Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-02
IN DEFENSE OF EASEMENT


Sir-The EVENING LEDGER printed an ar
ticle from the pen of Alfred Noyes entitled
Confessions of Easements Diary" 1 am
sure that very many of your readers viii
agree with me that this literary efrusion
comes not from Alfred Noyes, the poet
nor yet from ..lfred Noyes the professor
at Princeton University, but from Alfred
Noyes. the Englishman, who Is one OF the
great army of English writer's who are
officially engaged in the patriotic work
of lending their pens to the presentation
of England's cause to the neutral world {;
II the allotted task should necessitate the
vilihcation of England's enemies. the patrl-
otic English man of letters will not shirk
1t, and II he be an Alfred Noyes he will
not even hesitate to affiX his signature to
a libel of the dead.
Thinking Americans are not dazzled by
q name. and their judgment as to the truth
or falsehood of the statements contained
in this Easement article will not be affected
by the high literary reputation of the
writer.
Easements character was slngularly no.
BILE and idealistic; his personality was so
engaging That he captlvated his friends,
one OF whom, John Quinn, who was his
host when Easement was in New York,
contributed to the PUBLIC LEDGER of SUM-
day, August 23. rare tribute to his dead
friend. The clergyman who attended Case
ment In the prison and at his death speaks
of him as pure and beautiful character
And surely II is only reasonable to suppose
that a man of Easements religious and
mystical turn OF mind would fully reveal
himself to the priest who attended him
In the moments before he was ushered into
eternity.
The British Government pursued Case
ment with a relentless hatred from the
moment when Sir Rogers exertions in be-
half OF the oppressed centered themselves
in a struggle for the freedom of his own
countrymen. and he published circum-
stantial narrative OF an attempt by the
British Minister to Norway. Mr. Findlay,
to bribe the valet of Sir Roger to procure
the assassination Of his master for five thou
sand pounds. And II seems the same British
fury even now pursues the dead Case
ment.
The bias of this piece Of special pleading
will not help Mr.. Noyes's reputation, and
II cannot hurt Easement And by the.
way, where is the Easement diary? How
came II into the possession OF the British
Government When Sir Roger embarked
on his desperate Irish mission to endeayor
to postpone the uprising until a more IA
Yorable time, he made use of every ex-
pedlent TO conceal his Identity after his
landing in ireland. even shaving off his
beard. Under the circumstances nobody
or intelligence will suppose that Sir Roger
carried around with him his personal
diary. One may be excused for doubling
the assertion that diary written by Sir
Roger Easement is in the possession Of the
British Government, and further. having
recollection OF the Piggott forgeries and
or the notorious London Times-Parnell
libel case. the thought occurs that il Is not
impossible that specially prepared" Case
ment diary may have been presented 10
Mr, Moves to serve as grist Tor the literary
mill ANS fair in love and war.
Philadelphia, September /