New-York tribune., 1899-04-30
THE BOFFIN MYTH.
A NEW STORY ABOUT SIR FRANK LOCK-
WOOD


London correspondence of The Boston Transcript
Once upon a time as the story used to run In
newspaper office In Philadelphia. It became neces-
from list OF persons staying in a hotel at cape
May. and to substitute for them the FIRST that oe
Cured to the man who was revising the paragraph.
When he read II In print. his inventlona sonorous
name Of three parts and many syiiaoies Wor,hhy ny
rest Of the summer in appropriate paragraphs , ne
was, from watering-Pla to watering place. by
autumn they amused his acquaintances as much
ps ps.s nt the diS %ne IN nq PhadepRa Where they went
often 10 large dances dinners ana entertainments
% ffS socy h he began nao to
find their names in lists Of guests sent 10 him for
by s6 nG wished onS DO hays
in their drawingrooms Such semblance or he5h
door and he prudently sent his phantoms to
Europe. where the husband died and the widow
The narrow limits and the comparative intimacy
of society In Philadelphia make against the proba-
aea H est Gl t"s in sSS Vein Of the St late sir Frank
Lockwood the eminent barrlster and still more
phantom in politics "a much more intricate and
closely scanned field. In debate In the Commons
target for argument. which he named the Rev.
Tobias Bofin, b A.. Nondon) and which. It is
ag Brre had demolished BONN. and he had nearly
received letter from him. sharply resenting the
attack IN the sn a Me ong s more he
upon Boffin's name in list OF those present at a
conference OF Northern Liberals in Leeds to con-
slider the reform OF the upper chamber. From
Leeds. a newspaper soon Informed him. Bofiin
dinner In honor of Lord Kimberley. BY this time
Mr.. Brrell was little dsmayed Had he by some
pure accident, given his man OF straw a name that
really had flesh and blood and some local influence
In his party behind II The sudden promI-
OF Boffn, however, In paragraphs that were
inquiries confirmed them. and Sir Frank Lockwood
found much pleasure In his Jest that he half ad-
mitted IT, The Boffin OF the speech had ticked the
barristers fancy. and he had forthwith persuade led
friend or two In the press gallery OF the House to
place his name In paragraphs where II would most
discomfort and perplex Mr.. Birrell.
After the dinner TO Lord Kimberley Bofin seemed
10 return 10 the obscurity Of his meeting house:
but from time TO time in the session. especially
when Mr. Brrell was In the company OF other
members, the parsons card would come from the
lobby with an urgent request for ian interview on
private business" At the long vacation Sir Frank
went TO his house In Yorkshire. and Mr. Birrell
fancied he was done with his indignant pursuer.
In November. however. when political meetings
began 10 be frequent again. he received a clipping
speech OF a Liberal member In the North Riding
The speaker had mentioned Mr. BrreIl There
upon" the report proceeded 'the Reverend Tobias
Boffin, b. A. Q,ond) cnme to the front and ex-
pressed In strong language his regret that Mr.
Alfred Pease had thought Mt to alude 10 Mr. Bir-
rell NJ p. as his honorable friend and a good
Liberal. lie went on to say. amid considerable in
terruption. that for his part he would be ashamed
20 number among his friends such a man. The
chairman asked Mr.. BONN TO postpone his remarks
Sit down. Boffn!) Amid general disorder. Mr.
BONN quilted the platform" When he left the
hall he vanished as completely did the Phila-
delphians In Paris