Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
KEYS TO THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE
j.

WASHINGTON. December $3.50 far
Colonel L.. NJ. House is known to the
public chiefly as Il man OF mystery
one whose thoughts and motives arc
unknown, whose movements are Sc
cret or obscure. This quality of reti-
cence has brought him moro fame than
could volumes of language. because it
Is SO rare. Most OF our publicists have
made something of an art OF self-ex-
PLANTATION, sometimes oven drawing
upon history to help the common man
to an understanding of their characters,
likening themselves modestly to JEFF
ferson or Lincoln.
Colonel House seems TO resemble no
one but himself. His unique place in
the public mind has been gained large
~ by the simple cXpedient OF keeping
his mouth shut when so many others
arc open. Most Of the sketches of him
80 far have been Celebrations Of this
fact, with the added information that
he lives in Texas. where he deals in
lands and makes" Governors, Sena-
tors and Cabinet officers for recrca-
ton. These things he apparently ac-
composites by the same silent and in
scrutablc method that he applies to tho
problems OF European diplomacy. lie
wants nothing tor. himself and gets it,
He has nothing to say. and says it,
He is quiet as rubber heel. elusive
az lost coi!ar-button. Incidentally,
he does not seem quite human, as
limned by most of his recent biograph-
ers: no stands forth as a sclflcss image
of cryptic reticence.
Friends Talk About Him.
But IL the man will not talk OF him
self his friends will occasionally talk
of him, and there is beginning to grow
up n little body Of House legends.
which are passed from mouth TO mouth
1Y1I inn He. h
These stories reveal the surprising
facts that House is great story teller.
an enthusiastic hunter. and a typical
Texan, who regards Texas as a special
province OF God. proves every argu-
ment by a Texas example, and uses
a Texas date line on his lettcrhcad
even when lie Is in Berlin or London.
Under these rays of light. the House
image begins to look more human, but
several more important facts have
gotten into circulation. which seem to
DO keys 10 at least some parts Of the
House mystery. Thus. starting at the
beginning. we learn that his father.
Thomas William House, was an Eng
IishInan who settled in Texas. built 4
manorial mansion. and lived like an
English country gentleman, devotinE
his time TO farming and sports, for
which the Texas wilderness was then
a virgin field. On this Texas estate,
modelled after an English manor, were
entertained many EnElshmen and
other foreigners, and there Colonel T..
NJ House first met many OF the British
officers and diplomats with whom he is
now dealing in Europe.
Young House was a crack shot
daring rider, and loved the outdoors
as do all Wcsterncrs. His youth and
Young manhood. his formative years.
were spent largely On the prairies and
in tho mountains. with summer visits
10 London ana the Continent. The
roots OF whatever qualities n man de-
veioDs may usually be found In his
early manhood. and perhaps Colonel
House may be Interpreted as West
eraer, who has spent much OF his life
in the great outdoors, and has ac-
quired the calm and reserve which such
L life nearly always inculcates. Talk
dio not count for much in the West
Of forty years ago. y man was called
uron TO keep his mouth shut and do