Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30

~ course, all know graft when
we 1t. IN the shape of a bride
to a legislator. In the shape Of a
~ tip to a waiter or bellboy. in the
shape of ridiculously enormous
salaries and fat directors fees and
stock syndicate profits TO life insurance Of
ficials. But are we all SO ready to recog-
nize graft In some Of its many much more
common forms?
For example, do any of the Incidents here
set forth tell of graft? And If not graft
what? Business and social amenities? Gus
tom? Thoughtfuness? Stupidity? Selfish
ness? Cussedness? Or just plain everyday
downright human nature?
Not very long ago a certain city editor
of the metropolis assigned a reporter TO
interview a certain eminent divine on the
growth of the Easter spirit in this country
among the Protestant denominations. Seek
ing the preacher in his church study, the
reporter said TO him:
DIR. Blank, the paper which l represent
would very much appreciate the courtesy
of an interview with you on the manner in
which the various Protestant denomna-
tons have come to celebrate Easter with
all the elaborateness OF the Catholic Church.
Would you feel like granting the inter-
view?'
The reverend doctor beamed
"Why, certainly" he replied. II shall be
only too glad to tell you what know about
the development; and, furthermore let me
congratulate you on bringing to my atten-
ton a subject that is most decidedly inter-
esting, but one which would doubtless never
have occurred to me had you not mentioned
Il just now"
Then, in answer to the questions put to
him, the preacher gave the reporter all the
necessary material for a highly entertain
ing interview, throwing many unusual side
lights on the way the Protestant churches,
one by one, lost their contempt for the
celebration of what they had chosen to
term q pagan survival and began observ-
ing 1t in all solemnity.
When the last question had been put and
answered and the reporter had folded his
notes, he warmly thanked the preacher for
his courtesy and kindness, aid the latter
responded that he had been only too glad
to have had the opportunity presented to
him of talking subject of such great
interest TO him, but which. he must repeat
again, had never occurred to him.
So the reporter returned, jubilant to his
city editor and told all that had occurred
between him and the preacher, even to the
compliment the latter had paid the editor s
mental acumen IN thinking of the subject
matter of the interview. Therefore, what
was the city editors surprise two days
later when he received this letter in his
official mail:
Dear Sir: Day before yesterday, when
one Of your young men called on me to
interview me on the growth of the Easter
spirit among the Protestant churches gen
orally. l did what l could to supply him
with the information desired. l now write
10 ask you when l shall receive a check;
and l trust that you will pardon the sug-
gestion that 1t should be one commensurate
with the unusual information l gave him.
Ii. however, you do not see your way clear
10 send a check for an interview, may l
further suggest that you do not use the
interview, but permit me to dispose OF 1t
10 my denomiuatonal paper, which, feel,
would be only too glad TO pay me for such
an article Indeed 1 see how I can make
two articles out of the material
The city editor read the letter over in
dumb amazement. Then he read it slowly
and carefully the second time. Then he lis
tened again to the reporter detail all the
circumstances attending the interview. Then
he handed the reporter the preachers letter,
and as he did so, one word escaped him.
Was that word-graft?