New-York tribune., 1891-08-27
LIFE IN LONDON.
THE RECREATrONs OF sTATESMEN-MR BAL.
FOURS HOLIDAY-HIS GROWTH IN GRACE

close upon q couple Of brilliant speeches delivered
in the Provinces, Mr.. Arthur Balfour has set
forth for Bayenth to be present at the Wagner
Festival. The coBcatenation OF circumstances Ia
certainly without any political intent. The Chief
Secretarys holiday has come at last, and the Bar.
reuth Festival happening contemporaneogsly he
has gone thither, as being the place where he h
likely TO find most pleasure. At the same time
there is no question that this particular holiday
move has struck the public fancy and .hcreassd
the personal interest in Mr.. Bafour, who has
grown apace within the last few years. That,
after all he has gone through at Westminster, no
should with a light heart, voluntarily set ont to
spend a week with Wagner parses the compre.
bension of some folk who have quite other views
of the possible rest and joy of holiday.
The British people always take keen personal
interest in the private recreations of their public
men. Lord Palmenston's popularity was deeply
built upon his fondness for field sports, including
boxing. which does not strictly come under thas
head. The late Lord Derby owned race horses
and ran them Mr.. Dsraeli was something Of
failure in this direction, though that was not due
to the lack of earnest endeavor TO cope with acci
dental disadvantages. He did not ride, or hunt
mr. shoot. or fish. He wrote novels, but in this
connection the gift is not helpful. As early as cr
cumstances permitted he made up as country
squire. had hV place at liughenden, where he
grew peacocks and whence he occasionally emerged
in top boots to attend farmers ordinances aud Jalx
learnedIy about crossing Southwods' Lord
Salisbury has o laboratory at Hatfield and an en-
gineer's workshop where he planned and directed
the lighting by electricity Of the old mansion In
which Queen Elizabeth was guest. lie Is said
10 be much prouder Of his electric light arrange
ments than of the Berlin Treaty he helped I"
frame or Of the approach to settlement OF the New
foundland Fisheries Question Nr Gladstone as
all the world knows, wields the woodmans axe and
cuts down upas trees in Hawarden farS WIN
success not excelled by his carrier exploits In
Ireland lie could not in any circumstances Oh
prvate life fail to fill large place in the admt
ration and esteem of his countrymen. but IL
would be difficult TO eXaggerate as II would oe
hard coolly TO explain the influence his wood-eut
tinc has had in endearing him 70 the people
There is MANY little cottage in Britain winch
counts ms its chiefest treasure chip OF WOOD
Guaranteed 10 have fallen under the stroke OF
Mr. Gladstone's hatchet IL only it happens that
tho head Of the household, making rare holiday,
bas been with one of the frequent EXCURSIONS 70
Uawar6en and has with his own cyes seen MI.
Gladstone with barred arms and conveniently as
nosed braces wide one of the most popular OF
his photographs assail the tree to which the
chin once belonged, the gold weighed out aganstn
in the balance would not purchase the treasure
Mr. Arthur Balfour in his lean leisure ume'
n1avs Golf: well enough in it's way, Dut ho', !"
the popular mind an adequate set-oh against M
CIadstones wootlcutting. Golf, like wagner "a
certainly growing in favor, but TO the average per-
son il is too much like Wagner to create general
wave of enthusiasm round any one OF It's Vo'afes'
Amid much that is vague in popular information
relating to the game, it is generally DeheVeu unaS
,b. Chief Secretary is a crack player. Mr. Bal
four SAWS he is not, and have found men accus-
| toned 70 play with him too polite TO contradlc'.
| However il be, he never loses on opportunity OF
retiring TO some favored spot where golf may 10
nlaved. and indulging his fancy But IL appears
on this first opportunity when golf and wagner
compete for his presence, the minstrel WINS
Fsen Mr. Balfour's enemies, a circle tna' nS
distinctly and significantly contracted "i,hih NAs
| IGt six months, will admit that nc mas e'i"s1
bis holiday. in whatever form he may care TO taks
it. lie has toiled terribly through une s'''""'
but his appearances in the House and his par
tiorotiou IN IFS business are merely parts of ha
DAYS work. Before, at half-past in the atter'
noon bo strolls into the House, he has already
accomplished days work that would cause 10
hour limit. lie is Minister for Ireland, ana no
pcrsonally administers the affairs Of Ireland. Ing
| Irish Office is a mean building. once prlVats
bouse almost within q bowshOt Of the HOUSES VI
Parliament Mr. Balfour is in his room at an hour
| in the morning as early as the average city mer-
chant appears at his desk; and till he goes OIL
| to the House of Commons to begin 1rcsh phaso
of difficult and delicate work that Will certainly
not close before the stroke of midnight, lie Is gap
ping with an interminabe series OF proDletns'
mistake in dealing with any one being ira"sh'
with danger to the Ministry and possible dlsaS.er
TO the country This tall, graceful stripping WIN
8 face sometimes soft and beautiful as woman D
is ruler Of Ireland in complete sense ufhhown
| in English history since the days Oh NlVn"',
II ANYTHING is to be done in Ireland III ni"'' ~
worked through him and to him, as iohS a' 'n'
doors Of the Irish Office are open, repair repi0
sentatives Of the manifold interests struggins i'i
predominance lie listens to all with engaging
courtesy but the polish of his manner 10 iouNu ~
no developed upon q stratum OF adamantine WILL
II. ,s rot 70 be cozened by political supporters
onv more than he is to be intimdated by the irish
Notionalists Yon NAV hate and distrust his pol
low but vou are bound to admit his thorough
honesty of purpose and his conviction that the
conrse he is adopting Is best calculated TO serve
the cause of Ireland
The best SIGN discernbe about the Chief Secle
tary lust now. tc one most hopeful for his future
is his development of a readiness to learn. I'M
has but slow process, and its accretion Is sc
countabe for the remarkable scenes witnessed
the House toward the close of the session. "ne1
Mr.. Tim Healy, Seagreen lncorrup'iDe' ~
mitted that Mr. Balfour's administration oil ,n
Relief Fund had been well planned aud careiu'A'
carried out and, that, on the whole, he TN
vastly improved since he first went to the irsi
Office. That is true. but it is not truth eSpec@'
to be volunteered from the Irish camp ana 'nA
the tribute was extorted is striking evidence
krhe weight of conviction. When Mr. B"liou
first became Chief Secretary the limit oil IN
duties was 10 his vision bounded by the resolve
mt down the Land League and. TO adopt his o"
ormula to re-establish the reign OF Law ana ol'.
With his eye fixed on this seal he strode Staisn