South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-04
BEHIND THE SCENES
By the Princess RGdziWin
Copyright 1s1A

pire" At that time no one could
have supposed that Gen. SHUTS
would rally so completely as he has
to the imperialist cause, but Miner
saw it coming, and was absolutely
convinced that the war could only
strengthen the prestige of England
all over the dark continent
Personally, the viscount is a
charming man, with refined quiet
manners, one whom it is a pleasure
TO know and still greater pleasure
TO entertain or to talk with 1t
would be impossible to find a pleas
anter dinner-table companion. With
out being a bOokwOrm. he is per-
haps one of the best-read men in
Europe, and his former experience
as a journalist, has given to his
mind that slight touch of well-bred
sarcasm which is so delightful when
handled without malice There have
been found people who have not
cared for Miner, and even persons
who have declared that they would
not trust him. but this has only been
academic criticism, if one can make
use of such an expression, because
when put to the wall, these detrac-
tors have neevr been able TO evoke
anything against him other than
the fact that he had not appealed to
their particular tastes, or that he
had never gone to the trouble to
try and propitiate them.
Unable To Hide Contempt.
This last fact is perhaps the trait
in his character which has done the
most harm TO the new English war
minister. He has not succeeded in
hiding from those who inspired him
with contempt that such was the
case. He has allowed them to guess
that he considered them stupid. or
INSCRIPTIONS. or dangerous, and this
is what the world never forgives to
those who render themselves guilty
of that awful crime of not taking
their neighbOr at his own valuation
Miner has hated sham all through
his career, which explains why il
has been so prosperous, and at the
same time so unsuccessful, because
il Is quite certain that so far neither
England nor his colleagues in the
great tasks which he has been lucky
enough TO bring to a conclusion in
a manner worthy of him. have quite
appreciated his work or the SINGER
ity with which he has accomplished
it.
At the war office. he viii prove,
undoubtedly, a strong element
though perhaps not a pleasant one
in the sense that he will not spare
those Of whom he considers that he
has reasons to be dissatisfied. But
he will never allow announcement
to overwhelm him, and he will never
leave off trying, and doing mis- best,
TO subdue the Unforeseen obstacles
which will arise from time to time
in his path. He will never waver in
his faith in England's greatness and
/ England's strength. He is one of
those men who even after having
/ lost a battle, like that of Waterloo.
would be thinking how To repair
this disaster and to turn it into a
victory on the next day.
There is also another thing to be
said IN favor of Lord Miner which
ought not TO be passed by in silence.
/ During the years when he was in
South Africa, he was the only man
who kept his hands clean from all
/ financial transactions, and whose
/ record in that respect is absolutely
pure. This means perhaps more
than can be realized here in the
/ United States, where but few people
/ can appreciate the temptations and
/ opportunities which were put in the
/ viscount's way By those among his
/ enemies who would have been but
too glad to compromise him in re-
gard 10 money matters. That they
failed in that respect proves better
than anything else OF what stun is
made the man into whose hands has
been put now the conduct of that
responsible and important depart
ment called the English war office.