Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-18

student. strong believer in the wisdom
OF his own opinions. and very tenacious In
support of what he believes to be right and
proper. Nobody works harder than Curxon;
no statesman or official IN any country
spends more hours at his desk studies
more closely the duties and responsibilities
that are laid upon him. Lady Curzon and
his physician find it difficult to persuade
MIN to take the necessary amount of sleep
and exercise.
On the other hand. Lord Mimic is an all
around sportsman. His gun and his horse
are OF greater interest to him than any
problems of state, and in the opinion of his
friends here he will be perfectly willing to
allow Lord Kitchener to assume any of his
responsibilities. provided he is not bothered
about them. He was a good governor gem
erai OF Canada, for the reason that he al
lowed the prime minister to do all the
thinking, and to instruct him how to per-
form any act that officially required
He threw all the responsibility upon the
administration in power and the majority in
parliament, and had as good a time as pos
sible with his rod and gun. Lord Minto's
adventures would make a romance His ex-
pLoits on the turf have been very exciting
He is said to be the only man who ever
broke his neck and lived. He rode the win
ming horse at the Grand Prix and after
ward at the Grand Steeplechase in Paris
and at Cambridge. when he took his degree
he wore the costume of a jockey beneath
his gown. He Is the first true sport" that
was ever made viceroy of India and will
have an abundant opportunity there to
as In the jungles.
Why Mimic Was Chosen.
1t Is assumed here that the British cabi-
net selected Mimic to succeed Curzon be-
cause of his amiable disposition and be-
cause it was necessary to send such a man
to Calcutta or recall Kitchener from the
command of the army there The latter was
scarcely polite. because Kitchener is the
great natlonal Idol. Since the war In South
AFRICA ne Is without doubt the most popular
and perhaps the most influential ma n In the
British empire. The trouble in India has
been similar to that which prevailed in the
war Department at Washington, where
until recently. there was a difference of
opinion as to whether the Secretary Of War
or the general commanding the army was
the bigger man. Fortunately for u.s. that
prolonged dispute was settled by the army
reorganization bill. which abolished the lat
ter rank and created chief Of staff to per-
form his duties under the instructions OF
the Secretary of War.
In India the viceroy reigns the repre-
sentative or the sovereign, and theoretically
enjoys all of the latters power and pre-
negatives. The general commanding the
army In Irdia is theoretically subordinate
to him and a member of his cabinet-his
minister for war. Since Lord Kitchener be-
came so great, however, he has declined to
accept that situation and has assumed to
act in military affairs without the authority
of, or any reference to- the viceroy. When
Curzon called him to account he appealed
to London. and the Balfour ministry was
not strong enough to discipline him. 1t
dared not offend the Idol Of the British
Empire" but bowed the knee and confessed
that he was greater than the vceroy. Upon
that decision Lord Curzon handed in his
resignation. He said he could not accept
the responsibilities without the authority
that should accompany them.
Other Governors General.
Lord Mimic is the fifth governor general
pf 10, 40 70
affairs. He is the third to become viceroy
of India. The Marquis Of Lansdowne, who
is now at the head of the foreign office in
London, was governor general from 1883 to
1883, and was exceedingly popular. He
went from Ottawa to Calcutta like Lord
Mimic. Indeed, Canada has been a sort of
training ground for viceroys. Lord Duffer-
In had the same promotion in 1883, after
having been governor general here for six
years. The other governors general have
been the Marquis of Lorne. husband of the
Princess Louise, who reigned from 1878 to
1883 between Dufferin and Lansdowne; the
Earl of Derby, who reigned from 1888 to
1898. and has since held many distinguished
positions in the British government; and
the Earl of Aberdeen. a colorless gentleman
who was a great favorite of Gladstone's,
and, as friend remarked the other day,
is best known to Canadians as the owner
of Coldstream Ranch, Vernon. b. c.
1t Is a frequent remark up here that any
schooboy could perform the duties of gov
ernor general of Canada, and perhaps 1t Is
true. 1t is the policy of the British govern
ment to allow the largest measure of home
rule possible without loosening the chain
that binds the empire together. The gov
ernor general is the link in this chain. and
the perennial instructions to the governors
general from the colonial Office in London
are to let the Canadians manage their own
affairs. Canada has practically as much of
republican form of government as the
United States. The governor general mere
ly sits by as the representative of the impe-
rial power of England and signs his name
when and where the prime minister indi-
Gates He gives dinners to the ministry and
the members of parliament presides at pub
lie meetings, lays corner stones and leads
out the wife of the prime minister in the
lancers at the annual ball. That practically
compasses his duties and responsibilities,
and 1t requires a gentleman to perform
them.
The Right Hon. Earl Grey, who has been
about nine months at Rideau Hall as gov
ernor general, has been well received and is
becoming quite popular. Accompanied by
the Countess and Lady Evelyn Grey CHS
daughter). he has recently been making
tour of the northwestern provinces, where
he has been very cordially received and has
enjoyed his first experience upon an Ameri-
can frontier.
The Canadians are quite as much addicted
to the use of authorizations we are, and it
puzzles stranger to catch on to them.
You hear people allude to 'B. c." &C. p
r." IN. P" and other initials in casual
conversation freely that you do not like
To ash. what they mean; but 1t shortly ap-
pears that their time is valuable that
they cannot afford to say British Column
hia,'' the Canadian Pacific railroad"
member of parliament and other long
English names and titles.
SCOTTISH RITE BODY.