The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-23
The Correspondent and the Peer.

The Correspondent and the Peer.
Whatever becomes Of Roberts and
Kruger. It is now certain that the war
in South Africa cannot be pronounced
over before the scrap between Richard
Harding DAVIS and the Earl of Rosslyn
is brought to a conclusion.
1t Is very pretty quarrel as 1t
stands, far more interesting. for in
stance, than the late unpleasantness
between w. w. Astor and Capt Berke-
ley Milne. In dispatch in which he
scored the English officers In Pretoria
Davis referred TO Rosslyn as "far more
dlsingenuous than Webster Davis
just think of that.-and goes on to say:
Rossyln told me in Ladysmith n few
weeks ago that he had ceased trying to
become a correspondent and had been
given a commission in Thorneycroft's
horse. He was in uniform at the time.
He Is now here In Pretoria as a prisoner.
and is trying the baby act, pleading even
over his own signature to be set at
liberty, on the ground that he is corre-
spondent. 'noncombatant' and peer
Of England.
What makes his position the more hui
initiating is that the Beers have learned
from his diary that he Is not a noncom-
blatant, as he claims. but n commissioned
officer of the queen. 1t seems a heavy
price to offer for ones liberty, and espe-
ciaily when the trick Is found out. 1t
makes one wonder II her majesty is not
in sore distress for officers II she gives
commissions TO peers of England who
repudiate their oath OF allegiance to her
for the sake OF their personal comfort.
These remarks not unnaturally riled
Lord Rosslyn, who wrote a categorical
denial OF the same-that Is, he denies
that he told Davis he had ceased trying
to be a correspondent, and refers the
public to Col. Thornycroft for "the con-
ditlons under which I Joined his regi-
ment." He also subjoins the only pass
age from his diary from which the
Beers could have learned anything
about his status. 1t was written In
May I've had a visitor today. who do
you think the visitor was? None other
than Richard Harding Davis the Amer
Pretoria Il saw him last al Ladysmitbl.
not only had he obtained pass 20 visit
our prison, not only had he got the inde-
cency to do so without lrfquiring for any
Individual. but he insulted us by refusing
to answer any questions, cracking up the
Beers under our noses and those of the
guards who accompanied him. and tell
ing Us plainly that in conversation with
Melt Marnis. the field cornet of Pretoria.
he had agreed tina. was Rightly detain-
ed rs n oombatant officer. And vet this
iS a man whom my family and myself de-
lighted TO honor In our own country
when he first came over
! hope he feels like tho pharisee and
thanks God that he Is not as other Amer
leans are Now l know why l arm here.
IL was my diary first. and now II Is Rich
ard Harding Davis untruthful informa-
ton that I held commission IN Thorn
eyerofts horse at the time Of my cap
ture. don't think Mr., Davis had better
come here any more during his visit to
Pictorial
Upon this Mr.. Davis returned to the
bat again, observing that what I
wrote Of Lord Rossiyn ls. unfortunate
ly. true IN every particular"
The earl remains TO he heard from
Ordinarily. after two possible combat
ants have made faces AZ each other and
said You're another two or three
I times. active hostlntles are ready 20
begin: but as auelilng is out OF date
and "a there Is an ocean or two be-
tween the nsts OF the belllgeren,s. the
correspondent ana the peer WIN have
20 devise some other method Of OBJ
I tainlng mutual satisfaction.
/ In the meantime while the world is
( banning back IN ,ss chair and waiting
1 for the next move In this lonr-distanee
( battle. we wish 70 call attention "a tire
< fact that Mr. Davis has Incidentally
I run up against an opponent more DIM
. cult 20 down than any English ofies-.
( In MS iast letter 60 the press upon the
subject be distinctly aud uumltieatelly
( remarks; This reduces the matter 10
question of vsrseity between Ne ana
+ T." The question BOW Is. ana Mr.. Ia
T va use this phrase IN . moment q ok.
Fiiemeat or is 20 par, ~ "a deliberate
plol, dcep-lal. scheme on his part 20
eliminate che objective personal pro-
noun from the Enrlish language for the
4 somewhat Inadequate reason that hA
loves TO say r. best7 We al love 70
say re on occasion, but tina habit Il
saying "noe" occasionally Is too aeoply
f rooted 'o BE done away with ia a dav.
Tire English language has been on the
ground a long while, q Is good friend
but a had foe u can be coaxed but II
1 cannot be drivea. &, wll DO marvellous
thinss Tor Its Lovers, while it's enemies