Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09

ever has been, he was one of the most ap-
proachable ambassadors the correspondents
have ever known. He could be seen OUT
side as well as in office hours, great
thing for the correspondent, as you must
understand, when you remember that dis
patches which need explanation are as like
ly to come at midnight as at any other
time
More than one Of the correspondents
hold the Russians memory dear because
of information cheerfully given at dead
of night. on Sunday in the midst OF some
engrossing social function, or at the cost
of much trouble on his part.
Men of Good Sense.
Possibly you might suppose that the
count would be taken advantage Of as
soon his change Of heart became gene
orally known. but the contrary was true.
THE correspondents are men of sense
as a rule. and no public man who Is con-
siderate of them Is likely to be treated
without consideration by them. The count
found after bit that he might talk with
the utmost freedom to them; that he might
trust them with the weightiest state
secrets without the slightest risk Of being
betrayed.
After while he became fairly intimate
with more than one OF the correspond
receiving them in his bedroom, sometimes.
when they called untiuly early or unduly
late, and chatting on all sorts of topics as
unrestrainedly as III hts visitor were a
Russian like himself and devoted as singly
to Russian interests
'Takahira, the Japanese minister has
never been as free and open as Cassini was.
He Is never discourteous; on the contrary,
In fact, he Is always the soul Of courtesy,
but he has the greatest facility imaginable
in utterlng many words without saying any
thing at all.
The oriental mind Is peculiar and
suppose that the Chinese and Japanese
minds are somewhat alike. But, whereas
Nf ~ ,;,,;- r
were among the most satisfactory men to
talk with 1 have ever known, Takahira.
the present japanese minister, isn't ex-
actly satisfactory.
Dealing With New Correspondents
Now. as l have said," continued the
veteran, the correspondents in Washing
ton rather pride themselves on the gen.
eral high level of trustworthiness they
maintain, but 1t Is true that black sheep
gets into the fold occasionally.
1T is true. also, that the man newly
sent to Washington as a correspondent has
to show himself worthy Of confidence be-
to have an infallible test for every new
man. 1t wasn't peculiar to him; most dis
corning public men make use OF IL, as
many newspaper men know very well.
Mr.. Hay used always to treat the new
correspondent as well as the correspondent
who had been known to him for years; to
be as courteous. as friendly and to give
as much Of the legitimate news that was
his to give to the neophyte as to the vet
eran.
He generally gave the former more than
the latter That was his test.
After telling him all that he had told
the veteran, he would impart piece Of
information, perfectly harmless If printed,
but concerning which the Secretary would
explain that he had particular reason for
asking that 1t should not be sent out.
Almost invariably this information
would seem TO be of the utmost Importance
and the temptation to the new correspond
emf to put 1t on the wire would be very
great Once in a while the temptation
would not be resisted, and next day his
paper would print it, perhaps IN display
type.
wherever that would happen. the erring
correspondent would soon find his useful
ness to the paper employing him at an
end, and he wouldn't have much sympathy
from the other correspondents when they
learned the facts.