Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-02
ROsALlE dOULDlN0
Explains what scoop" Is and How
She Got One on Captain WaIberg
the Great Biographer aud
Literary FaIkir.

II there is anything newspaper CORE
spondent doteson more than any other thing
II is what is known in newspaper slang as
a scoop" Once / telegraphed to my
sister to meet me in Baltimore, and desiring
to give some reason for my sudden visit.
added in the telegram that l was on the
trail of an important scoop. When the
train reached Baltimore my sister was there
to meet me, but noticed a puzzled-yes,
a troubled look on her face. Other things
engaged our conversation but finally, as il
she could not longer contain her interest,
she exclaimed 'Rosalie, what is a scoop.
anyhow, and how can you be on its trail2"
Well we had hearty laugh, and when I
finally made 1t plain that a scoop was the
dearest thing in the world to the heart of a
newspaper correspondent, she seemed
much relieved and said she thought il was
some kind of a shovel and feared I'D get
hurt in my search for it.
But tina animus of this is perhaps not ap-
parent, so will rise to explain that there
is perhaps one thing which to a newspaper
woman is dearer than scoop-when / say
"dearer" of course the term is meant to be
understood in its psychological sense and
not in the commercial-this thing is the
privilege Of being able occasionally to say,
Il told you so,' and then to back it up with
uncontrovertible proof This is the envi-
able (l) frame of mind of the writer as this
letter is begun. Aud I'll tell you why
told you so"
If you will remember. in a recent letter to
the GLOBE reference was made to an erst-
while Spanish Captain who piled his
tricks and his trade in Washington, but who
had migrated to Buffalo and was doing the
same there. Attention was also called to the
aexibility Of his veracity ETC.. etc Well,
now, IN a local paper have read this very
interesting announcement, which is so
rich, rare and racy that it is copied in part
herewith:
Captain Walberg Is sending letters to
the prominent men of the United States
first. The general form of these letters re-
cites the nature of the history as given
above, and then refers to the fact that the
person addressed is considered a prominent
man, and invites him to subsidize the com
pany by paying $50 page for biographical
matter and picture. Captain Walberg
states in his letters that if the person ad-
dressed is not able to pay SI5o a lesser sum
will be acceptable, and that il the person is
considered truly prominent his biography
in some form will be printed anyway,
whether II IS paid for or not.
The most interesting development Of
the plan discovered in this preliminary
literature is a letter purporting to be signed
by Senator Hanna and authorizing Captain
Walberg to print five pages of biography Of
himself and President Mckinley. This let
ter is apparently used in full as an excellent
advertisement of the forthcoming work
It's text is as follows.
CLEVELAND, Oct. 10
'PaR-AHseYfcaH History C0mbanY, Buc
/al0, ~ T.
" GENTLEMEN hereby subscribe for
four pages, to be devoted to the late Presi-
dent Mckinley, price 5000, and one for my
self, $50. Truly yours,
I'm. A. HANNA.
People returning from Buffalo who had
the acquaintance of Captain Walberg in this
city report that he is doing a land office
business in biographies. Secretary of the
Treasury Gage is said to be another patron
of the history company, incorporated 30
And thus the fakir hourisheth.
Now then, this is the self-same, ocalled
Spanish Captain" to whom / referred two
weeks ago, and who was known in Wash
iugton by the name of Washington New
Syndicate" Nuf sed Scissors
The lady directors of the Florence Crit
tenton Home have announced a song and
dramatic recital in aid of the home, to be
given at the Shoreham Hotel on Thursday
February 27, at 8IS p III. The list of
patrOnesses includes the names of many
prominent society women who are tdenti-
fed with every iaudablp charity