New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-01
ONE MANS IGNORANCE. ANOTHER MANS

His Highncss Id lite has been graciousl!
nleased 10 inform the populace of bis pleasure
and that of the rest of the nobility as TO what Il
is permitted peheians 10 say of them And NJ
couples II with degree of condescenson to his
interiors that carries conviction OF his true
oristocracv. A common. ordinary person ap
rroached him yesterday to talk about educa
tional mastodons and find out if he was going
TO confscate the estate of DR.. Butler as well as
subject him TO the penalties of the criminal law
or course. we are doubtful about taking the
word of a plebcan in any matter concerning
ratrjcian But we give the common fellow
renort for what It is worth TO the question
about civil damages Id lite is said to nave
answered: THAT would be absurd The idea
'of man of my business interests suing poor
college professor, 1t would make me laugh
ing stock
Now. we call that noble. DR.. Butler may be
inclined 10 say it is as libelous 10 call him n
poor college professor as for him TO call Id
lite an educational mastodon Indeed, II
nav 10 more harmful as an asperslon on his
professional reputation and an interference
with his means Of livelihood. Yet DR.. Butler
should remember that he Is not Of the nobility
and reflect that II has always been their privi-
lcce 10 describe their serfs In such terms as
suited them. \ man Of Id I-tle's business
intorcsts'-he must be a bigger man than old
Rockefeller-of course can't bother with poor
college professor" II Is only az "A matter Of
public duty that he hands the wretch over 70
Id G-rd--r for punishment. Not that we
think 1t would make Id tie laughing
stock. as he modcstly suggestS-true nobility is
ALWAYS modest Id lite is henceforth be
yond the point OF being made ridiculous Hav-
ing lived TO the present without being a laugh
ING stock nothing he can ever do can make him
one.
The common persons report also shows Id
Ir-tle's humanity. 70 the persons question
Did You ask NJ G-rd-r not to arrest the
Holts?" the noble Lord answered: Il did. |
was told that an Indictment had been found.
and | asked then mat 70 arrests be made
"The D-str-t Atty said that my wishes
should be considered" Now. we notice that
some commoucrs are inclined to take offence at
Id G-rd RS telling about this indictment,
ard quote the Penal Code. which says thai "a
Judge Grand Juror District Attorney. Clerk
"or other Officer who. except in the due dis
"charge Of his official duty. discloScs before an
accused person is In custody. the fact of an in
'dictment having boon found or ordered against
him. is guilty Of a misdcmeanor.' or course,
under our old law such thing is misdc
mcanOr. but we commODcrs should remember
that things are different under the rev order,
and that edics from the palace through Id
G-rd-r have taken the place Of the old stat
utcs made by dirty laborers' The nobility
must consult together for the safety Of tho
order, and II is not for us 10 question what they
do FOR the good OF The state"
Nay rather let rs take special warning from
Id lie and be- more careful lest We offend
our masters. The noble Lord. still speaking To
the same common person already quoted. de-
clarcd that he did not know what an "educa-
t.ona mastodon" meant. and when asked why
then he had The fellow who used il arrested he
replied, II do not propose that any man shall
call mo names | do not understand" With that
IN prosper Il j. q question II we ought not all
10 confine ourselves 10 words Of one syllable
II somebody elsa's ignorance is 10 be the meas
ure OF our criminality who can he safe: In all
ages the nobility have been an ignorant class
generally despsinc letters and numbering gram
mar in the approved fashion OF our most