'Indiscretions' of Lady Susan, page 149 by Lady Susan Townley
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iece de conviction in confirmation of the charges he intended to make.
I was quite distressed to hear of this trouble brewing for the President and Mr. Taft, and, as we were also going on from Colon to Jamaica, I begged Walter to let me take a bottle of the same water to be tested by the same man, thinking that our friend would exaggerate his Report and be confounded by the production of mine.
Alas! when the Report reached me later in Washington it was so bad that my proposed line of defence there and then fell to the ground J . " Unfit for human consumption " was the damning writing on the bottle. In a letter accompanying this verdict, the British analyst proposed a system of filtration through gravel which would make the water innocuous until a more radical cure could be effected. I passed on his letter to Mr. Taft.
The sequel was amusing. The journalist brought his terrible charge against Mr. Taft. who, rising to reply, blandly agreed with all he said, but added that the Government, on the suggestion of so eminent an authority as the British Government analyst in Jamaica, had taken remedial measures which were proving most effectual!
A few days later we lunched at the White House. I sat between the President and Mr. Taft. In the middle of luncheon Mr. Roosevelt leaned across me and, in his unconventional way, addressed Mr. Taft: "I say, William, just get me a telegram you will find in the pocket of my coat hanging up outside." Mr. Taft went as he was bid and returned with a telegram, which the President handed to me. It was from Colon to say that the sanitary improvements were in hand and the gravel filter-beds made. " You see how greatly we are in your debt, Lady Susan," said Roosevelt. " You must let us know if ever we can do anything for you."
Months after, a young American of our acquaintance came to see me. He was ambitious and clever, but having no influence felt he would never get on. I remembered the President's words, and wrote to remind him of them, asking