The Washington times., 1917-04-23
BaHOur an Outdoor Man
With Face of a Scholar
British High Commissioner Chief Character
istic is Determination, Offset By Geniality,
Kindliness and Quiet Sense of Humor.

| Taller than any other man In his
party, his broad shoulders held well
back, his carriage erect. Arthur James
Balfour, British high commissioner to
the United States and some time pre-
mIer OF his native land, suggests
above everything the incarnation Of
determined, implacable purpose.
The British statesman on his ap-
pearance in Washington was clad in
frock coat. high hat and gray trousers
just such attire as British states
men have worn almost since trousers
first came. into fashion. His shoes
were squaSe-toed and of soft leather
shoes OF a man who walks much and
1 walks comfortably.
His face, horid and framed by
snowy-white sidewhIskers and white
hair. is the face of a scholar and
dreamer. Only the set OF the jaw sug-
gests the possibilities of the swift and
resolute action which he has shown to
be a marked quality of his personal
| ity. The British statesman's fore
head is broad and high. His
eyes, protruding slightly, have
an appearance of near-sighedness,
which perpetually suggests he is on
the point OF asking a question.
Standing beside Secretary of State
Lansing, the British commissioner Is
full silk hat higher, and the Secre-
tary of State is of more than medium
height.
An Out-of-Door Man.
A glance at Balfour shows him to
be a man of the out-of-doors. His
face is Redeemed by exposure to wind
and sun. And his long. swinging
walk indicates years of tramping
over heath and moor. 1t Is the gait
OF the long -practiced pedestrian.
Among the books which reach the
statesman, and which he enjoys. are
the "penny dreadfuri-the English
equivalent of the Mick Carter" and
| "Old Sleuth" type of literature. Bal
four is an omniverous reader, digest
ling alike philosophy. history, essay.
and drama-but his relaxation Is
found in the terrific exploits mar
rated in the lurid type of fiction. In
this respect he resembles President
| Wilson.
Balfour is fifty-nine years old and
has never married. A vow which he
took at the deathbed of his sweet
heart, Mary Lytleton. to be true to
I her memory, has kept him single
through life. But. though the Brit
ish commissioner has no children of
his own, his love of children Is one
OF his pronounced characteristics.
A little incident at the Union Sta
tion yesterday illustrates this.
When the English statesman reach
ed the Presidential exit of the Union
Station, a small. shrinking form at
tracted his attention. Six-year-old
| - ka
attached to the Union Station. had
stepped inside the dead line" not
six feet from the path OF the party
Very Close to Tears.
Terrified by the magnificence' of the
approaching encourage, bewildered by
the vast, uproarious noise echoing
through the cavernous station. the
youngster squirmed against the wall,
twisting his tiny sailor blouse with
small, nervous hands. He blushed.
and was very close to tears.
As the right honorable commits
sioner passed the lad he turned his
head, nodded and smiled. That smile
had in 1t the gentleness which a
grown man feels for a child. small.
weak, and afraid. 1t helped Duvall
to recover himself. He Strengthened
I'D. then ran DdCk 10 MS ldNhtl " leii
the confidential informRtion that HE
spoke to me-" Such was the effect
OF the friendly glance.
BaIfour seemed astounded by the
enthusiasm which his arrival in
Washington had aroused. As he en-
tered the station plaza he kept
glancing left andf right, as though
to make certain that in this throng
he had none but admirers.
The only other occasion on his trip
to the Breckenridge Long mansion,
when the British commissioner. ar
reused from his air of mild, calm
inquiry was when he passed the
home of the French ambass sador, J. ].
Jusserand. The French ambassador
and a knot OF attaches were on the
upper portico. As the procession
, passed. VI. Jusserand waved his hand
, while the attache applauded.
Balfour removed his high hat, and
again a rare, delightful smile over
spread his countenance.
In Rock Creek Park.
r Scarcely had the distinguished Wis
itor had time to remove the stains
of travel before he became the man.
rather than the statesman. End de-
cided to take Il walk all by himself
UnrecogniZed by the crowds swarm
, ing the vicinity, the distinguished ed
Britisher walked out the front door
stepped into a big touring car with
Secret Service man and Scotland
Yard inspector. who had dogged his
I, footsteps since he left the shores ot
1 England and was driven rapidly uE
sixteenth street to Rock Creek park
his car turning into the woods al
D Bladen avenue.
!. Mr.. Balfour smiled at the throngs
n as he left the MacVeagh house and
I slapped the American Secret Service
= man-Miles McCahill-on the back
Q and seemed to jest with him about
!. the simple manner In which the