Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-26
THEY AMUSED BORIS
GRAND DUKE TELLS OF AMERI.
CAN REPORTERS.
he Declares Most of What They Wrote
About Him Were Pure
Fakes.


A Paris dispatch to the New York Herald
says:
Grand Duke Boris, who reached Havre on
the Lorraine yesterday morning, arrived in
Paris in the evening. and took up his resi-
dence at the Hotel Continental
Here his imperial highness was inter-
viewed by a reporter of the Matin. He did
not in any way beat about the bush, but
plunged at once in medals res.
And what do people say about all that
here?" was his first question.
All that was the stories recounted in
America. The reporter explained that the
French papers had simply reproduced &C
counts published in American journals.
1T was stated continued the reporter,
that you brusquely quilted the table of
lady because her butler served her before
you, and that you were absolutely ada
mant in regard to etiquette"
The grand duke, on hearing this, burst
into hearty fit Of laughter.
oh. 1t is enough to make one die of
laughing. he said. In all that there is
not a single word of truth The lady in
question, who belongs to the highest society
in America, Is a charming woman. l re-
ceived most cordial welcome from her,
and assure you that neither during nor
after the dinner was there even the shadow
of an incident of any kind
An error on the part of our American
confreres?" suggested the reporter of the
Matin.
The grand duke rectified the expression at
once. No. no; not an error-fancy. pure
fancy. They are extraordinary, the Amer
lean Journalists. l did not receive them.
All right! Next morning l read in some
journal an extraordinary and side-splitting
interview.
Then 1 decided to accord a short inter-
view to them, and In endless series of col
umnS l was represented as making long
speeches and indulging in remarks which
greatly astonished me-"
His imperial highness continued: "Ah.
American journalists not easily en-
barrassed. They know how to write
story. 1t is very simple. Whether you see
them or not, whether you speak to them
or not, journalists affirm in their papers
that they met you, that they questioned
on, and that naturally you had made
most sensa tional declarations to them.
They sell many copies Of their papers, and
everybody is content
You take the affair gayly." observed the
reporter.
"Why, If 1 he'd tried to rectify things, all
my aids-de-camp would not have sufticed
for the task. Look at this
The grand duke held out an Illustrated
paper, in which he was represented with a
crown on his head drinking champagne out
of little boot
That's how it was. A number of jour-
nails declared that at Chicago l only drank
champagne out of the shoes of soubrettes
1t is funny, is it not? 1 do not get annoyed
about it, since it amuses them
But now that am In France, where the
press is serious. 1 take the opportunity of
declaring that all that the American papers
said about me is pure invention, fake of
the most extraordinary kind
The grand duke was silent an instant and
then he resumed: Il have not the same
opinion in regard to the American people
The progress they make is terrifying. 1t is
ell activity. fever of work and uninter-
rupted production. There are no useless
people over there. Everybody works. ev-
erybody is Observation-Disclosures and sons
of millionaires like the rest. They have
their bureaus, their workshops and their
factories. where one finds them from morn
ing to evening.
For instance, Mr.. Vanderbilt, Cornelius
Vanderbilt, son of the rich American, is an
engineer He is well known as an inventor
and his inventions in use in many
places. 1 could cite you hundred other
Names"
Did you meet Mr.. Roosevelt. monsig-
neur?' asked the reporter.
yes; the day after his accident. Our
interview was most cordial. He is a man
of great energy.
Il passed six weeks in America I visited
San Francisco, Chicago. the falls of Mag
ara and New York, and took up my resi-
dence at Newport. 1t is an extraordinary
place. One walks on gold. There is moth
ing but sumptuous palaces. displaying the
fabulous wealth Of a collection of Million
aires"