goes to the States with anything in the way of a
reputation. He or she will have no more peace than a titled
individual has, for remember a lord with no reputation, or a bad one
(the latter for choice), is as much an object of curiosity and
adulation as the most renowned intellectual genius. It is amusing
when any woman, famous for beauty, wealth, intellect, or anything
else, visits the States. No sooner does she land than everybody would
do anything for her. "She must at once be interviewed" is the dictum
at each and every newspaper office, and interviewed she is, by one or
more of that artist class, on some pretence or other, whether she
likes it or not. I say "artist class" for, considering their
wonderful ingenuity in pursuit of their object, they richly deserve
the name. If the lady, and thank God many are, is modest and
retiring, and cares not to see her name and antecedents blazoned
forth in the public prints, and resolutely refuses to see _any_
strangers on _any_ plea,--what happens? Do they desist and leave her
alone? Not a bit of it. They _will_ see her, _coute que coute_, and
what's more they do! Cases are recorded, when in the guise of a
waiter the opportunity by interviewers to see her at least has been
found. Or, should she send out for any article, the individual
bringing it is an interviewer, and in this capacity, in some
ingenious way, the pretended tradesman is sure to get hold of
something. If all other means fail, the chambermaid of her room is
pressed into the service, and as regards the poor lady's clothing, if
not more, she can and does tell much. _Anyhow_ the victim does not
escape. Information is highly paid for and obtained somehow. If she
be a celebrity, something has appeared in the English or Continental
press about her long ago, and with due foresight has been cut out,
and labelled with her name, on the chance of her visiting America
later. There it is ready in the office, and is duly made use of. But,
if the information get-at-able is in any way insufficient and scanty,
the editor or manager of the paper quietly remarks that "_Some_
antecedents there must necessarily have been, that it's a tarnation
shame of the said lioness not to assist them to do her honour, but
that as she is so blind to her own advantage, and it's a positive
necessity that an article about her should appear next morning, the
deficiency must be made up." Well he, or some one he deputes, sits
down at the last moment (fo