The Washington herald., 1918-12-29

whiskered society editor that he de-
sired a particularly good account
written of the event as a first-page
feature.
So, on the night of the reception.
King Robinson" attired in his
faultless dress suit, hired a more
dignified carriage than his erstwhile
''night-liner," and was whisked to
the home of the Chief Justice, on K
street. The front of the house was
guarded by a Gordon of policemen,
who prevented lettering in the i'm
mediate neighborhood. but reporters
were permitted to present them
selves at the door of Justice Waite's
home, which was ablaze with light.
A dignified butler greeted Robinson,
received his card. and. after perus-
ing 1t critically, handed Robinson a
slip Of paper, with the injunction:
fe may copy that, sir, by permis-
sion of his honor. the Chief Justice"
On the paper was written something
to this effect: THE newspaper men
are requested to announce briefly and
only that the Chief Justice of the
United States entertained at dinner
the Chief Justice of England on this
date"
But" Robinson demonstrated, "Mr.
Hatton. the Postmaster-GeneraI de-
s1res me to say to the Chief Justice
mat he wants good story of this
function"
The butler explained that Mr.
Waite could not be seen by any one.
and Furthermore, that all the other
gentlemen of the press had to con-
tent themselves with copying the few
words from the slip of paper. The
servant was obdurate and positively
declined to convey a note of explana-
ton to the Chief Justice
Robinson rerIrfed to the editorial
rooms much disappointed and con-
terred with the managing editor The
latter declared that the story must
be gotten by fair means or foul as
Mr.. Hatton had ordered it.
I've done my level best" Robinson
replied. as he left the room.
The managing editor summoned
member of the reportorial staff who
was preparing to cover a number of
minor receptions. This particular re-
porter had the reputation of coming
back with the bacon" whenever he
was sent on an assignment The
managing EDITORS instructions to the
newsman were brief and very much
to the point.
Go after that story at waite's.
and get it"
The reporter proceeded to the
home of the Chief Justice, looked
over the situation. heard the police
men command pedestrians to Move
on. there" and finally struck upou
novel means of getting into the
house and securing notes for the
much wanted stoty. He made friends
with the caterer, a young French
man who had but recently started
his business career in this city. and
by promising him a good write |
up in connection with the exclusive
affair, gained the consent of tho
caterer to permit him to become one
OF his assistants for the time being.
Ihe reporter entered the wagon of
the French chef and proceeded with
him to his place of business where
he disguised himself by means of
white waters coat and chefs cap
Thus camouflaged the newsman was
admitted to the home of the Chief
Justice, and as he explained was not
required to perform the menial
duties of a waiter but did the
heavy stand around act and was
sentinel over a big metal tub filled
with cracked ice and beverages Lf
sundry and divers kinds"
Grave Justices Mt Play.
After bribing the head waiter with
frequent and copious draughts of
cognac and other exhilarants he was
permitted to ascend to the head of
the stairs, where he could witness the
grave justices at play about the fes-
tive board and listen to their stories
and witty sayings. For the nonce
they were free from the restraint of
their high judicial environment, and
being totally unaware that there was
a reporter present and making notes
on his cuffs and shirt front, they be-
came as gay and frolicsome as col
lege students at their first stag func-
ton and told some really good funny
stories, most of them brand new.
After providing himself with enough
rich and racy notes for hot feature
story, the reporter quietly left the
premises and almost ran to the hack
stand in front of the old Arlington
Hotel at Vermont avenue and II
street. Springing into the first
vehicle he came to. he ordered the
driver to beat it" to the Republican
office at double time for double fare
In his hurry and exultation over his
success the reporter forgot to diyest
hlnself of the white coat and can
and dashed into the editorial rooms
thus clad with the exclamation:
got the story. Mr. Snowden. and
IT'S hum-dummer. I've 'scooped' the
world"
In order to get at his notes on the
BOSOM Of his shirt and cuffs, II was
necessary to remove that garment
ana spread it on the desk in front of
MN The account of the great and
exclusive dinner at which the posts
OF honor were filed by the chief JUS
uces Of the two mighty English
speaking nations, was a news gem !
that sparkled from the beginning to |
the ending. The Republican was in |
great demand the following morning, |
ana the story was widely copied by |
newspapers in this country, England. |
rance and other foreign nations.
Ihe correspondents on Newspaper |
Row referred to 1t as an "internation- |
al SCOOP and the successful reporter !
was rewarded by several days leave |
OF absence with pay in addition to a
great volume of praise.
In the meantime anotber cbanter
was being enacted. 1t was said on
that Chief Justice waite |
mad an urgent interview with Post
master General Hatton and expressed
his anger over the exploitation of the
exclusive affair. Following the inter-
view 1 heard Mr.. Hatton say to Sec
retary OF the Navy Chandler, his
business partner in the publication of |
the National Republican:
Waite won't speak to me any more. |
ButNwsit until the clouds roll bv."