New-York tribune., 1902-07-09
PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

s Eberly Gross. author OF The Merchant Prince
OF CornviIIe" is content with his legal victory
over the author OF "Cyrano de Bergerac." but now
challenges N. Edmond Rostand to duel with tbs
deadly parallel said duel be fought American
soil. Let him come on says the defiant Mr. Gross
TO the French playwright. and will fire an Amer
lean Gatng gun loaded with over twelve hundred
parallels him That Will make his deceit so
transparent that any see through it" Mr.
Gross says that he would give NJ. Rostand s1.oO to
to America and defend himself. that he
could make public his parallel passages. Whether
or not VI. Rostand comes. the author OF the 'XIsr-
chant Prince" is to write book The book viii
be a history OF the famous controversy over the
priority OF "Cyrano'' and the Merchant Prince"
II will contain all Of the deadly parallels and after
America To publish and distrt6gte this book %i
cost thousands OF dollars; ola 2 but t Mr. Gross says hs
American letters. To nake the humbHng OF "
his play to Europe, where it win be pTodHeed the
coming season. Then Paris can Judge for herself
70 who wrote "CyranO."
The OF a slave was this year the orator for
the graduating class OF Harvard University. His
name is Roscoe Conkling Bruce. the son of Blanche
K. Bruce. of Mississippi, who, although born a
slave in Virginia, received a good education at
Oberlin College after his freedom had been
bought; became sergeant-at-arms in the Misss-
sippi Senate for two years. and after the
elected United States Senator from the same State
and was also Register Of the United States Treas
ury. The father OF Roscoe Conkling Bruce was
talented man. and his son inherits not only the
talents OF his father. but seems TO have ampihed
them In many respects.
Young Bruce fitted for college at Phillips
Exeter Academy He entered Harvard in the fan
OF 1899 He attracted attention by winning The
Coubertin medal offered Harvard students by
Baron Coubertin OF Paris to stimulate interest in
the problems OF French politics
The story OF his Christian IS interesting
When his father first entered the Senate Chamber
no one at nrst appeared 10 conduct him 70 the
Presidents chair to have him sworn in. Sen.
ator Conkling realized the situation Jumped up
and, taking the negro Senator by the escorted
sor Tor him, as II Were. That act made lasting
impression Blanche X Bruce, and when his
was born he named him after the famous Senator
from NewYOrk-
Bruce will become a teacher at Tuskegee.
vania Democrats for Governor. Is looked upon as
the mascot of the party. the only man no
lead 1t to victory He is a Democrat of the Old
school. and believes in economy with vengeancs.
At the Harrisburg convention of 1870, the year IN
which PattisOn nominated and elected il was
determined to give him fitting reception on his
arrival in that city He came in during a bind
ing ratastorm, and met by the leader OF the
Dauphtn County delegation With this sreetns:
Governor, we have got prize carriage waiting
outside for yOu drawn by a pair OF blOOded horses,
GreSsed In the best gold mounted harness in the
State of Pennsylvania -
We'll, take them away. lust rs quick as you
can It's too rich a thing for ride in or
even LOOK at I'm going to walk up under dollar
umbrella; that's plenty good enough
1t Is incident that indicates in nutshell
What manper OF man PattiSOn is, and il fOretels
the issue upon Which he hopes TO win the election.