Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/37

 the journalist who reports these sayings and doings has never set eyes on the people about whom he writes with such a free and easy flippancy. Even if he has, his authority to make their conversation public may be questioned. It is surely not too much to ask of the editors of newspapers that they should, by applying directly to the individuals concerned, ascertain whether such and such a statement made to them is true before giving it currency. A couple of penny stamps expended in private correspondence would settle the matter to the satisfaction of both parties.

"Personalities," however, would seem to be greatly in vogue. Note the following:

"At seven o'clock the King left the hotel and walked to the spring to drink more of the water. Altogether, His Majesty has to drink about a quart of the water every morning, before breakfast.

"Standing among the throng, in which every type and nationality of humanity was represented, the King sipped his second pint glass of water.

"After drinking the quart of water, the regulations laid down for the 'cure' further require the King to walk for two hours before eating a morsel of food.

"This His Majesty performed by pacing up and down the promenade from the Kruez spring at one end, to the Ferdinand spring at the other.

"Notwithstanding all the appeals of the local authorities to the visitors, King Edward was much greatly inconvenienced by the snobbish curiosity of the crowd."