Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-27

feeding 3UOUOO IlOndOaerS he Is pfONlu-
ing for the visitors TO the Irish Inter-
national exhibition at Dublin to the
number of many thousands, he is dis
patching a corps of walters and pro-
visions to a remote corner of Scotland
or Wales for some public or private
function, his assistants to the number
of several hundred are dispensing tea
and sandwiches and cakes to the So
900 spectators of a football match at
Crystal Palace, and he is feeding the
passengers at all the stations of the
London, Chatham & Dover railway.
Mr.. Lyons well known willingness to
undertake anything In the catering
line has brought him some unique con-
tracts. Lord Strathcona. High COM
missioner for Canada, came to him rec
entity and said: Il am entertaining
9 500 guests in Aberdeen; can you pro-
vide dinner for them?"
Certainly" replied Mr.. Lyons quiet
But" said Lord Strathcona. "we
cooking such a dinner and London is
900 miles away"
Leave that to me-" answered Mr..
Lyons with a smile.
HOW HE DID 1T.
The day of the dinner arrived, and yet
no preparations had been made In Abb
commissioner was visibly worried Can
you imagine his surprise when a special
train pulled in from London bearing
600 walters and attendants and the din
ner ready cooked.
That is the spirit in which Mr.. Lyons
executes his orders and that Is the
spirit In which he accepts them.
DO not ask ME If ] can do it," he
says. Give me your order and leave
the rest TO me-"
GREAT ON DETAIL.
His most surprising characteristic is
his many sidedness. Here is man
apparently stepped in the routine and
detail of extraordinary business acti-
witty. who declares his intention of de-
voting himself to fiction to the extent
of turning out three romantic stores
year. Even with the aid OF an able
collaboration that would be a task in
itself worthy the whole time of a man
who gives his days unreservedly to lit
erature. Nor is that all, for during
all these years of organization and
direction Mr.. Lyons has kept steadily
at a youthful bent for painting to such
good purpose that several OF his land
scapes have found their way to the
walls OF the Royal Academy, an honor
denied to all but n small portion of the
increasing number OF men and women
who make art their life work Poetry
has also occupied the mind Of this ver-
satile man. and tucked away in one
of tho drawers of his desk at home Is
an unpublished play which may vet
brave the censorious ink of the English
critics and make its bow TO London
audience.
With such multiplicity of contracts
and the duties which they must entail
one would imagine that Mr.. Lyons
would be rushed to death, yet, despite
the fact that he probably Is one OF the
busiest men In London, he never gets
excited and never gives one the i'm
preston that he is ''hustllng," as that is
understood In the United States i saw
an illustration of this side OF his chau-
acter when / visited him yesterday. II
win take just 10 minutes of your time,
no more" l said. In 10 minutes was
standing In the street outside the Tro-
cadero. with all my questions answered
and Mr. Lyons, with equal speed and
thoroughness, was disposing of another
visitor.
WORKS IN A CUBBY HOLE.
Just word about the Office in which
he received me. II is but a cubby hole
on the ground floor Of the big Tro-
cadero restaurant. In point OF size II
cannot be more than six feet long and
five feet wide. II contains a flat top
desk at one end, two chairs, an umbrel
la rack. and constantly tingling tele-
phone. In the 10 minutes | was with
him, Mr.. Lyons made three appoint
ments over this little instrument and |
wondered II that was a fair average for
every 10 minutes In the day From this
room, bare OF show and ostentation and
elaboration. this wonderful man con-
ducts his great business.
BELONGS TO CHOSEN RACE.
Mr.. Lyons belongs to that race which
given fair tield, pushes lts way 10 the
front everywhere. He IL a Jew. slightly
bald and wears jewelry. on the little
finger OF his right hand two rings with
diamonds OF bewlldering size and color
arrest ones attentions from the folds
OF a black tie "A diamond pin ~ equal
brilliance vies with them for the notice
OF the visitor. He is affable, immensely
affable, and waving me 10 the better OF
the two chairs In the room, announced
his Willingness 10 do anything Ia tho
world he could for me.
He answered my questions almost be-
fore had finished them and showed an
intimate knowledge OF the details OF his
business.
BORN IN LONDON.
u was born IN london" he said. "As
boy drifted about Europe and even
paid visit to the United States. not