The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-14
Allows Enthusiasm as Biogra-
pher to Run Away With
His Judgment.
BY LA MAnauIsE DE roNrENo,

By LA MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.
Is not the first time that Sir Sid
l ney Lee has been accused OF
10 "gaucherie and tactlcssue9s,' in
letting his enthusiasm as a pro-
fessional bloSrapher cause him 70 en-
body in his works that which In the
worlds opinion. he ought to have care
fully left out
When some years ago Queen Vic
torla chose Sir Theodore Martin as
the biographer of her believer husband.
the prince consort. handing MIN her
diaries as aids In the task. he OF
course was careful to write the book
in such a style as would please Her
Majesty, emitting good deal of IN
teresting matter that he did not think.
however. she would like published.
From these rejected items Sir Theo-
dore prepared most interesting
volume, for private consumption only.
When the old queen died. sidney
Lee wrote what was considered her
most notable biography But when
tho hook came out Sir Theodore Mar
TIN became exceedingly indignant to
find that much more mad been taken
from his privately printed book than
had been intended for public informa
ton. and that the royal family ha'!
been willing to permit any one to
publish.
Had it not been for King Edward
and other influential personages in
t"rvcning. this quarrel would nave
given rise To u lawsuit of internation-
al Importance. AS IT was such Il stir
was made over. the affair that the
Queen" called In the entire balance
OF the first edition and issued a second
edition. with the passages objected to
by the royal family and by Sir Thco-
dorc Martin eliminated
Sidney Lee. who was ecturing in
the United states at the time of the
issue OF the first edition, and It's sup
preston. returned to England and in
sisted that the book should be reis-
sued in it's original form. with the
expurgated portions restored. In
speaking Of Sir Sidney Lee as pro
fcssional biographer, l. of course,
have in mind the fact that he is the
editor of the Dictionary of National
biography. and that among his works,
are "A Life Of William Shakespeare
Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Autobio-
ErAphy, Great Enslishmen of the
siXteenth Century" etc.
graphy OF Sir Sidney himself it mlgh>
he stated that he matriculatcd with
honors at the University of Oxford,
under his real name. which is Solo
intellect caused the FAMOUS Master of
Ballot. DR.. .Iowett. to take a particula r
interest In him. and TO advise him TO
change his name. pointing out that
as solomon Lazarus it would be I'M
possible for him to attain the literary
fame which was otherwise in store
for him.
Acting upon this counsel Solomon
Lazarus relinquished both his sur
name and his given name. assuming
the cognouen of Sidney Lee"
Now he is in hot water again
through his memoir of Edward VII.
published in the supplement to the
Dictionary of National Biography.
which has excited the deep anger of
Sing George and the Indignation OF
the English people generally. besides
calling down the vehement denuncia =
tons OF the British press. for repre-
senting King Edward as an amlable,
easy going. pleasure lover. rather than
Us shrcwd politician and an inter
national peace maker of infinite tact.
He has SO far incurred the dis
pleasure of King Georgc-wno added
the sir to Sidney name last year
that His Majesty regards the affair