The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-18
THOSE GRIDIRoN PICTURES.
The baltimore Sum Suggests "a Plan
of Identification.
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
The Savannah News. commenting upon
the Charleston News and Couriers picto-
rial joke upon the Gridiron Club of Wash
ington, says:
Correspondent Curtis article, describ-
ing the pictures used as being those of
murderers. thieves, convicts, patent medi-
cine samplers and other dsrepu-
table persons, seems TO have been more
widely read than the News and Courier's
explanation the following day. in which
it was stated that the portraits were
really those of Governors, senators, con-
gressmen and other eminent South Caro-
linians. The Baltimore Sun was one Of
the newspa pers which failed to catch the
point of the joke. 1t says: The News
and Courier corrected its pictures the
next day and published true portraits of
the visiting journalists, but the second
publication will probably never reach
many who saw the first and who will al
ways regard these gentlemen mark thlso
with suspicion by reason of their strlk-
ing likeness to persons or dlsreputaDle
and criminal antecedents' Shade of the
lamented Dawson! And the pictures used
We're really those of members OF the r.
F. S. c.!
The Sun did not see the pictures and
was forced to rely upon the testimony of
disinterested witnesses. Whether they
were the pictures of "murderers, thieves,
convicts, patent medicine samplers and
other disreputable persons" as Mr.. Curtis
testifies, or of Governors, senators, con-
gressmen and other eminent South Caro-
linians" as the Courier subsequently
claimed, is a question which can only be
determined by a commission authorized to
send for persons and papers and make a
careful comparison of all the countenances
in dispute Which of the three classes
of persons said to have been represented
IN the Couriers piotures-journalists
statesmen and 'disreputable persons
would have the best right to
bring suit for damages we
do not undertake to say. But GER
tainlv the murderers and patent medi-
cine samplers would have strong ground
n resent the suggestion that they resem-
hled senators and other distinguished po-
Htical personages, in view OF some OF the
facts recently brought out by investiga-
lions In Washington. The journalists might
obiect 10 such comparison for the same
reason and claim that more damage was
done 10 them by picturing them as emil
nent statesmen than by portraying them
as brilliant ornaments of the Rogues Gal
lery. However, Identification by the ordi-
nary newspaper portrait might well battle
the washington journalists repudiate the
nictures of them published by the Courier
and as the eminent South Carolinans"
would probably do so with regard to them
selves with equal emphasis and indigna-
lion. Il would be next to impossible 10
show that they were pictures of anybody
The method of Identification by the thumb.
described by Mark Twain in "Puddin'
Head Wilson" and now regarded by ex-
perts as the most reliable, might be adopt
ed hereafter in such cases, and the i'm.
print of that member be required to ac-
company a picture as guarantee of
good faith. In the case OF visiting jour
nallsts. out for a lark and equipped with
large pots OF red paint for decorative pur-
noses such as the Gridiron Club is un-
derstood always to carry with it. three
four or five fingers. according TO the we'll
known capacity OF the gentleman repre-
scented. might be substituted for the thumb
as a means OF Identification in connec-
ton with his picture.