The Washington herald., 1912-11-29
GOSSIP GATHERED IN
COUNTRIES ACROSS THE SEA

To Flaneur readers the Right Hon
JAMES Bryce. British Ambassador at
Washington. is no stranger All those
who have come in contact with the VEN
cradle scholar and diplomat admire the
plain. democratic representative Of the
worlds greatest power. Several weeks
ago, when l spoke OF Mr. Bryce in these
columns, 1 was satisfied that his rich
and influential wife would succeed in
having him retain his present post. In
fact, the emphatic utterance of Sir Ed
ward Grey, the British Foreign Minister
IN the House OF Commons, that Mr..
Bryce would return to Washington at
the expiration OF his summer vacation
trip to the ARtipodes was In itself enough
TO mislead the world, though /. for one.
am unable to see the necessity for pre-
yarication when replying TO the question
OF member of Parliament. a harmless
query and pertaining to n country with
which England apparently is maintaining
the most cordial relation.
MIR. Bryce has been with us since 1907
and. though seventy-four years OF age.
is hale and hearty. This was his first
diplomatic post, his selection being in
tended as 4 compliment TO this country
after he had published his book. ''The
American Commonwealth" standard
work and used as textbook in uni
versities here and abroad. He is a man
OF profound learning and holds honorary
degrees from a number of educational
institutions. He was born in Belfast
on May 10. 1888; was graduated from
oxford in 1862 as an honor man, and
for fifteen years practiced law in Lon
don. In 1880 he took his seat In the
House OF Commons. Since 1852 he has
pursued the career of a publIcist and
lltterateur. In twenty-siX years Of par
lamentary life he had served as under
secretary of state for foreign affairs
(lSs5J. as chancellor for the Duchy of
Lancaster OSs2), and as president of
the British Board of Trade in the Rose
berry government OF 1874. He resigned
the chief secretaryship for Ireland, which
he had held thirteen months in the
Campbell -Bannerman ministry, to be-
come Ambassador TO the United States.
Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice, who sue
ceeds Mr.. Bryce as British Ambassador
to the United States, belongs TO a family
that has given Great Britain a number
Of astute politicians, statesmen, and dip
lomats: and so does his wife.
Sir Cecil is first cousin to the present
(second Baron Monteagle CSir Thomas
Spring OF Brandon. County Kerry.
ireland; doctor of law, County Councillor
of Limerick, and knight Of st. Patrick.
who was born in lSi9 and succeeded his
grandfather to the barOny in 1860. He
is the son of the late Hon. Charles
William Thomas Spring, at -one time
British Undersecretary for Foreign
Affairs, and of his wife. Elizabeth Mar
garette, eldest daughter of William Mar
shall, member of Parliament of Hal
steads and Patterdale Hall, County Cum
berland.
Sir Cecil was born in 1858. and in his
fOrty-fifth year married Lady Florence
Caroline. the only daughter of the Right
Hon. Sir Frank Cavendish Lasceiles.
grand commander Of the Bath, of the
Order of st. Michael and St George. and
Of the much-coveted Victorian Order, and
nephew of the third Earl of Hardwood.
the head OF a family that has been in
York since the days Of Edward I. when.
in 12l5, Roger de Lascelles was summoned
10 Parliament.
Sir Cecirs father-in-law held high dip
lomatic posts. He was British Minister
and PlenipOtentlary to ROumania, 1886 TO
1891. and to Persia. 1891 to 1894. and Am
basSadOr to Russia. 1894 to 1895, and to
Germany. 1885 to 1908.
1t becomes thus very plain that Sir
Cecil, the new Ambassador to this coun-
try. so to say, had il in his blood to
fellow a diplomatic career. After lcav-
ing Eton and BalIiol COxford) as an
honor man in the final classical school,
he entered the British war office as clerk.
being, after the lapse OF a year. trans
ferred to the foreign office. We next
hear of him-then. of course still plain
Mr." Cecil Arthur SprngRiCe-as as