The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-09-19
A STRANGER IN
A LARGE CITY
|. Queer Experience Of an
American In London.
American In London.

- SSA~A NA So
budding plants when a we'll dressed
man sat down on the other end Of the
bench. Atherton had failed so often
at scrapfng an acquaintance with Eng
lishmen that he determined not to
speak to the man, who sat idly tap
ping his boot with his cane. But good
fellowship or the natural animal trait
Of segregation or whatever it might be
called was too strong In him. and he at
last remarked:
Zine morning, SIR"
Every; just the morning for the dow-
ers," replied the stranger genially.
II have a garden at home across the
big pond. I wonder whether my man
is giving it the proper attention"
"Our. tastes agree. I'm devoted to
my garden"
"All Englishmen love gardens. They
all love, England. And what Is Eng
land but one big garden?" sss
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. sir?"
"Never, but I have met several Eng
lishmen who have. and I once knew
an American quite well. Introduced
him to a life entirely new to him."
Indeed? He doubtless found you
more obliging than l have found your
countrymen. I've now been in Eng
land a month and have found no one
inclined to introduce me-"
slave you been presented at court?'
II have not"
''Then l I'M sorry to say l can do
nothing for you"
"You Englishmen are welded to
your precedents."
"Why should we not be? Our con-
stitution is made up Of them. For
merly there were the all powerful king
and a subservient people. A man In
my position then could introduce the
lowest subject into a life entirely
strange to him simply at a word from
the king. Today the king has only to
perform his part of a form. The man
is presented at court and may then be
at once launched into a social circle
from which the sovereign has no pow
er to recall him."
"But what entities him to be pre-
sented"
"Oh. there are various things. He
must be known-in fact, well known
that is. If l, have anything to do with
his case. He must have done some
thing to warrant my taking him up"
Does wealth have anything to do
with ones securing your good omces?'
Nothing whatever. l make no in
quiries as to the size Of ones pocket
book. But there is a feeling among
Englishmen that rich people are less
liable to be turned over to nj to be
introduced than those who are poor"
"How could you advise me to pro-
coed in order to be presented at court
and then turned over to you to be In
troduced into society,""
"You must become notable for some
thing. But l must bid you good MORN
ing. sir. have an engagement to
make an introduction within q couple
Of hours. l must leave you"
"Hope I may meet you again." said
Anterior.
The man raised his hat politely as he
walked away. but made no reply.
That's an Englishman all over"
muttered Anterior. Hell take no re-
sponsibiity. in vouching for a stranger.
All must go through the proper FORM"
At that moment who should come
sailing down the way but Tredegar. an
American resident Of London whom
Anterior had known years agone..
"Hello. Atherton!" said Tredegar aft
er looking at the departing stranger
with apparent interest "You over
here?"
"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
presented at court, is turned over to
him for introduction into society"
.'Oh. he did, did he? To what kind
Of society did be say he introduced
people?"
1.-The highest circles"
what else did he say?" !.
HE said. for one thing. that to be
presented at court one must be nota-
ble--at least he never takes up any but
notable people. He says one doesn't
need to be wealthy to secure his good
Offices"
HE told you all this, did he7 Now.
hear what I have to say about him.
To secure his attention you would
have to be presented at court but II
would be the criminal court and to do
this you would need to become notable
BY committing Z murder. The higher
circles TO which be would INTRODUCES
you would b the angels You would
more likely fall into his hand being
poor than rich. Tor the expenses 81
defense are large. and the poor can't
aford them. True enough. the sovef-
eign who oncs condemned I subject %
the block by I word now has no power
Of, life and death. This man who occu.
pies such ansimportant position q nons
other than Calcraft. the hanamAn..v
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