New-York tribune., 1914-05-29
ASQUITH CRITICISED
BY CONAN DOYLE
Non-Pa Anticipation in EX-
position Not Supported
by Nation, He Says.
WRITER GUEST OF
PILGRIMS SOCIETY
England Now Expects Every Man
to "Pay His Duty" Declares
Distinguished Author.

After a sightseeing trip about New
York, including an inspection of the
Tombs prison, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
was whisked TO the thirtieth story of the
Whitehall Building yesterday. where he
was the guest at luncheon given by the
Pilgrims Society.
He was introduced as a fellow Pilgrim
/ by Joseph H. Choate, president Of the So
I cety. Mr Choate said that while it was
as an author that their guest was best
/ known, the society did not forget his ei-
forts i'm behalf of justice nor his services
in South Africa.
Il am a true Pilgrim" declared the
writer carrying. in lieu of A staff. a
good British umbrella. and as for the wal
let-well. Lloyd George has seen TO il that
they are out of date. There used to be
saying that England expected every man
to do his duty. In these days that saying
has been charged TO England expects
every man TO pay his duty and when he
has done so he hasn't much left 10 pay
anything else.
1T is twenty years since / was here
last. and after lapse Of twenty years one
feels that he returns in a somewhat hap
pier atmosphere. and no agency has been
more active in promoting it than the So
ciety to which We all belong. No one who
compares 1894 with 1914 can fail to per-
ceive current which. moving, seems
asleep'-that is always drawing us splr-
itually a little closer.
81 must refer to Mr.. Asquith's refusal
to reconsider his decision regarding tne
Panama Exposition. I labored TO change
Mr.. Asquiths decision. In whatever
wretched way II was reached, that con-
clusion does not represent In any way the
true feeling of the country. | sent hftY
notices to literary men who reflect the
sentiment OF the nation. and | received
earnest ard even passionate replies urging
that we participate in the exposition. The
whole nation wishes to honor this coun-
try for her great achievement.
He denied that be advocated iynch Ia"
for suffragists, as he was quoted.
Referring TO his new work, when VIII
be printed first in The Tribunes Sunday
magazine Sir Arthur promised the Pl-
erims that they would hear some more OF
Sherlock Holmes
The most cruel remark about that
character was made by Cornish usher
man he said Sherlock Holmes may
rot have killed himself when he fell over
that cliff he told me, but | think that
he did suffer some injuries, for he has
never been the same man since. ! am
row writing a small volume dealing with
some OF his further experiences, and l
hope my Cornish friend Will decide that
he is recuperating.'
Among those at the luncheon were Jonn
HAYS Hammond, Henry Clews, ST. Clair
McKelway, General Nelson A. Miles, Adj
n.iral Robert T. Peary, John ID. Grim
minis. \. Barton Hepburn, Frank :.
Vitherbee. the Rev. Or. John Mockridge.
o. Trinity Church; Sir Courtney Bennett
British Consul General; Captain Albert
Gieaves, L. S. "; Brigadier General Rob-
ert X. Evans. Borough President Marcus
NJ Marks. Fire Commissioner Robert
Adamson, James Bronson Reynolds, coun-
sci for the American Vigilance Society,
and Theodore Rousseau, Mayor Mitchels
secretary
At the Tombs Sir Arthur said he had
read much about the Becker case and
would like to talk with Becker, but War
den Hanley told him it was against the
rules