New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE

There was something rather exceptional IN the
embarrassment given by Sir William Preece 70 Sig
nor Marconi. when the latter first arrived In Eng
land. his adopted home, in 1896 The young italian
had only attained his majority at that time and
was practically without friends The experiments
which he had previously tried on his fathers es-
tate near Bologna had satisfied him that the prin-
ciple involved sound. but they were OF
rudimentary character. IN order TO develop the
system sufficiently interest capital more eabo-
rate and costly tests requisite Sir William.
then at the head of the British telegraph service
soon heard OF the newcomer. But he had himself
been working for ten years on another scheme
which dispensed with wires. and with a moderate
degree OF success. Under the circumstances 1t
would have been only human to ignore Marconi. If
not to put obstacles IN his way. Instead he Offered
s sepRs eW Rsnd though he SGGkG x Id os tS
the close OF 1897 Marconi had shown that Hertz
waves would penetrate the solid masonry OF city
brx budi1g ana 90 on an open plain Ike that Of sails
ton was opened up between the mainland and the
East G2odWin Lishtship. and also between ne tns
the English Channel was cT0z ed But it Is doubt
ful whether any Of these nieyements would have
for Sir William Preece's generosity.
One Of Lord Rosebery's characteristics is love
OF exact knowledge. When he first became For
eisn Minister. mis- familiar acquaintance with the
personases and personal history OF all the reign
ins families Of Europe. their ministers and other
functionares found 20 be minute that his
associates 1ounu hiIn more convenient 10 CoLS1As
than the "Almanach de Gotha-' There is story
that of his irst acts in the Foreign Once was
70 send for Sir Edward Hsrtslet chief OF the
Treaty Department, aid SIX aim oluntly; Naal
col is but what ne wanted was scientific account
OF IL from the highest authority
Horace Plunkett, the defeated Unionist eandidate
for Parliament in the Galway district which re-
turned Colonel Arthur Lynch. Is no stranger to
America Long before his present visit he was
ranchman in Manitoba. where he IS said 10 have
and TO have made money in the course OF his ex-
nerience M Plunkstt Is an expert ehess piaSss'
A soldier who saw three years Of service WITH
the 9th United States Infantry in the Philippines
and China has returned home "a time expired
man with several interesting stories Of hard rsn'-
ins In the Far East. One OF them concerns Cen
erai chafree and exhibits that ofeer the posses
sor OF grim sense of humor not shared. appar-
entity. by Of his brother officers The story
goes that during that day of terrific fighting De-
fore the walls OF Tien-Tsin private soldier asked
his cffieer where he should take up his position
Receiving reply, he asked second time on.
l don't care where you go Go to he'll or san
Francisco the officer shouted. The soldier sa-
luted and disappeared. He was seen no more oy
his comrades for three long months. They. think-
ing he had been killed captured. were aston
later later He w was R immsdiatety arrested on the
OF desertion and summoned before court martial
The soldier coolly called up score OF Witnesses
who swore that they heard his oficer order him 70
go TO hell or San Francisco He pleaded shss lie ss
San Francisco. making the voysSe in a hospitat
ship The court martial SENTENCES nm 10 Vas
shown to General Chafree for approval ne asSeo
for the evidence and read ii carefully. He tnsn
drew his pen through the sentence and ordered the
soldier back to his company for service man
tentiousiy is too good a soldier for the United
States Army to lose for even three mentns.