The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-06
sllyerberE-A Fnkcr.

So much fun is made in Europe Of
the gullibtlity Of the people mere IN
America In allowing themselves to be
duped by foreign adventures mas
uuerading under extraordinary names
and titles that 1t is refreshing to find
that hoaSes OF this nature occasionally
succeed on yonderk side of the Atlantic:
and the story Of how that international
crook, Harry Silverberg, has been able
to deceive such men as the Duke of
Montrose. Lord Ribblesdale. Lord BAL
four of Burleigh. Lord Grimthorpe and
others to the extent that they not only
him. but even put him up at their
clubs. including the St James, the
Cocoanut. etc, is certainly entertaining.
1t recalls the adventures in London
OF the soi-disant Count Jaracewski.
who during two years went every where
in English society, even 10 Marlbo-
rough hoase. And to Sandrlngham.
forming part OF the most exclusive
clubs. before the late Lord Hastings
ascertained that he was the black
sheep son of the real Count Jaracew-
skis butler, and an ex-convict. While
another ex-convict enjoyed similar
Vogue in Mayfair and Pail Mail
throughout an entire London season by
Hoffman. then Austro- Hungarian minis
ter OF finance. In fact, Ii the truth
Were known, there are Just as many
cases OF gullibilfty in London and in
the .CdplldlS tSuLoFt
on this side of the Atlantic. the only
difference being that exposure here
receives the utmost publicity. whereas
i8abroad every endeavor Is made to hush
up the matter.
The fact that Sllvcrbers, despite his
record as a crook and as an eH-
convict in the United States. in Eng
land and on the continent should have
raanaged to secure credentials from the
Gillian government, authorizing him to
IN 10. ma with EnrliSh ~
cierS for the construction of railroads
and other public works in Chile. Is
not precisely calculated to improve the
credit of the Latin republic OF south
somewhat battered prestige OF their
official representatives abroad. The
frequent revolutions and changes OF
government among the smaller repuh-
lies bring into their diplomatic service
all sorts of queer fishes: and thanks to
this, American diplomacy has
figured extensively in card scandals in
lgtnose clubs in Europe that extend their
hospitality to representatives OF for
eign countries. Indeed, the Hunt
Club at Rome and the st. James Club
In Piccadilly. London, have been par
ticularly unfortunate In their expert
ences with Latin-American diplomats
IN this respect, while in one notable
that the envoy accredited to Berne as
representative of one OF the Central
American republics had previously
done time" as a swindler in a Euro
pean penitentiary.
Things such as these are Inevitable
Fin the case of representatives of coun-
tries subject to continual changes of
government, through revolution, and
where posts of envoy and Of secretary
OF legation are distributed among the
ndherents Of the victorious dictator
without much regard to their antece-
dents. But 1t is rather hard that such
men should be allowed to style them
selves members of the diplomatic
corps should have right to the official
limmunities and social prerogatives ac-
| corded to professional diplomats of
| reputable states, and should thus be in
! a position to bring the entire foreign
Representation into popular disfavor.