The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-31

w B., in the London Weekly Dispatch NN ' HAT sort of man is Sir Harry wy LauderY ',a,, ,ro,. that he is the most prominent living artist in his line on the stage and that he mas made a large fortune by his own eI- forts. And nearly everybody knows or thinks he knows-that he is easily the "canniest' Scot that has crossed the border.
 The stories that have grown up around Lauder and his ultra-Scottlsn characteristics" are innumerable. lie is supposed to be noted for determlna- tiop not to bang saxpences" that makes the normal careful Scot seem a reckless spendthrift in comparison.
 What are the facts? I can tell you.
 Harry Lauder does not believe Tn throwing about his money indlscrlm- inately. But I have met thousands ol Englishmen compared to whom Harry Lauder is widely prodfgal. We who know the real Harry Lauder know nlm for the soul of generosity in number less good causes, a man whose hospl- tality to his friends is unbounded, ana whose goodness to his own relatives ;s in striking contrast to the behavior l of tens of thousands of men who have | '.got on' in life but whose main oo- 1 feet in their time of prosperity IS to forget the fathers and mothers, broth- CTS and sisters and the comrades or their poorer days.
 Knowing the facts I used to feel an- moved by the intending stream of gro tesouely inaccurate Lauder stories. But an incident in my own house in Glas- gow some years ago altered my point
 of view.
 1 Lauder was reading newspaper ar ticle. Suddenly he burst into hearty fit of laughter.
 That's the best yeti" he remarked.
 "They'ye telt lots O stories aboot me
 in the papers and elsewhere. but this
 fairly COWS the cuddie. Here-read Il
 tor yerser."
 It was a bitter paragraph about
 Lauder getting a cigar from 1rien0
 and afterward returning alone and ask ing the shopman to change it for to- hacco. Most of us have heard the story repeated at one time or another.
 "Why don't you deny the silly storie' they tell about you, Harry" l asked | with some heat. "You let them all pas! with a laugh, but your friends hav'
 always to be fighting for you. Wh. jdon't you scotch these islanders onc'
 and for all?"
 Hush, man, hush!" said Lauder witt
 twinkle in his eyes, never spoil good free advertisement! The mai stories they set goin, aboot me an m. money the mair anxious will folks D to see me on the stage. A these storie
 are lees-or most O them air-bu , they're fine for boomin' Harry Lau derw
 But let us get away from nction | , facts. Only that morning Lauder ha l asked me to help him with his cor 5 respondence. Out of about twoscore le' : ters half were begging epistles Il r read every one carefully; some he SC l aside in a special pile. His business le, :, ters replied to, he again returned the appeals" One he perused with es 5 pecial care. Poor Jamie! he's struck a bad patel y 1t seems!' Harry was now looking ou
 of the window and musing more
 himself than speaking to me. We wer
 pit laddies together in Hamilton in tn
 auld days. Poor Jamie" A f5 note wa
 Lo
 book and inclosed in brief but friend . ly letter to poor Jamie" Is Another letter. which wrote at Hal W rvs dictation, was sent to firm {
 musical instrument makers. instruc