The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

THE SUN
too. hear Joe Chamberlain addressing him
some day 40 the late leader?
Mr.. Chamberlain has social AZ well 40
political diplomacy. Tho old Queen Was
prepared to detest him. She never was
fond Of dwelling populace-exalting states
men. But she liked Chamberlain In spite
Of herself and used to listen with good
grace even when he had unpleasant truths
to tell her.
The old lady was rather partial to man
OF stubborn opinions. II he could express
them in a soft voice. and Joe Chamberlain
knows that trick to perfection.
One June day while Chamberlain was
still the Advanced Radical, T. p. O'Connor
had occasion to look for him on the terrace
of the House of Commons. He found the
Peoples Friend sitting down to strawber-
ries and tea with the Duke and Duchess
OF Teck, royal Princess and two or
three more Of the highest nobility.
The cynical Laboucfere saw him too. and
blew even more Of sneering dsdain than
usual into his perpetual cloud OF cigarette
smoke. Other onlookers aplenty gathered
around to scott and jaer.
"Brummagem joe looked up. saw the
game that was afoot, started for just the
briefest instant, colored perhaps the
thousandth part of q shade-and went on
serving the Strawberries. T. p. O'Connor
wrote a delicious piece about Joseph and
the Duchesses" for the London Sunday
Sun, and the whole town had Its laugh
But Joe Chamberlain has kept on giving
strawberry teas for Processes and Ouch
cases. just the same. till now it seems the
most natural thing in the world for him to
do it.
He's a courteous person, Ia Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain, careful Of the amenities OF
social life, considerate OF the feelings and
the comfort Of every one he meets.
He went up to Warrington to make a
speech in 1885 and was entertained at the
home OF leading man OF the place. One
of the Warrington ladlee-not his hostess
noticed that he said Thank you" even to
the servants at the table, and cited it
afterward al evidence Of his plebeian origin.
Be that as it may, there are good many
folks in England who remember with little
thrill Of pleasure a thank you" from Joe
Chamberlain.
Politics is the pleasure as well as the
business of Mr. Chamberlain. II he has
an absorbing passion for anything else
it is for orchids. of which he is one Of the
most successful growers and the most
assiduous wearer in the morld.
He entertains handsomely at his home
near Birmingham. And when he has time
he teaches Unitarian Sunday school class,
There's a good reason why Americans
like Joseph Chamberlain and he likes them.
He's more like an American in method and
spirit than any other English politician.
, When the Boer war was over and he was
about to 60 on his peacemaking expedition
to South Africa, his Birmingham neighbors
gave him such reception and such din
ner that for once the cold exterior melted
away and the man showed his warm. gen.
erous heart He said that although he
had always been fighter and had been
called the best hated man in England, he
could say without reservation that he
cherished no resentments. Everybody be-
lieved him.
1t is impossible to hear him and not be-
lieve him. Gladstone used to say that he
had known only three men who said just
what they meant and no more--Palmersto
Parnell and Chamberlain.
In that same speech Chamberlain expressed
| his admiration for President Roosevelt
and for American public men. On another
occasion he commended American statesmen
for their way OF doing their work without
regard to the mud-slingers. There was
touch of fellow feeling in that compli.
ment.
OF course the great reason why Ameri
cans like Mr. Chamberlain and he likes then
is that he has an American wife. He wa
over here on the Canadian fisheries mission
in 1887 when he met Miss Endicott, daughter
Of the Secretary of War. at a ball. The,
sat the evening out together
About that time also he called on lad!
in Washington who happened to be giving
luncheon for a party OF girls. Their
was one vacant place at the table, next Il
Miss Endicott, and Mr.. Chamberlain proved
his courage by filling it. My, but that wa
jolly partyl
The next year he came over and wa
married On his wedding day he mad'
q notable concession to his bride--he tool
the orchid from his buttonhole and wor'
in its place bunch Of white violets, he
favorite flower.