The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-15
BY the Man Who Didn't.
IN. y. Morld.l

paper men was sent nuIIylhS
by the and magazine press
of America.
No matter what point in the great
war area they were headed for. each
one was expected to turn up sooner or
later in London. And as each man,
after getting his Instructions from MS
editor in chief. packed up his grip
and started for the elevate ne was
halted by some such remark as tfis:
by the way. while you are in Lon
don, you might get an interview with
Kitchener"
Theoretically Possible.
Well, you might. You might. Just as
well make a personal selection
from the crown. jewels, or drop over
on an afternoon ard play ennis with
Princess Mary, or beat Queen Mary d
rubber at bridge, or do any other i'm
possible thing.
Fake it from one who spen@ nearly
four months trying to interview
Kitchener"-the thing has not Yet
become a national pastime: in fact. 1t
can hardly be called Il local sport. Be
noon tea or marmalade for breakfast,
it's not the thing.
It TOOK me nearly four months, as
have said, to become convinced OF
this, but / can state II is a fact.
During those four months of patient
endeavor / heard the legend that a
mar had orce interviewed Kitchener;
| met a reporter for a London new
paper who told me how he once tried
20 interview Kitchener, and | said
goodby to Irwin Cobb as he was sail
ing for New York gasping:
IT'S been done. I've done il! I've
interviewed Kitchener"
And Kitchener Said
AS for the legend. it still is >. legend,
AS for the reporter, he waylaid Kitch-
ener as the latter stepped from a
railway carriage and said timidly:
Lord Kitchener, l represent the
London -"
How interesting replied 'Kitch-
ener of K~hartoum,' and passed on.
Now, as to Cobb; hats off to him
for ne did get into the presence. 1t il
true that Kitchener did all the inter.
viewing. and it is true that the OPP
portunity for meeting Kitchener wa:
handed to Cobb on a silver platter
but h fact remain that he Dill
talk with the great man.
But If what ! am told is true, Cobt
may not live long to enjoy hi!
triumph. If, at some conyivial gath
ering, ne should begin: "When lin
terviewed kitchener''-Sam Blyth'
will rise up and Stay him on the spot
For this is the story of Cobb's inter
view as London writer's know it;
IIdTu blileS IOT blyl1S.
When Blythe started for Londol
he was one of those whose chief said
"By the way. Blythe, while your
over there you might get an inter
view with Kitchener"
sure thing" said Blythe as he sho
dow the elevator shaft.
But although he did collect tn
most remarkable lot of facts an
figures and interesting data on ho'
England and rance went to wa
he did not get an interview wit
Kitchener. There was not a wire h
did not pull, not an influence lie di
not seek. Finally. he appealed to
great literary man, a man with
title, q man whose relations wit
Blythe's employers were extreme1
cordial.
81 want you to get me an int,
view with Kitchener" said Blythe.
Good Lord, man." gasped II
You might as we'll ask me to get yC
an interview with the King"
You've said it," replied Blythe il
stantly. THE X. or K. Of X"
There wasn't a chance, was II
tnal Judgment Of the big man; b
he would see what could be don
Then he obtained the cooperation
others as influential as himself, a,
the matter as laid before the sile
lord of the War Office. There Il
matter rested without any encou
agement, but also without any abs
lutte refusal.
Cobb's Windfal.
In the course of time Blythe I
ceived a cabl.d mmo to return
America. Cobb was coming to Lo
don, and both men represented I
same publication. So hat il Kite
enc decided to relen- Cobb could
the interview.
Cobb had just been released from
months enforced stay with the K;
ser's army, in Germany, France a
Belgium, of which he has written
entertainingly. and presumably "
brimful of Information intensely
teresting just then to a man on Kite
ener's job. Cobb might, without
traying any secrets Of his late no
be able to tell many things about
makeup Of that wonderful fight
machine. So when the subject Of
interview was again br lgh.
Kitchener said: al right, I'll
Cobb"
And that is how il came about t
Cahh uac ipforyioue1 hv Litoho