The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-15
SIR ROBERT MORANT
IS REMARKABLE MAN
M IA MAnaUfsE DE roxr,, :, :.

~ IA aIARaUfsE DE FoNTESoY.
CNlR RobEET MORANT'. the perma-
~ ns en S, ehiet and under Secretary
FELL f-unch ton In the British govern
theht administration. and whose ala
mlsaai from Office has iust been de-
manded by the National Union az
teachers in England. is YER, rc
ma a ole man, who for several yaars
was inc virtual ruler or Siam When
cutie a young man he went out 10 INA,
country from New College. oxford ia
Isl as tutor TO the son OF <one OF ;ha
PRINCIPAL mobiles OF that country. Thor,
nc was brought into contact with Tho
reigning family, and before thrce
years had elapsed he had been an.
pointed By tho King to be the chief
tutor and mentor of the then Crown
frince. who now occupies the Siamese
throne.
The late King OF Sian recognized
ms sterling qualities. and made OF
MN Il friend and COMPLAINT! In fact
II used TO be said that tho monarch
never sanctioned any important meas.
ure submitted to him by tho princes
or his house, and by his ministerial
advisers, without taking counsel OF his
sens tutor. who used, indeed to be re
ferred TO by many as SLAMS uncrown-
cd ruler" WlthIthe object of remov-
ing his son TO a healthier atmosphere
lhan could he found In tho royal nal
ace In which the seraSlio system al 4
ways exercises n bancful influence. the
iato King sent the Crown Prince to
I've with his English tutor, 10 he
brought UP by him in accordance With
English Ideas Morant took himself
and his task quite seriously. and when
me queen sent the boy presents that
Morant thought unadvisahlc or mop
20 tune, they we're promptly returned;
Tie king aroused much jealousy
against Morant on the part Of the min
listers and. mobiles. Tho Queen, TOO.
imperious pedagogue. conceived for
MIN an intense hatred. SO when the
late kinG fell III and power passed
brothers and other princes, the situa-
lion OF Morant became Impossible and
he found II well TO return to Eng
land rs
There lie engaged in educational
work IN tho East End Of London Viii, viii
50 much energy and success that his
ment Department OF Education at
Whitehall as Assistant Director Of Spe-
cihl Inquiries and Reports, and as such
ne was called upon TO report on pri-
Switzerland. Germany. etc. He was the
Chief adviser of Sir John Gorst when
the latter was Minister of Education:
and when Sir George Kekewich retired
tary, Morant was appointed to his
o o With salary Of $4,000 q year
ana ana advanced to knighthood of the
order OF the Bath
IL the National Union Of Teachers is
now nov a., dein ma his dismissal, II is
81 ,1or- Gao,
his department, which was never meant
Tor publication, and which. caustically
commenting on the glaring inefficicn-
schools, urged the government inspec-
tors to use their influence as far
as a.. possible ., to secure better and more
intellectual class OF men for the job.
Sir Robert Morant is not only ire
Dendously in earnest, but is also rath-
or masterful. his character being in
keeping with his tall stature and very
course. many enemies In the Depart
mcnt of Education, and the publica-
ton of the circular which has aroused
the indignation Of the National Union
of Teachers is piece of treachery
on the part Of some ono or other Of his
official subordinates
eminent may yield to the National
Union Of Teachers. crediting the lat
ter with more political influence than
I II really possesses. and that it may
let Sir Robert go; all the more as he
/ is known TO be n Conservative Ifhe
is sacrificed lie Will enter Parliament
as n Conservative, and on the return
of the Unionist party to',power, will
undoubtedly go hack to whitehall, as
Cabinet Minister for Education.
The Hon. Henry Berkeley Portman, a
man OF flfty-onc, now becomes. through
the death Of his elder brother. Ed
ward, the heir to his fathers 5viscounty
! OF portman and to one of the most
valuable estates in England. for old
Lord Portman, now some eiGhty-three
years OF age, comes noNt i'm Importance
| To the Dukes Of Westminster and OF
Bedford, as one Of tho half-dozen great