The Washington herald., 1917-04-15
Lloyd Georges Close Friend
Writes History of His Life
Frank Dilnot Author, Tells Interesting Stories of
Bernard Shaw, Mark Twain, John Burns and
Creator Of sherlock Holmes"

KNOWN journalists IN Britain, is mere 70
interpret to the British public Americas
feelings and actions in connection with
the European conflict. He has some spe-
cial qualifications. as his biography Of
Lloyd George" shows. A consistent be-
fever not only in the power but In the
highmindedness of the American people,
he has in his writings on the other side
been pressing his confidence In their ulti-
mate action, as well as explaining their
immediate difficulties. Now that he Is
here his dispatches, which are taking the
same line, are attracting wide attention.
His present mission has been entrusted
to him by the London Daily Chronicle,
the leading liberal paper OF England.
Mr.. Dilnot's Lloyd George" interest
ing as '' is by reason OF the authors per-
sonal acquaintance with Lloyd George, is
but an example of the many sidedness Of
a trained writer who has been In toucn
with the most striking personalities Of the
time, who has been editor of a London
daily paper, and has written in the inter-
walls of a strenuous life stories which
critics have compared to the earlier work
OF that great master, Thomas Hardy.
The author of Lloyd George" has had
opportunities for knowing English public
life and public leaders which are avail
able to few. His experiences are not
limited to his own country. He knows
other parts of Europe. In Russia he has
talked with Miliukoff and other leaders
OF the present revolution. And only a
few months ago he made a special visit
| to Scandinavia and was received by the
Prime Minister of Norway and the For
eign Minister of Sweden, both Of whom
discussed with him in detail the position
of their respective countries in regard to
the war. In Denmark the foreign office
placed at his disposal special information
i - a. ID dan IN
whi h that country found itself, and Mr..
Staining. the Labor Minister in the Cab
met, gave him a reasoned statement for
publication to show TO British labor the
| exact position Of the Denmark Labor
| Party, which I'm some quarters were be-
lieved TO be prO-German. All this indi-
Gates a man with very serious interests,
and yet Mr.. DilnOts work shows a VI
vacity of spirit, a continual search for
personality and a love of humor which
forever will keep him out of the ranks
Of those who write only for the serious
reviews and magazines. He probes al
ways for the human side of things.
His First story.
| It was when Frank Dilnot was II years
old that he had his first tiny story print
ed in local paper and received payment
| for it. At n he became a reporter. When
4
on the Daily Mail, two years later was
chief reporter and rapidly developed into
one of the principal descriptive writer's.
| II was at this period that he wrote his
| first novel-a short, idyllic story OF the
| Hampshire village of his boyhood. II
was widely acclaimed not only for its
character studies but for its humor and
| its analysis of country emotions. There
were many comparisons with Thomas
| Hardy. In the following FIVE years two
other stories were also generously receiv-
ed, but Mr.. Dilnots growing journals
| tic occupations kept him from devoting
| himself to novel writing. An occasional
| short story in the magazines served,
however TO maintain his literary reputa-
| tion with the public. Then he flung him
self into a new kind of book-a history,
the narrative Of how the power OF the
house of lords was broken by Lloyd
| George and his budget. This was a story
Mr.. Dilnot could tell not only with
!ucidity but also with a touch of drama,
| for he watched all the scenes for some
years from the gallery of Parliament and
knew pretty well all the action In the
play Of affairs. The resultant book,
The Old Order Changeth," Is the author
| itative history of the alterations in the
| British constitution. It Is by way of
| becoming text-book-but has a vivac-
ity Of style which may we'll brighten the
task of students. The book had only Just
been published when the labor leaders
Of Britain approached Mr.. Dilnot to ask
\ II he would organize and edit for them a
| daily newspaper which in its editorial
columns should support their claims Mr..
! Dilnot, though with somewhat more mod
crate views than the leaders, took on the
! task-possibly touched by a sense of ad-
venture in the project-gathered round
| him small but brilliant staff. instituted
the paper, and by means of its journal
istic quality had in about eighteen
months raised its circulation from en-
| initial $4,000 a day to 10000 a day. On
the outbreak of war 1t jumred to 100000
day. But nevertheless within a year
| the war had killed II because of the enor-
mously increased cost of production which
| revenue could not reach.
OF people in the public eye Mr.. DiInot
has a plentitude of personal stories.
He once went to see Mr.. Bernard Shaw
| and here is his description of the inter
view: Il went to see him because 1t
was announced that Jim Corbett, a
prizehghter, was to take the principal
part in one Of his plays which was to
be performed in America The incon-
gruity of a ,prizehghter having a
principal part or one of the principal
parts, in a Shaw play was piquant, and
! some interesting comment to make on
the enterprise of the Americans in cast
ing Jim Corbett for the part. Mr.. Shaw
was surprised at my surprise. Why not
said he. I think 1t is a most appropriate
| choice. You see, Mr.. Corbett, who has
| been champion heavyweight, is the head
of his profession, as am the head OF
mine. What happier combination could
| there be?'"
John Burns In Action.
John Burns is an old friend of Mr. Dill
| not. Here is a parliamentary Incident
the latter tells as witnessed from the
gallery: Il remember one aIl-night sit
| ting during the 1909 budget discussion,
how, between 4 and 5 o'clock In the morn
ing, after all the contentious business
had been disposed of, Mr.. John Burns
brought forward a non-controversial de-
partmental measure, which, after giving
short explanation, he asked the House
to pass Immediately. 1t is on such occa-
sions that the pushful back-bencher,
who has not the capacity to take part
in the ordinary debates, gets his chance
Of coming to the front and making him
self a power, so long as he Is not afraid
Of being considered offensive. All that
such a member has to do Is to say I
object and the mere fact that he pro-