The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-08
SMALL SALARIES-BIG JOBS.
Private Secretaries Who Have Run
an Empire.

Tit-Bits.
II there Is no royal road to success in
life a very good substitute for it is to
start the journey in the character Of pri-
vate secretary 10 a minister of the crown,
for all men who enter the race for high
places no one gets q more liberal handi-
cap. Indeed, in nine cases out of ten ii is
liable prize.
1t is weghty evidence of the truth of
this statement that the three men who to-
day are filling the most honorable and re-
sponsible posts in our empire were, not
many years ago, occupying useful but OBJ
scure roles private secretaries on sala-
ries not exceeding $500 a/year.
lit is only fourteen Years since COM
paratively unknown barrister and journal
list was writing Mr. Goscheps letters for
this modest stipend, but even i'll this char
acter he could not conceal the light of
genius that was in him, and to-day, as
Lord Miner, he is one of the few domi-
nant figures in the empire of the King,
with salary of GS,0O0 year, and the
making of half continent in his hands.
A few years earlier, I'm 1885, Mr.. Curzon,
fresh from his oxford triumphs and his
presidency of the union, was acting as as
sistant private secretary to Lord Sails
bury without penny of salary. Thirteen
years later he was ruling fifth OF the
human race and filling the most splendid
vice-throne in the world on a salary OF
E25000 a year.
The third of our trinity of glorified
amanuenses is the premier, who for two
rotary at the Foreign Office, and drew his
e25 a month as gratefully as any second
division clerk in his Majestys service.
And all three, If they had 10 commence
go through precisely the same apprentice
ship, for, as the late Lord Derby said,
IF a private secretary to a Cabinet min
lister cannot make oriil NAM h success Sa n on
cards to play or that he doesn't know
how to play them"
Naturally all secretaries cannot reach
such dizzy heights, but there are many
peaks on the political Parnassus, and there
is one for each of those who will climb TO
it--with the assistance of a good many
Mr. Wyndham, for whom the highest
place in the state is more than possibility,
drove a quill for Mr.. Balfour five long years
for an absurdiy small remuneration, and
six years later he was one of the crowns
ministers; and Gerald Balfour was his
brothers secretary nine years before he
was made the chief secretary for Ireland
Many of our colonies are now being gov
erned by quondam secretaries, who attend
ed their offices from II to 5, or earlier and
later. for the stipends of junior clerks
Lord Minto Governor General of Canada,
was Lord Roberts's secretary at the Cape
twenty-five years ago; Lord Northcote
who rules the millions of Bombay, was
private secretary for four years at Con-
stantinople and the treasury; Lord Tenny-
son. who has won such golden opinions as
an Australian governor, was his father
confidential secretary, ana IOTu
Governor of Queensland, succeeded Mr.
Curzon as unpaid secretary to Lord Sails
bury.
Sir E. ]. Monson, ambassador at
Paris has exchanged his pittnnce as Lord
Lyonss secretary of forty years ago Tor
$4,000 q year and the highest position in
our diplomatic service, and Lord Currie,
our ambassador at Rome, is another of his
many assistants whom Lord Salisbury has
advanced in the world.
Mr.. Gladstone was just as good friend
TO his amanuenses, as Sir Algernon West,
Sir Charles Ryan Gate controller and audi
tor generaD, Sir Arthur Cooley and other
officials who hold or have held the highest
places I'm the civil service would testify.
Among ex-private secretaries who have
been heads of departments within recent
years on salaries expressed in four figures
are Sir Thomas Sanderson. permanent un-
der secretary at the Foreign Office on f2.0O0
a year; Sir George Murray, secretary to the
postoffice, at the same salary: Sir Fleet
wood Edwards and Sir Courtenay DoyIe,
permanent secretary to the Board of Trade
to mention only few of these children
of fortune.
Many of these men have filled the office
of private secretary to several ministers.
Sir Algernon West served Mr.. Gladstone.
the Duke of Somerset and Sir r. Wood; Sir
Charles Ryan was protege of Mr.. Dis
raeli Mr.. Gladstone and Sir Stafford North
cote and Mr. Digby Pfgott, head of the sta
tionery Office, like Lord Esther, wears a
four-fold secretarial crown.