The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-10
knowledge Secured Through
Travel and Long Residence
Abroad.
BY LA MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

/" OLONEL SIR MARK SYKES, who
has Just succeeded to tho ba-
ronetcy, extensive estates and
great fortune of his eccentric old
father Sir Tatton Sykes, is perhaps.
next to Sir Edward Grey. Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs. the most
universally acknowledged expert on
foreign affairs in the House OF Com
mons. and has sometimes been de-
scribed as n second Sir Charles Dixie.
owing to the range and up-to-dateness
Of his Information on international
relations. His knowledge Ia largely
derived from travel and residence
abroad. Thus. he spent several years
in Turkey. attached In a military cap
acity to the British embassy at Con-
stantinople. and awaited himself of the
opportunities offered there of eXplor
ing the Sultan's possessions. In Europe
and in Asia. describing his experiences
in a book entitled Through Five
Turkish Provinces" Another OF his
books. also the result of travel and
exploration, Is Oar VI Islam
Sir Mark has also visited Central
Asia, British East Africa, Russia
from one end to the other, Morocco,
Tripoli and China. and. possessed or
keen powers Of perception and or
hun,or, Is usually able to relate in an
entertaining and interesting fashion
things about these countries and their
people, not known to the generality or
the public. He holds the rank OF
lieutenant-colonel, and served through
the Roer War as captain with such dis
tinction as to win from Lord Kitchener
mention in the dispatches: pri-
vate secretary OF George Wyndham
when the latter was Secretary for Ire
land in the last Conservative admin
istration, is a frequent and refreshing
contributor to the London Saturday
Review, invariably about foreign mat
ters. and is married TO Edith Gorst,
daughter OF Sir John Gorst. and sister
OF the late Sir Iiidon Gorst. who pre-
coded Lord Kitchener as British plenl
potentiary in Egypt
Sir Mark Is very gifted. paints ana
sketches with skill, and unitcs, with
much musical talent marvellous
memory. For instance. he will go to
tho theatre to hear musical comedy
for the first time. and. on returning
home, will sit down to the plano with
out n note Of music. and play all the
songs that he has just heard. y Con-
servative in politics, lie is slated for
high office on the return to power of
the Unionist party, when he Will un-
doubtedly receive the appointment or
Under Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs Indeed. it is by no means i'm
possible that he may be intrusted
with tho portfolio of minister OF that
department. In succession to Sir Ed
ward Grey.
The Sykeses are OF Cumberland ort-
GIN The fortunes OF the family were.
however, laid by ancestors who were
In business ut Leeds and Hull In the
sixteenth century. and Richard Sykes,
merchant was wealthy enough to pur-
chase the manor OF Leeds from the
crown in 1925. Sledmere. now the
principal country seat of Sir Marie
Sykes, and famous for the racing stud
maintained there by his father. the
late Sir Tatton Sykes, a stud which
produced more than one Derby winner.
came into the possession Of the Sykes
family through the marriage in 1904
OF Richard sykes to the daughter and
heircss of Mark Kirkby. Of Slcdmere.
n descendant of tho ancient Cumber
land family of I<irkhy. of Kirkby Ire
lauth. The son of this union. who was
named Mark, after his maternal
grandfather, was created haronet in
1883. by reason OF the great political
influence which he derived from his
extensive estates For the last $50
years there has always been a Sykes
in the House of Commons, and the pres
ent Sir Mark continues the family
tradition.
Thus far sir Mark has shown no in
sihle that he may dispose of the fam
GUS racing stud at Sledmere. Perhaps
no may be prompted thereto by the
attitude Of the Jockey Club towards
his father. For although Sir Tatton
spent an enormous amount of money
towards the support of horse racing.
his colors being conspicuous on all the
grea race courses OF England for over
sixty years, yet the Jockey Club al
ways kept It's doors closed against
him. largely 1t Is true. owing to his
disputatious character in matters con-
nected with racing. IIo had quite q
number OF lawsuits with racing men.
and with members OF the Jockey Club.
one of the most sensational affairs
of this kind being against Lord Mar
Gus Bcresford. in connection with the
purchase OF the famous race horse La
F'lechc, at the sale of tho stable OF
the late Baron Hirsch
One of the best known and most
popular members Of the Sykes family,
was the late Christopher Sykes, young
or brother OF Sir Tatton. and por-
haps the most intimate personal friend
of King Edward and Queen Alexandra
before their accession to the throne.
Christopher Sykes was. indeed, the
ami do In maison MT Sandringham. ana
his house In London was tho only
bachelor establishment where Queen
Alexandra was wont to dine. Chris
topher Sykes was the soul OF good ma
ture, and as such was frequent butt
of practical jokes. which he always
took in good part, sometimes getting
even with the perpetrator.
Thus, or one occasion while staying
at country house to which the old
Duke of Cambridge. then commander
in-chicf of the army, had been invited,
Christopher was persuaded By his
friend Henry CHAPLIN, former Score
tary of Agriculture. chat 1t would be
the proper thing fer him to don his
militia Uniform in honor of the ad-