Evening star., 1908-01-12
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP PROVES
TO BE A "KILLING JOB

short for the prime minister's work.
His holidays even are strenuous. When
parliament adjourns the round Of speech
making begins. The prime minister must
make at least one great speech to his own
constituents. He must attend banquet
after banquet and at each one he is ex-
pected TO say something that is addressed
not only to those within the sound of his
voice, but to the whole country, and he
must write letters and send messages to
dozens of meetings that it is physically
impossible for him to attend.
!
Perhaps this very inadequate recital OF
the principal of his duties will give some
idea of the enormous strain to which the
prime minister is subjected On the day
on which Sir Henry collapsed he hurried
up from Windsor Castle. where he had
been in attendance on the king and his
guest. the German emperor. to receive
deputation of brewers and others interest
cd in the new liquor legislation. which is
promised for the pe.tt session of parlia
ment. From his official residence at 10
Downing street, where he received the
dcputatioD, he drove to the Guildhall. in
the old city of London and was present
at the city corporations lunch in honor of
the kaiser. and from the Guildhal lie
drove straight to the railway station and
Travelled more than 200 miles into Wales
where he was to deliver an important
political speech that night. OF course. he
was the guest of honor at great ban
quet Immediately after his arrival, and
t,. loJ;,- l,;e-
The breakdown came in the night, a short
time after he had retired to bed. and the
result is that he has now been compelled
TO abandon all business and take long
rest on the Riviera.
x X
Sir Henry is only the last of a long line
of premiers who have sacrificed their
health for the public service. His imme-
diate predecessor. Mr.. Balfour. was i'll
more than once during his term of office.
and Immediately after his leaving it he
was compelled to take a long rest cure.
In spite of that he has never been well
man since he left the premiership, and he
is just recovering from recent break
down caused by the strain of recess
speaking, Mr.. Balfour. too, is a younger
man than Sir Henry. who is seventy-one,
and he has the additional advantage of
being a devotee of the outdoor life.
Every minute that he can snatch from the
hurly-burly of politics is devoted TO golf,
and he is classed as one of the best anna
teur golfers in the kingdom.
His uncle, Lord Salisbury, who pre-
ceded him in the premiership, was a man
of extraordinary constitution. but even he
confessed that the only way in which he
kept himself fit for his duties was by
having a hobby. His hobby was chemis-
try and after wearing night in parla-
ment he would often devote a few hours
in his laboratory to working out some
problem which gave him mental relief, at
least from the cares of state. Even Lord
Salisbury, however, did not last long after
life was undoubtedly shortened many
years by the enormous labors Of the pre-
miership.
Probably one of the most remarkable
workers who ever held this great office
was Mr.. Gladstone. In appearance he
was almost frail. and 1t is well known
that his health was never robust. 1t is
also now common knowledge that he owed
his power to continue working as he did
TO the devoted care of his wife. who, in
deed. combined the cares and duties of
wife, nurse and mother. There was
never a late sitting at the house which