New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
PUBLIC MEMS LEISURE.
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN'S ACADEMIC Ap-
DRESS AND READING HABIT-MR.
DoRsoNs REcREATIoN-A THEo-
rOCy.N ~ SCOTLAND YARD

of strecgeness which comes FROM new eHN"""
ment and unworted conn anionshlp MS oeS
resource is 10 be trIe to himself TINS mas wv
Mr. Chan,berlain's eXpedient al Giasso" I'm
yersity. II he could not breathe na'ura"y ~
an academic atmosphere. he could al ieds' "'
himself and speak in Ills own way MS "'N' 80
osIord Rector was characteristic Of the man OF
mercantile origin. lard calculating 1duS."
democratic instincts and genius for public buS'
Noes Teamed for business career anu
without academic distinction. nc appeared De
fore the students as he grimiy rem 49,
es one who knew little Latin ana 'c''
g., h,,. WIN had been in tie public service
for thirty years. and was not osha'neu
trovvn az n marty politician. He dcscrlpe" nm
coli sc an anomalous Lord Rector Whoii' III.
J-r,versity had brought up from the u'p'"e VI
ro,i.ics whore he had been engaged an ms INV
n force struggle and had suddenly hi'eu '''.o
q Mace OF honor and dignity IN acaue'''0
rroves Yet he was a master or the art oi ue
hs,e with his ucidity Of style ana nueno9 -
delivery and readily demonstrated IN MS du,
dress on patriotism" how completely he ""u
educa.ed h;msel: without academic aio io'
unique public career .
Tho address Is not one that can be readily SUM
married. but II may be practicaolc 10 ii'us'i"'e
,ts characteristic qualities. a large por''oh y,
q was taken UP with definitions ana h's'''
exnosition. Following De TocqueviIles sup''
anaylsis he discarded the patriotism OF iiis''i'0'
which 1vas dislntere3ted and undefinable, assoc
o,otiro tho affections with the place OF oirth
and united with a love OF OLD customs ana TIC"
ditions. He preferred the patriotism OF ie"soi
which was due to perception OF Inc pe'so"''
interest Of the citizen and depended on HIS nav
ing n share in the government or ms co"h'i! gu"
on his identifying himself with us prospei''!
and security Mr.. Chamberlain adnlltteo 'ha'
the distinctions could not be strictly Drawn ou'
,srs,sted in converting love of country into
matter OF sober. practical calculation ana en-
heightened self-n,erest Nothing could have
been more characteristic Of the statesman VINO
carried his mercantile instincts into municpa!
no,i,,cs in birmingham. and who had been es-
sentialiy a close calculator and keen man oil
business in his political career ana in MS man
agement Of Colonial affairs
DEMOCRAT AND IMPERIAIIsT.
Mr.. Chamberlain while not sentimentaiist' Is
a true democrat and great lmperialls'' anu
these two leading motives of his career were
themes in his address. He contrasted the hypo-
critical immortality of the eighteenth century
when DIR. Johnson's sarcasm Of the last refuge
~ a scoundrel" was well deserved. with the ad-
vance in public life at the present day, when IN
England "to leave politics TO politicians, whether
IN national or in municipal work. is as fatal to
the great inter SITS Of the State as TO leave to
mercenaries the defence of its territories Inc
higher ideals of public duties he attributed to
the democratic movement by which patriotism
has entered into the likelihood of the nation
While he paid a fine tribute to French patriot
ism which had placed the Republic In the front
rank Of the nations Of the world, he exuited over
the destiny marked out for the English people
by their insular position, their love OF adventure
their power of organization and their CONNER
cial instincts and was convinced that with all
the force and enthusiasm, Of which democracy
alone was capable, the Empire would be COM
pleted and maintained by national and imperial
patriotism as the splendid edihce OF their great
ness Yet, true to himself, he declared that the
policy of STRENGTHENING and uniting that Empire
was a question of practical politics.
Mr.. Lowell in his epitome of Americanism
gave better definition of patriotism than this
address contains. II mean" he said, that
which we cannot help. not that which we Haunt
that way OF looking at things and OF treating
men, which we derive from the soil that holds
our fathers and waits for us II patriotism
were matter solely of self-interest and calcua-
ton men would have no country except the one
where they could live most comfortably and get
on most rapidly. But human nature does not
calculate so closely in its love Of country.
Patriotism sends it's roots deep down into the
home soil and finds therein touch OF life An
Englishman is proud of the Empire. but he can
never have for it the same instructive feeling Of
love that binds him TO England; and II is doubt
full whether an enjoyment OF independence, or a
consciousness of share in the responsibility
Of government. or any consideration or eXpeGi-
ency. has tended TO deepen patriotism, which
was as real and sturdy in the era Of the
Spanish Armada as it is in this Jubilee year. 1t
smacked Of the English soil then, and so ii does
now.
Mr.. Chamberlain's definitions may not be
accepted without reserve, but the dignity and
fine literary qualities Of his address command
admiration. He has generally been regarded as
a masterful politician and an Industrious reader
of Blue Books This address reveals intimate
acquaintance with Roman and French history
and with the literature Of the eighteenth CEN
fury. It abounds in polished periods, fecitous
quotations and philosophical reflections on his
torical progress and democratic institutions. 1t
ought not to surprise any one who has listened
70 his speeches in Parliament, where he has
always displayed a marked talent for opposite
quotation and illustration. He does not write
books but he Is a dlligent reader with won
derful memory. Not even so industrious
reader as Lord Rosebery makes a more practi-
cal use OF books than Mr.. Chamberlain. How a
statesman who has many public and private
ENGAGEMENTS, and who is so fully engrossed
with current politics, legislative details and de-
oartment business can find the leisure requisite
for SO much careful and thorough reading is
one of the minor mysteries Of English public
life.
CIVIL. SERVICE AND DREAMLAND.
The publication of new and complete English
~d!tion Of Mr. Austin Dobsons poctlcal works
thi, week suggests similar line OF reflection
upon literary industry in the public service He
has been for fortyone years in the civil service,
having accepted at sixteen clerkship in the