New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
" EXPERT ON WHISKEY."
Lord James of Hereford's Nev
Office Encites amusement.

Copyright. 1aos. by the Brentwood Company
Lord James of Hereford. who, in spite OF his
eighty years. remains famous as diner-out
he is the hospitable OF and celebrated
of gourrets. has just been appointed chairman of
the royal commission for the purpose of determin-
ing What is whskey?' Just why Lord James
shoud have been selected for the presidency of this
commission is matter of speculation. and he is
being made the subject of a good deal of banter
and chaf by his friends in connection with the af-
ialr' ali the more as the government has vouch-
saIed the information that the commission is
posed exclusively of experts" Inasinuch as no
scotch or Irish whiskey distiller nor any dealer
IN whiskeys, figures the commission. one can
only assume that its members are experts In the
role of consumers This is perhaps as it should be-
since the commission is avowedly appointed the
purpose Of protecting the consumer by the estab-
lshinent OF legal precautions calculated prevent
the sale of the adulterated and falsihed article
Lord James is particular favorite of the King.
and is universally respected; for, although a
without any fortune to speak of he declined the
Lord High Chanceorship with its salary of $50 go
a year and Its yearly pension Of so 900 the
lnalnder OF his life, rather than follow his old
friend political leader ard colleague the late Mr..
Gladstone, into the Home Rule camp. He is the
son OF an obscure country surgeon. has not
hao the advantage of a university education, and
his eminence at the bar 1where he was noted for
Always getting his wig twisted around the wrong
way. which brought him within reach of the wool
sack; his social prominence and the popularity
universal respect which he enjoys, wholly due
~ cleNerneSS- personal charm loftineSS of
principle Of course he is a bachelor and a most
courty one at that Probably that is why he is as
great a favorite with women he is with
WAS EMPRESS EUGENIES COURTIER-
Sir Hubert birmingham who arrived in America
last Thursday from England, and who has been
staying at the Hotel St Regis in New York before
Visiting other cities, was a young attache of
the British Embassy at Paris, of the
cessfui OF that brilliant troupe of amateur actors
and actresses who under the leadership of the
trian Ambassadress, Princess Pauline Metternch
not only occupied the stages private theatres
of the imperial palaces Of the Tuilerfes of St
tloud' OF Fontainebleau and Of Compiegne but
virtually led the reveis at the gay court Of Ma
poieon III and Empress Eugene during the closing
years of its existence. Hubert .Jerninghams sue
cess was due, not only to his complete command
OF the French language-he had graduated from
Paris instead of from English unive+ety-but
likewise to his remarkable histrionic ability and
tastes. which latter may be said to have pursued
him throughout his entire career; for. after aban-
doning diplomacy and Parliament in which he sat
Tor several years as the member for Berwick. and
when acting colonial Governor of Mauritius and
other English dependencies he was in the habit
or giving dramatic entertainments mostly in the
nature of farces OF his Own authorship and where
he fulfilled the duties Of stage manager, nothing
but the necessity of maintaining unimpaired the
lofty dignity of his office representative OF the
sovereign preventing him from appearing himself
before the footiights the performer. In his
younger days too, he played to a public audi
ence in St Jamess Hall. in London for the benefit
Of Catholic charity. in d screamngIy funny farce,
written by no less a parsonage than that delight
full old Cardinal WiSeman. the Roman Catho-
lie Archbishop of Westminster who manifested
none Of that ascetic horror of the theatre which
was one of the most marked characteristics OF his
successor. Cardinal Manning Sir Hubert. who has
q most facile pen and VINO is the author of a num-
Der of entertaining books belongs TO one of the
old county families of Norfolkshire. which, of Dan
sh origin and formerly bearing the name of Jerne-
gan, settled in that part of England long before
the Norman Conquest. He can also claim descent
on the distaf side of his house, from the royal
family. through Margaret. Countess of Salisbury
the daughter OF false feeting periured Clarence"