The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-05
CLEVER BIT OF FICTION.

The New York Evening Sun Of Saturday
last contained the following:
Whitelaw Reid, honorary editor Of the
Tribune Special Jubilee Ambassador TO
the Court Of Queen Victoria, and son-in-
law Of Darius o. Mills. the President OF
the North American Commercial Com
pany. arrived by the steamship st. Paul
this morning from England. He was ac-
companied by Mrs. Reid, his son, Mas
ter Ogden Reid. and his daughter, Miss
Jean r. Reid, man servant, and two
maid servants
Mr.. Reid was out on deck enjoying the
fine morning and reading newspapers
when the reporter climbed on board the
st. Paul from tug down the bay. The
Special Jubilee Ambassador said that he
had not only had a pleasant voyage, but
that as the representative OF the United
States at the Jubilee he had been the reel
pent of every possible courtesy. The
English nobility. he said. never lost an OPP
portunity TO show their respect for the
Americans. "Of course" said Mr.. Reid,
Il would rather not go into details about
our dining with the Queen on July 18th.
Let me see" unused the reporter, that
was the day after the Tribune here beat
all the other papers by publishing. before
it had been released the official cores
pondence Of Secretary Sherman 10 Am
bassadOr Hay relative 10 the Behring Sea
seal controversy, was it not?"
II don't remember said Mr.. Reid.
WAS any comment made at dinner by
any Of the English nobility on the enter
prise of your paper being able 10 publish
official correspondence ahead of your con-
temporaries?'
81 didn't hear any But you must eX-
cuse me. / can't talk for the newspapers
until after j have made my report TO the
President at Washington"
You knew, OF course. that Mr.. Thomas
w. Cridler. Mr.. Shermans Third Assist
ant Secretary had said that neither he
nor Mr.. Hamlin gave out that correspon-
dence, and that he thought that it must
have come direct from you from Eng
and?"
Il have heard some such talk. but OF
course l have nothing 10 say about It
now"
Were you not afraid that it would look
n little personal for this seal fishery cor
respondence in favor Of your father-in-
laws company 10 come out first in your
paper before the authorities at Washing
ton had authorized its publication"
II have told YOU before that ! can't say
anything on this subject for the news
papers"
do you not think that the TribUnes
premature publication Of this diplomatic
correspondence which so much concern
cd your father-in-laws financial inter
ests, has had a tendency TO defeat your
chances Of being appointed to succeed
Secretary Sherman
well really, young man. you don't
seem 10 understand that have refused TO
talk shop"
by that do YOU mean about the Tri-
bunos premature publication or about
your chances Of succeeding Secretary
Sherman"
I'm not going 10 say anything more
10 anybody for publication until after
make my official report as Special Am
bassadOr 10 the Jubilee"
when do you expect to make that re-
port to Washington"
I'm day or two. after I have a chance
to rest from the voyage"
Shall we be able to read It in the Tri-
bune the day before it is made public in
Washington"
I've told you enough" said the re-
turning Ambassador as he rose from his
seat on deck and walked impatienuy into
his stateroom."
Now Of course nothing Of this sort ever
happened. Il IS all pure Inventive. but it
Is an uncommonly clever way of expos
ing the infamous conduct of the New
York Tribune in publishing Mr.. sher-
mans most uncivil letter of last May TO
Lord Salisbury. upon which we have al
ready commented heretofore. Had the
Tribune not violated confidence and given
that letter TO the public it might not and
probably would not have seen the light
Of day, and what has caused an irritation
between Englishmen and Americans that
has sincerely impaired the entente be-
tween them. would not have occurred.
OF course We have no right to hold Mr..
Reid personally responsible for this out
rageous act Of bad faith. 1t might have
occurred without his knowledge. But
ne is the editor Of the paper, and his were
the interests that were to be secured by
the publication and the facts Of the case
raise n strong prima facie inference there
fore against him.