Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
RIGHT CLOSE TO zoe"
The Most Admired and Most
Hated Man in England.
A CHARACTER STUDY
DISCUSSING HIS COUNTRY'S
POLICY ONE MOMENT.
Carrying Kindness With His Own
Hands to the Sick and
the Poor.
A CHARACTER STUDY

written Tor Inc Evening star Dy NilHam inorp.
No Englishman today is more written
about. more admired. more hated. than
Joseph Chamberlain. Yet there is no Eng
lishman less known. Here are two
glimpses of Mr. Chamberlain's personality
and character, which show the man as he
really is-not as he is painted by his en-
thusiastic friends and by his bitter foes.
One foggy November morning in 1901
met Mr.. Chamberlain at the colonial office
in London. I had just arrived from the
West Indies and he sent for me because
he desired certain information regarding
the political and commercial conditions of
those islands which 1 happened to be in
position to give him.
The newsboys in the streets were selling
special extras like wildfre. The name
Of Chamberlain doomed big on their plac-
ards; it was on the lips Of every passerby.
Two nights before he had made a speech
which caused bad blood between Germany
made a bitter reply. and everybody was
wondering whether Mr.. Chamberlain would
return to the attack in another speech
that evening. England-Europe even-had
not been so excited for months.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Chamberlain was quietly
sitting In his room at the colonial office
discussing with an Insignificant colonist
such details the depth of water in the
way to tax the Jamaican peasant. You
would have thought that he had never
heard of Germany or Count Won BuIow.
Reply to Balfour's Message.
AS we talked private secretary. bearing
telegram entered the room and said:
MIR. Balfour has wired, sir, asking you 10
take his place at the meeting tonight. He
Is indisposed and cannot speak. He sug-
gests that you should reply to the German
chancellor"
Tell him I am sorry, but it is inlpos-
sible,' Mr.. Chamberlain answered. Il am
busy this morning with this gentleman
from Jamaica and cannot prepare anything.
Tonight 1 have to see a gentleman from
Ceylon."
Gould you not postpone that?" the Sec
rotary ventured to suggest.
Impossible" said Mr. Chamberlain,
sharply. He has come thousands of miles
to see me, and, in my case, colonial busi-
ness takes precedence Of everything else"
Herein lies the secret of Mr.. Chamber
lain's power. He never spares himself
trouble. he goes to the roots of things. and
he is not moved hairs breadth by the
wind Of popular clamor: Europe may
shrek If it cares to, but he goes right on,
unruff1ed, with his days work.
Mr.. Chamberlain received me in large,
handsomely furnished room, hung with
portraits of former colonial ministers. I'M
like the offices of most British cabinet min
isters it was absolutely destitute of official
papers or any signs of work. Mr.. Cham
berlain does not burden himself with the
work of a secretary, like many politicians
He sits down comfortably in an easy chair,
with a cigar, thinks for a moment, gives
few sketchy orders to an amanuensiS-an1
the thing is done. 1t may be a new con-
sttutfon for South Africa or the appoint
ment of a prison warden in the Seychelles
it Is all the same. It comes in the day s
work, and is done like clockwork, without
the least worry or fuss.
His Eagerness to Please.
The private secretary introduced me, and
Mr.. Chamberlain was extremely cordial. It
Is commonly supposed by those who have
not met him that his manner is brusque
and cold; but, as a fact, there Is no public
man more courteous. He has a distinct
personal charm, and at times he displays
an almost pathetic eagerness to please.
This was shown at the outset of our talk.
''Will you have a cigar?" he asked '"They
are from your own colony, and you will
agree with me that the Jamaican cigars are
the best In the world
It was impossible to keep from wondering
whether he kept other boxes in his desk
filled with Trinchinopoly cheroots for visit
ors from Ceylon and Borneo cigars for the
men from Borneo.
LET me introduce you to the Earl of On
slow" he proceeded. 1--WE try to look after
the colonies as we'll as we can together"
The contrast between the two men was
remarkable. Mr.. Chamberlain's face was
alive with eager, intense intelligence. None
Of his photograph does him justice. He
looks like man who is pure brain, without
an ounce Of the animal, and he is much
better looking than he is represented to be.
At the first sight he seems not more than
forty-five; but little scrutiny reveals that
his Jet black hair is dyed and that in other
ways art has repaired the ravages Of time
He is precise about his personal appear
ance, and appeared on this occasion as if
he had just been turned out of a handbook
Lord Onslow, on the other hand, was
slovenly dressed. His get-up was more like
a petty shopkeepers than a statesmans.
His face was heavy and gloomy, his ex-
preston dull, his conversation feeble and
ill-informed. Yet he had governed great
British colonies and held the post of under
secretary of state for the colonies.
AS we talked Mr.. Chamberlain showed