'Noticed at dinner time the improper conduct of Mr Slyfield he having taken the paper and not reading aloud. I kindly requested him to read the city article and sat 1/4 of an hour thinking he would look at it in a while, he however continued reading to himself and deigned not to answer me or to comply with my request or to give up the paper but sat as if he were the only person who had a right to know any of its contents, and also as if he were a being superior to us.'