The Washington times., 1902-08-03
A RTHUR JAMES BALFoUR, Eng
. lands new prime minister, is
4 one of the few remaining de-

RIHCR JAMES BALtOJh, Eng
IA lands new prime minister, is
1 l. one Of the few remaining de-
cidcdly interesting figures in the
public life of Great Britain. England
has had twenty-one premiers in the last
100 years. In the score of his predeees
sors there has been no figure exactly
like that OF Arthur Balfour. who sue
ceeded Lord Salisbury on July y. There
have been philosophers in the long line
most statesmen come to be more or
less philosophical under the responsible
ities of state-and there have been lit
eFaryImen and scholars. Bptthere has
been exactly no such combination of
philosopher and scholar as Mr.. Balfour.
lie has carried into politics the manner
and disposition of the student. and is in
some ways one of the most shadowy fig
ures in the line of premiers.
Mr.. Balfour is now ffty-four years old,
but he has always impressed people
somehow as being young man. Per-
haps this is because politics has not
been able to change the characteristics
of his nature from what they were when
he first became known. His mother was
a sister to Lord Salisbury, and he al
ways had the powerful support and the
valuable counsel of his uncle. the late
premier. For a time he was a member
of the famous Fourth Party of free
lances whom Randolph Churchill led in
Parliament, but he abandoned his three
associates after awhile to become a
steady-going Conservative. and in due
course was secretary for Scotland, then
secretary for ireland. and finally first
lord of the treasury and leader of his
party In the House Of Commons.
II is said of him that he is the most
unbusinessllke leader the House of
Commons has had in the memory of liy-
ing men Entirely devoid of anything
IKE method or system, he has little or
no capacity for management. Time af-
ter time. running right through each
session, he has blundered through sheer
neglect: vet lis followers bear with him
for his excellent qualities as debater.
II is Characteristic OF the man that he
boasts of never reading a newspaper.
He is eTeminate and languid-these
traits have won for him the universal
nickname of Clara" He prefers to lie
abed until noon, reading philosophical
treatises and French novels.
He is tall and slender, with shoulders
sIoped forward after the fashion of the
scholar He IS distinguished looking,
nevertheless, and has the head and ex-
preston of a philosopher. His eyes.
shaded by glasses. are mild and contem-
plative His whole demeanor suggests
the man of easy-going temperament, the
individual who prefers 20 go through
life any old way so long as he does not
encounter any difficult problems TO dis
turb his equanimity aud placid front.
When seen in the House of Commons he
is usually sprawled on the fiat Of his
back in his chair. feet on his desk. arms
dangling listlessly at his sides, his
head on his chest. eyes shut-apparently
doing nothing, caring less what others
do. and engaged solely in the recreation
of q quiet nap. Even under the most
virulent of attacks directly in his pres
ence, he never rises or opens his eyes.
He seems to care for nothing that Is
said Of him To the casual observer he
appears TO be in state of mental and
physical collapse.
But directly opposed to these langutd
and elfeminate characteristics is the
really remarkable nature OF the man
within when he is aroused. When ready