Putnam patriot., 1909-07-16
THE MAN WHO
 INTRODUCED PEOPLE
sx HORACE GAYLORD.

George Atherton. an American, visit
 pd London and. being without letters
 of introduction and ths English people
 not being prone to make friends Of
 strangers. he had a lonely time Of f..
 one spring morning he was sitting on
 A bench fn Hyde park looking al some
 budding plants when well dressed
 man sat down on the other end of the
 bench. Athertan had failed so often
 at seraping an acquaintance with Eng.
 iishmen that he determined not 10
 speak 10 the man, who sat idly teF-
 ping his boot with his cane. But good
 fellowship or the natural animal tralt
 of segregation or whatever it might be
 called was too strong in him, and he at
 last remarked:
 "Fine morning. sir"
 ..y-rv: just the morning for the
 flowers replied the stranger geniaily.
 .I hare garden at home across the
 big pond wonder whether my man
 is giving 1t the proper attention"
 aOur tastes agree. I'm devoted to
 my garden"
 .All Engiishmen love gardens. They all love England. And what is Eng land but one big garden?
 That's what makes America look unfinished to us here. We're used to
 seeing every bit of ground made beau tiful."
 Have you been in America. sirf' "Neysr. but I have met several Eng lishmen who have. and l once knew an American quite well. Introduced him to a life entirely new to him.
 Indeed. He doubtless found you more obliging than I have found your countrymen. Eve now been in Eng | land a month and have found no one inclined 10 know me. much less intro 1 duee me"
 "Have you been presented at courtT' "I have not"
 .sTben 1 am sorry to say 1 can do nothing for you.'
 You Engishmen are welded to i your precedents.
 "Whv should we not be? Our con stitution Is made up of them. For 1 merly there was the all powerful king | and a suuservient people. A man in l mv position then could introduce the l lowest subject into life entirely l strange to him simply at word from 1 the king. Today the king has only te ! perform his part of form. The man 1 is presented at court and may then be 1 at enee launched into a social circle l from which the sovereign has no pow
 CT to recall him.
 "But what entities him to be pre- l sented?"
 "0h. there are various things. He 1 must be known-in fact, well known
 that is. if have anything to do with 1 his case. He must have done some l thing to warrant my taking him up." Does wealth have anything to do l with ones securing your good ofticesT' Nothing whatever. I make no in. l quiries as to the size of ones pocket book But there is a feeling among Englishmen that rich people are less l liable to be turned over to me to be
 introduced than those who are poor" l How would you advise me to pro- ceed in order to be presented at court and then turned over to you to be in- 1 troduced into society"
 You must become notable for some | thing. But must bid you good morn- | ing. sir l have an engagement to
 make an introduction within couple l of hours 1 must leave you" l Hope 1 may meet you again" said | Atherton.
 | The man raised his hat politely as
 be walked away, but made no further
 reply
 That's an Englishman all over" 1 muttered AthertOn. Hell take no responsibility in vouching for stran- ger All must go through the proper | form"
 l At that moment who should come
 sailing down the way but Tredegar. an American resident of London whom | Atherton had known years agone. l Hello. Atherton." said Tredegar
 after looking at the departing stran- l ger with apparent interest. You over hereG
 l "Yes, I've been here some time. Note
 that man who has just left me. l | wish to ask you about him. He says | that a stranger here after having been 1 presented at court, is turned over to l him for introduction into society"
 "oh. he did did he? To what kind | of society dld he say he introduced | people!.'
 The highest circles" What else did he say?" | He said. for one thing, that to be ! presented at court one must be noia-
 be at least he never takes up any but notable people He says one doesn't l need to be wealthy to secure bis good | offices
 1 He told you all this, did he? Now,
 hear what l have to say about him. | To secure his attention you would have to be presented at court, but il would be the criminal court, and to do | this you would need to become notable | by committing a murder. The higher l circles to which he would introduce you would be the angels. You would more likely fall into his hand beng 1 poor than rich. for the expenses or l defense are large. and the poor cant | afford them. True enongh. the sover- | eign who once condemned a subject 70 | the block by a word now has no power l of life and death This man who oecu- | pies such an important position Is none 1 other than Caleraft the hangnan. And I said hoped I'd meet am | again.
 If you did he'd introduce you to | life from which even the king couldn't recall you. But I'll take care of you | Y kr... v<f& ,ts. har