Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-20
RATHER EFFEMINATE IN APPEARANCE
Ordinary Attitude in the House Of Commons
One of Listless Indifference,
NERvoUsLY ENERGETIC WHEN AROUSED
,Unbusinesslike and Devoid Of ALI System
in His Conduct Of Affairs.
LIKES WOMEN BUT is AN OLD BACHELOR
Socially He is Decidedly Exclusive
and Keeps AIOOf from Most
of the Members of the
House of Commons.

Copyright 1902 by l-ess Publishing Coz
LONDON, July 19.-(New York World
Cablegram - Special Telegram.) - Arthur
Balfour, Great Britain's new prime minis |
ter is one of the few remaining really |
Interesting and attractive figures in Eng
lish public life. In appearance he is tall, |
slender, willowy and distinguished looking, |
with the scholars stoop and the head Of
philosopher. He wears eyeglasses. His
gray eyes are mildly contemplative. His
whole demeanor suggests in one aspect
a yielding gentility and a modesty, in
deed an effeminacy which has earned him
the nickname OF Clara He combines
the Incidence OF a man of indifferent
physique with ardent devotion to golf,
cycling and motoring. He is an ac-
complished musician, fine player on the
Spiano. and has been known to sing senti-
mental songs. He enjoys lying abed until
noon reading French novels or phlloso-
phical treatises. 1t is one of his affecta-
tions that he never reads the newspapers.
All his movements are languid. His IA
vorlte posture in the House Of Commons
10 one of spineless prostration. his feet
resting on the edge of the table. his head
sunk on his chest, his arms hanging life
lessly by his side The casual observer
often faneies he is in a state Of collapse.
Changes When Reused.
When reused he undergoes a startling
transformation. His listlessness is re-
placed by an intense nervous energy. He
gesticulates passionately and his voice vi
brates with anger But he is maintain
ing perfect mental control while he pours
out food of biting ridicule on his vic
tim. 1t was in lighting the Irish party
as chief secretary of Ireland from 1887 to
1891 that he made his reputation. He
placed the FIRST permanent coercion act
on the statute books. 1t gave his Irish
officials absolute license in administration
and uniiinchingly justified their every act.
That was his idea OF resolute govern
ment. 1t resulted in such excesses that
Mr.. Gladstone again got majority, owing
to the revulsion Of feeling in England,
~. Arthur Balfour Is the most unbusinessliire
leader the House OF Commons has had in
the memory of living man. He is entirely
devoid Of method or capacity for manage
meat. In every succeeding session his
blunders, arising mainly from sheer neg
iect, have discouraged and enraged his fol-
lowers, but they have borne with him because
of their respect for his brilliancy as a
debater and because he is the only obstacle
10 Joseph Chamberlain's asoendancy, which
they dread. But Mr.. Chamberlain is SO
another year Mr.. Balfours succession to
the premiership would have been impos-
sible. The favorite summing up in COM
pairing the two men Is: but Balfour is a
gentleman" That Is the one secret Of his
hold on the house. He is a gentleman to
his finger tips; cultivated refined we'll
bred, unobtrusive and somewhat superior,
but undeniably fascinating.
Socially Very Exclusive,
ARTHUR I fear, thinks us a vulgar lot,"
said Sir William Harcourt. when someone
spoke Of Mr.. Balfour's elegant aloofness
toward the House of Commons. Socially
he Is exceedingly exclusive. His friends
are found among "the souls" which coterie
includes several very beautiful and clever
women.
He is a confirmed bachelor of "a years,
though he delights in women's society and
throws an extraordinary glamour over them.
1t Is said that he once proposed to the
captivating 'Margot" Tennant, now Mrs.
Herbert H. Asquith, but his intimates
laugh at the story. He has been very at
tentive to different women OF late years,
wherever he goes, a certain coterie of
married women with whom he has intel
lectual afanities-Lady Elcho. Lady
CRANKY. Lady Helen Vincent Mrs. W. II.
Grenwell and Mrs. Leopold Rothschild-
always are invited to meet him.
Last Saturday evening. after he had ac-
cepted the premiership. he motored to
Mrs. Grenwelrs residence at Taplow to Join
house party Of his set He remained
over night and vas in the gayest spirits,
but never mentioned one word about the
political crisis, even to the favored few
who were left to learn 1t from Mondays
newspapers with the rest Of the world.
Mr.. Balfour is a wealthy man. having an
income OF nearly 100000 year outside of
his Official salary OF s25,00O He has a
handsome town mansion on Carlton Gar
dens, down town apartments at No. 10
Downing street. and a delightful country
house at Whittinghame, in Scotland.
Prefers 40 Write Standing.
Mr.. Baifour has a decided prediction
Tor standing while writing or studying and
Is always more or less IN at case il he
has TO do his correspondence whilst seated
Even when writing his nightly letter 10 his
sovereign during the sitting Of the House
Of Commons MIR. Balfour would much pre-
fer 70 be able &c stand 20 the work than
to have to do It with the writing paper
resting on his knees. The desk which he
uses in Downing street he has used for
very many years, He keeps a tall candle
in eandlestiok constantly upon It, so as
TO be ready II needed IN the waning light
OF dark London day. He reelines some
what lazily with one arm resting on the
desk when penning an ordinary letter until
Il has been necessary TO use his left
hand to keep the paper in position. The
desk stands close by window that over
locks the garden behind the house and
which commands a capital view Of ST.
James park.
Mr. Bslfour Is an omnivorous reader and
patron OF the arts. He established q
record by paying the late Burne- Jones
$4,000 for his picture entitled THE
Legend Of the Brier Rose" He also has
several valuable Whistler nocturnes, as
well as a portrait by him.
He is such a victim TO seasickness that
he never undertakes sea voyage. Since
he left Ireland he never has been on this
island