New-York tribune., 1917-07-29

,o,,,ro article, ,Uas Sir Herbert Trees
uapaoer on his various American tours,
aud undoubtedly tCdS better 0cquaihted
,oith him than any other man in America
BY PERCY BURTON
THREE weeks to the very day. IN
L fact to the very hour, after Sir
Herbert Tree died, received in Amer
ica letter from him in his own hand
writing. written on the day he died.
ouote IL here because it is Significant
Of his humor and his practicality-two
of Trees most striking characters
ties:
2 July, 1917.
"My Dear Burton.
az am writing from a nursing home
bent my knee on English soil! ! am
sending you my Chronicle articles
I NAV have them reprinted and would
send you a lot. They sent me cheque
for E (very handsome). l will
write you fully about affairs. 1t is, OF
course, difficult 70 make decisions un-
ill peace hoves IN sight. l hope your
affairs are going well.
yours sincerely,
"HERBERT B. TREE"
Tree was never tired of saying he
was "an opportunist." He boasted ana
gloried in this title, which covered a
multitude Of procrastinatiOns when he
did not feel like making up his mind,
as he rarely did. And Tree was utili-
tar,sn. too. He was fond Of asking
eyerybody's opinion, and then, II 1t did
not coincide with his own, he did as he
thought best. Tree cultivated Consul
tat,on" to the degree Of fine art. He
knew by experience the best people to
turn TO for advice.
Il was Otto Kahn who decided for
Tree that he should return to Eng
land via Spain. II seemed to me that
Mr.. Kahn did so automatically, be-
cause he was wise and alert enough to
see when we called at his Office in New
York that that was the route Sir Her
bert himself preferred to take. At this
same interview, incidentally, which took
place about a week before Sir Her
bert sailed, Mr.. Kahn said he would
be pleased TO take an interest in
Trees production Of "Richsrd II,
which ! took the opportunity of pro-
posing to him then and there. Mr..
Kahn has, Of course, a genuine fair
for the theatre, which Tree was the
first 10 recognize, having received so
much encouragement from him in his
production Of Henry VIII" in New
York When Mr.. Kahn was inclined TO
veto "Drske" in favor Of Richard III
Tree listened respectfully to his judg-
ment and looked at him wistfully when
he suggested also a revival Of Captain
Swift" for which romantic buccaneer,
however, Tree thought he was too old.
When we left Mr.. Kahn's Office Sir
Herbert said TO me, 81 hope he did not
think / came 20 his Office TO interest
him In Richard IL II was very
naughty Of you TO suggest IT," Tree
always spoke sppreeiatively Of Mr..
Kahn's kindness and had real respect
for mis- judgment as a cosmopolitan
man Of affairs. Tree was himself a
cosmopolite, far more Continental in
his views than he was English.
Another Of Trees city and social ac-
quaintanees was Clarence Maekay,
Who he was always pleased 10 see
But Trees bosom friends, IF he had
a bosom" as he would have said, were
George T. Wilson. viee-president OF
the Equitable, and Patrick Francis
Murphy. The formers energy, high
spirits and irresistible humor delighted
Tree, while the quiet wit and per-
sonal magnetism Of the latter were a
constant and unfsiling charm % Sir
Herbert, who loved nothing better than
tete-A-ttte lunch or supper with
either of these men Of the world. MAY
not call you 'Bertie'?" Wilson in
ouired Of Tree.
Tree was as ubiquitous a. he was