The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-27

Lord Kitchener has been described va riously as "a machine.' 'the man who lever smiles and Gen. Hard as-Nails,' but here Is an ancedote showing him in a whimsical and unexpected light.
 Young Lieutenant Maxwell, Kitchener's aide-de-camp, one day picked up the chiefs gilt-edged stan cap and was hold ing forth to a party of friends, when Lord Kitchener. who was in the next room, missed the cap. Through the open door he perceived the reason of its ab- sence. Without a word he picked up Maxwells plumed headdress, put it on his own head and walked into thes room, saying, Maxwell, how should I have done for Roberts Horse?"
 Lord Kitchener has a particularly soft spot in his heart for all kinds of pets. A few months ago, says the Army and Navy Illustrated, he possessed a tame starling. This bird for the time being was the apple of Lord Kitchener's eye. He always had 1t near him, and often, paign troubled him, he could be seen standing in front of the cage, cigar in mouth, gazing at the captive bird
 One day an idea struck him. 1t seemed that the bird was in poor spirits. Lord Kitchener conceived the idea that the bird was lonely-that 1t required mate In a moment the whole of the headquar- ters was in a ferment Staff officers who had not a moment to call their own were sent right and left through Pretoria hunting for a mate for the pet of the chief, who had steadfastly refused to allow any of his married officers to be joined by their mates while in Pretoria.
 The yecmanry have done such splendid service in South Africa that this one little story at their expense cannot be taken amiss. A party of colonials and yeomanry was told off to capture a small laager. A friendly Boer volunteer ed to show the way, and left them when within sight of the fires of the Boer laager to make the attack as soon as dawn appeared. Dawn came, only to find our men themselves surrounded by the Boers. There was one gap in the cordon and for this gap the yeomanry made, their officer at their head. leaving their colonial comrades with the guns to tackle the Boers as best they could. In due course the yeomanry came to General Clements camp, and he wired to Lord Kitchener, Company your yeomanry turned up. What shall l do with them? ?' The reply was almost immediate: Keep them as far from me as they kept from the Boers."
 An anecdote Illustrative of the differ ence between Kitchener as a chief and Lord Roberts is worth recalling. Before Lord Roberts left Cape Town he called into his office a certain colonel and charged him with particular mission How" said the chief, 'soon can you put this through? I know you will do the best you can." Well" replied the colonel. "rll try to do 1t in fortnight" Well" Lord Roberts repeated, "I know you will do the best you can." and with pleasant smile he dismissed the officer.
 Outside the door he met Lord Kitchen CT. Well" asked Kitchener, with busi- ness-like abruptness, what are you do- ing?" "Oh," said the colonel, Lord Rob- erts wants me to do so and so."
 ''When are you going to get it through?'
 Well" said the colonel, 'T promised to try to do it in a fortnight"
 Now colonel" was Kitchener's retort. 'if you cannot do 1t within a week we shall have to see about sending you home" And done it was.
 Lieutenant Colonel Girouard, the Cana dian engineer officer and director of mil itary railways during the war. Is probably the only man who has ever answered back" to Kitchener. It was years ago when the railway was being pushed into the desert. Girouard. independent colo nial, was experimenting a piece of con- struction when Kitchener appeared on the scene. The work did not please him
 and he spoke his mind freely, as Is his custom. Girouard Is reported to have listened silently until the torrent of words
 was spent. Then he stepped up to his chief and said: Look here. Mr. Kitch.
 ener, are you bossing this railway ol am I?'
 What Kitchener said to this has moi