The Washington times., 1902-08-03

| to crop into activity on any subject he
slowly gathers himself up for the effort.
He undergoes startling transferma-
| tion. An intense nervous energy re-
| places his listlessness. He straightens
out from his position of spineless pros
tration. His arms get into motion, AMI
he gesticulates passionately, his voice
vibrating with anger. Apparently he is
worked up to a frenzy, when he is mere
" pouring out a flood of biting ridicule
on his victim. in the meantime losing
not particle of his perfect mental con-
troll
1t is also characteristic of Mr.. Bal
four that on the very day he was ap
pointed to succeed Lord Salisbury as
the premier, he attended house party,
and not even to his most intimate
friends limited word of the great honor
that had just been conferred upon him.
They, as well as the rest of the world,
were obliged to wait until few days
later when the newspapers got ahold
of the intelligence and proclaimed it
broadcast.
Years ago it was said that he had only
one rival in the House as a debater-
Chamberlain-and that he had gift of
real oratory which only Gladstone and
Bright possessed with him. He has the
intellectual integrity of Bright, and the
power which Gladstone possessed in an
even higher degree of broadening the
range of debate, and lifting it into a
purer region"
His predecessors in the last 100 years
have included statesmen like Pitt, Peel,
Gladstone, Disraeli, and Salisbury: Well
ington the famous soldier; the bigoted
Perceval. who was killed by an assas-
SIM men of some fame through their
pens, like Canning. Lord John Russell,
and Rosebery land, of course, We must
repeat the names of Disraeli and Glad
stone); and such other men as Adding
ton, Grenville, Portland, Liverpool, Co
derich. Grey. Melbourne, cerby. Aber-
deem, and Palmerston. Only few of
these men made any real impression on
British history. by their own personali-
ty Most Of them are names and moth
ing more. How will Balfour stand in
future history? 1t is not likely that he
will be Il commanding figure in that his
tory but he will be an interesting one.
AS philosopher ana student. he could
hardly fail to be interesting He will
try to do his duty with the breadth OF
aim and the thoroughness of the philos-
opher He has surprised his associates
several times by his ability TO handle
practical affairs with efficiency, and Will
probably do so once again. But it is
not likely that he will remain long the
leader of his party. 1t is likely that
stronger less philosophical, less indif-
ferent man will in time squeeze him to
one side. And it is not likely that Mr..
Balfour will greatly care.
Mr. Balfour has produced two books,
"A Defense of Philosophic Doubt" and
THE Foundations of Belief both OF
which have won what may be called
success of estimation but which have
not been generally read, and have mo-
bad a great influence upon the current
of human thought.
Mr.. Balfour has his recreatons. He
is a cycler, and is the president OF the
National Cyclers' Union" He is even
better known as q golfer. If Mr.. Bal
four does anything strenuously, it is to
play golf. II not brilliant player, he
is at least good one. aud in 1894. he
was captain of the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club os ST. Andrews.