The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
WHITE MUST STEP
 DOWN AND OUT Mrs. Taft Gets Revenge for Old
 Insult INCIDENT OF hONEYM0ON Tafts Were Informed That Only Peo. pie of Prominence Could Attend Semi-PubIic Function-In-
 suited His Betters.
INCIDENT OF HONEYMOON
Alfred Henry Lewis in Commercial

Alfred Henry Lewis in Commercial
 Appeal.
 Washing ngton.-Ambassado White is to step down and out Automatically and another is to have his place at the French capital. There is a moral in this passing of Mir. White and the story thereof, a story which extends in It's chapters over more than 20 years, should teach the reader to be careful of the stranger within his gates, lest in that stranger he enter tain all unaware an angel or one who is sprouting subsequent wings to be- come an angel.
 It was in 1886. Mir. and Mrs Taft had just been married and were trav- cling through Europe wrapped in those rainbow folds of sentiment folk call honeymoon"
 The Tafts in the course of their en- raptured rambles came to Vienna. There they found among other mat ters of moment more or less MT. White. The latter gentleman was secretary of the legation for the United States at the big city on the Danube.
 Snubbed Wrong FoIks.
 It has ever been the custom of MT. White to transact his greatness at oth- CT peoples expense. A mustard seed for manhood, he liked power, loves position for the chance it offers of snubbing, neglecting, insulting those who come to him for official help or favors. Also on this Vienna occasion of 1886 he snubb bed, neglected, insult ed the wrong folks.
 There was some function whereof royalty would be the center, coming off upon near afternoon. Mir Taft thought he would take the just made Mrs. Taft to see it. He asked MT. White. secretary of the legation, to see about an invitation. To procure such invitations was not among things impossible. MT. White could have had them at merest hint.
 The opportunity to dissapoint seemed too good. MT. White embraced 1t. Upon the morning of the royal function MT. White sent note to MT. Taft. It ran in practically these words:
 Tickets to Museum.
 'I am sorry to inform you that was unable to accomplish what you asked. The affair Is very exclusive. The num- Der of invitations is limited and they have been ordered sent only to persons of importance and distinction. I en- close, however, tickets to the museum and trust that Mrs. Taft and yourself will spend a pleasant afternoon"
 MT. Taft still has that White letter. It has become, although not filed, the big document in what might be called the case of Ambassador White"
 MT. White has forwarded the usual formal resignation. That was done the moment Mir. Taft was inaugurated and 1t arrived the other day. It will be at once accepted, although such accept ance will copae perilously near break ing the ambassadorial heart of Mr. White who likes his Job.
 MT. Taft's Revenge. That White-Vienna letter of 1886 will be the reason, the real reason of the diplomatic letting out of MT. White. MT. Taft, whose good nature Is as big of belt and as round as his body, might forgive and forget, but the resent ments of Mrs. Taft are of bitter tenn per and retain their edge. It is she who insists on the dismissal of MT. White.