richmond.
 1T intended to write unsuccessful he said after long talk.
 Well, there is your message, ' re piled the secretary. "You wrote 'suc cessful.' ''
 II don't understand it," said Mi Blank sadly. "Surely your advices fro1 MT. Yancey should have warned 70 that there was something wrong"
 His dispatches were intercepted, answered the other.
 ''I don't understand it. repeate Mr. Blank.
 Perhaps I do,' quietly remarke the secretary "I have carefully note your talk this morning, and have di covered that you are a heterophemls For instance, you say London when yo mean Richmond and Richmond whe you mean London. You similarly mi use the names of other places and pc sons and are unconscious of it. Whe you sent me that message, the word 'ul successful was in your mind, but, bein heterophemist, you wrote an opposi1 word and ruined the Confederacy."
 II may have made a mistake, sir, said MT. Blank, rising from his chai "but I am neither a lunatic nor a idiot. have the honor to bid you zoe i morning"
 Heterophemy is fatal thing in d |, plomacy. Chicago Times Herald