The Earl's English

In the private office of the Clerk of Cook County (Chicago), the Earl of Northesk obtained a license to marry Jessica Brown, formerly of the Follies. The special correspondent of The New York Times quoted the Earl as having said: "Oh, I say, can't this be done with a bit of decent quietness, don't you know ?" This is an excellent example of stupid and slovenly reporting. The Earl does not talk that way; the special correspondent of the Times made the Earl say what he (the correspondent) thought an Englishman would say.