The Citizen

A Petty Quarrel.

The American presidential campaign has produced a curious newspaper row in London. The St. Stephen's Review, a second rate society weekly, recently conceived the brilliant idea of publishing an American number, giving portraits and biographies of Blaine and Cleveland, and Mr. Parkinson, the manager of the Review, sought the advice of the American exchange upon this project. He was introduced to Mr. George Rogers, an American gentleman sojourning in London, who it was said, could fully inform Mr. Parkinson as to the chances of success. Mr. Rogers happens to be a fervent partisan of Blaine, and he warmly approved Mr. Parkinson's scheme. The latter got the impression that Mr. Rogers was a wealthy backer and European agent of Mr. Blaine, and invited him to the Review office. There Mr. Rogers gave a long explanation of American politics from the Republican point of view, and showed quite satisfactorily to himself that Blaine was sure to be elected. At the end of the interview Mr. Parkinson inquired how many copies of the proposed special number Mr. Rogers would take. Mr. Rogers explained that he had no possible use for any thousands of copies, but would cheerfully purchase one copy for his own perusal. Mr. Rogers then left the office, and soon forgot the incident, but Mr. Parkinson was deeply chagrined. The next number of the Review contained an exhibition of Mr. Parkinson's wrath in the shape of an article ridiculing Mr. Rogers in an offensive manner. Last Thursday evening Mr. Parkinson and the cashier of the Review called at the American exchange and again met Mr. Rogers. He was indignant over the Review's attack, and, seizing both the visitors, he shoved them down stairs. Then he demanded an explanation of the Review's offensive language. Both Mr. Parkinson and the cashier disclaimed responsibility for the article, whereupon Mr. Rogers apologized for his warmth. Mr. Rogers again thought the matter was at an end, but both Mr. Parkinson and the cashier obtained summons against him on charges of assault and battery. Mr. Rogers went before a magistrate and gave bail for his appearance. Everybody denounces the meanness of the Review people's conduct and the action is looked upon as simply an advertising dodge. Mr. Parkinson is now trying to bias public opinion by sending to the newspapers distorted accounts of the affair. He asserts that Mr. Rogers is such a big and ferocious fellow that it is necessary to have the Review office guarded by the police. As a matter of fact, Mr. Rogers is a very small man, but he is wiry, and has some skill as a boxer.