New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-14
A CLUBMAN CHATS
OF LONDON LIFE
Anecdotes and Episodes That
Interest Residents OF Eng
lands Capital.


name OF the sculptor who will be chosen
20 execute the statue OF the late Lord
Roberts, which / hear Is TO be erected
on the Horse Guards parade, says
rondon clubman in "Tit-Bits." No final
decision has yet been made, although
the work will be put In hand with as
little delay as possible.
Il is not expected that the whole OF
the $4,000 assigned by the government
for the statue will be expended, and
,h, widowed Countess Roberts and her
t,ro daughters will be consulted as 10
what shall be done with the balance
! The fact that Lord Somers, who was
jnvalided from the front, 10 now on tho
high road to recovery will be read with
particular interest by many people
overseas; for his lordship, It will be
remembered, settled in Canada three
wears ago on fruit farm, with his
brother-in-law and sister, Lord and
LADY Clarendon-then Lord and Lady
HYDE. When war broke out Lord
somers was among the first to rush
back TO the colors, and reJoined MS ola
regiment, the LIST Life Guards
Lpropos OF . recent reference to LORD
Dslrvmple and the fact that he was
unable to be at the deathbed Of ms
father. Lord Stair, owing TO beng
prisoner In Germany, it is curious
coincidence that Lord Crichton, who
succeeds his father, Lord Erne, one OF
the most popular peers in Ireland, who
died not many hours after Lord Stair,
is also in the hands of the Kaiser ana
his Huns. -,
Many will sympathize with Lord
Crichton in his present bereavement
and predcament, for he seems TO nave
been rather unfortunate in his military
work which he much prefers TO poll
tics. The greater part OF his service
in the South African War was spent in
besieged Ladysmith, and now 1t Is prob
able that he will remain an unwilling
guest Of Germany till peace is de-
clsred.
A fine fellow In many ways was tho
Earl OF Annesley, about whose tragic
death there now seems to be little
doubt, for. according TO message re-
ceived by Lady Annesley, he was shot
down by the Germans while he was
flying over Ostend on November o.
Annie" as he WAS popularity known to
his intimates, will be sadly missed.
His adventurous spirit, his bonhomie.
his skill as an aviator, as a shot and q
golfer won for him many friends and
admirers, whose sympathy goes ONT to
the countess in her great hour OF
trouble.
What tragedy Of blighted love lies
behind this announcement, which at
tracted my attention while glanclng az
the front page of THE Times the
other morning: James A.-Please
understand that were we the last two
persons on earth and found myself
on the same continent that contained
you, / should-emigrate." On the face
Of IL il looks a forlorn hope for James
A.; but, then. woman was ever gen
erous and forgiving.
In the same column the following
caught my eve: "Exasperated and dis
gusted clubman would like to point out
to those whom it may concern that for
warriors whose knowledge OF fire 10
limited to that which they find on their
own hearths to discuss the conduct of
military operations is an effort of
colossal impertinence which argues q
total lack Of proportion" Very nicely
and severely put, and quite justified
Judging from the ridiculous attitude
and arguments Of armchair critics l
myself have met. But why should we
let them disturb us7 Their arguments
keep them amused and out of mischief,
and although they may be temporarily
annoying, nobody takes any serious no
tice of them.
7 will not vouch for the truth of tho
story, but / am sure IL will amuse
that monument of genius and girth,
Mr.. G.. X. Chesterton, concerning whom
II IL told, as much as any one, although
it may be q little fiction. A certain
Belgian refugee. who sought to rival
Daniel Lambert was the despair OF
the kindly committee which sought TO
clothe his neither limbs.
Then suddenly some one thought or
&C. K. c." and promptly wrote asking
~ he hadn't some discarded trousers.
The delight of the famous author, l
am told, was really touching, for,
moved by sympathy for the Belgians
and wishing to do his part, he had
been searching in vain for some refu-
gee who could wear his cast-off clothes
without being lost In them. The gar
ments were passed on forthwith. and
fitted TO & marvel, to the Joy OF one
Belgian, the relief of one charitable
lady and the infinite credit of sc.
K. c."
All congratulations to Sir Francis
Burnand. who has just celebrated his
seventy-eighth birthday. II is not so
many months ago since ] sat in his
cosey drawing room at Ramsgate and
had long chat with him and his
clever daughter, winsome Winnie Bur
nand, who is a caricaturist with
style all her own. We little thought,
as Sir Francis told me stories of the
days when he edited "Punch" and
wrote comedies, burlesques and what
not, that a few weeks later would see
US in the throes Of the greatest war in
the history of the world.
A wit and a punster himself, Sir
Francis can always appreciate a good
joke, though IL is against himself, and
| remember him telling me that re-
mark which the late Sir W. s, Gill
bert made to him about punch" was
one of the best things he had ever
heard. al suppose you have some good
things sent TO you sometimes for the
paper" said Gilbert, casually. "Oh.
yes, occasionally" replied Sir Francis.
"Then," said Gilbert, caustically, "why
don't you put them I'M"
Another birthday 1: that Of Sir Fred
erick Bridge, who has just turned sew
enty. Sir Frederick, who has been the
Westminster Abbey organist for nearly