Evening star., 1921-12-18

Fl get away with it, as the
Americans say?' asked
the young private secre-
tary Of Lord Riddell, the famous
newspaper publisher, as he was get
ting his 1ordship's papers In order,
preparatory to winding up his share
in helping Great Britain at the con-
ference on the eve OF sailing for
London.
His lordship, lounging back in bed.
reading the morning papers and
from time to time, ''Um, yes, we'll, er,
just what I wanted them to say-yes,
er, yes. that just about hits it,"
glanced up from among his pillows
and surveyed the young secretary
over his glasses, He frowned bit.
put his steady, piercing eyes right at
him. saying, ''Well, now, let me see,
just what do you mean by get away
with It, and If SO, what?"
The secretary Interpreted. Mean
ing, accomplishing something out Of
the ordinary in an out-of-the- ordinary
manner. and all that sort of rot. What
mean to say Is you've rather had
them sitting up on their launches,
swapping up every crumb you let
drop. swallowing it whole and bark
ing for more, if you know what l
mean. These newspaper chaps. You've
never told them Il thing you didn't
want to tell them. l know that for a
fact. And yet you have answered all
of their questions and invited more.
Clever, IL 1 might say sci"
LIS lordship's face lit up, his SEN
sitive lips parted with q satisfied
smile, winning. but with that habitual
trace Of sneer always apparent, as
he answered: Yes, we'll, that's Just
where you are wrong, M boy. 1
never answered q single question the
whole time 1 was supposed to be
perhaps 1t was something I wanted to
tell them anyway. let them think /
don't understand American slang. It's
useful. But. in their own words. ''they
have fallen for it!"
Now. look here, my good young
man. continued his lordship. you're
quite a bright youth. Perhaps you
might follow in my footsteps. and
some day or other be able to do
thing or two for the king ane the en-
pire. 1 believe 1 shall coach you UP
bit. Give You an inside glance into
the machinery of the show and what
not. Show is an odd word the Amer
get behind the scenes.
Now, then. in the first place. you
must remember how we had the stage
set before my arrival, just as we did
for the Paris performance. You re-
member how Sir Arthur Willert and
his staff of publicity officials made it
a point to deny over and over again
that was to be here in any official
capacity. OF course. there had never
been any statement to the effect that
I was. but at any rate we wanted 1t
clearly understood that l was not.
And it proved very convincing. We
told a tale about my representing
dwelt at length on my philanthropic
act in giving up my work at home at
sacrifice in order to have the pure
JOY of serving the American press.
When I realized their vast apprecia-
ton of my unselflsh devotion to their
cause I knew anything was possible.
x X
.sTHE first meeting I had with the
scribes Of America was howl
ing success as they say. 1t was
timed in tip-top fashion. We let them
know that an important announce
ment was to be made and they came
in droves. 1 met them and told them
Mr. Balfour was to accept Mr.. Hughes
ship-scrapping proposal in principle
the following day-which he did as
advertised. He wanted it told. The
alleged journalists realized I was in
close touch. They were tremendously
impressed. and that one bit of news
was enough to keep them coming back
for more every day for a month or
more. And most Of them have been
quite constant Fifty and over. in
cluding a half score Of women, stop
in the Navy building twice daily and
some Of them cover pages Of notes.
writing down every word Of what I
say, as though I were venerable
prophet or something Of the sort"
but how did you answer their
ouestions?" interrupted the pupil.
"Oh, yes, yes. well, now, let's see.
Well, in the first off had four well
defined methods, all Of which I had
practiced at Paris, but then. of course,
every once in a while in a. special
pinch had to grab at any sort OF a
straw, and one thing seemed to work
as we'll as another. Often 1t was well
to answer in more or less direct
fashion, since 1t opened up opportu-
mites to put the proper color on
things and illuminate matters to the
better interest of all, but for the most
part these prying journalists wanted
me to talk on things that might have
been embarrassing. The easiest way
was to say. Well. really now. that's
point hadn't looked into.' or, Now,
really, I shouldn't like to say. never
having attended any Of the committee
meetings. or, again, I don't know
that the British delegation has any
views on that particular subject. I'm
sure have no personal views. because
rao11p don't knOw the factS.' Or.