The Washington herald., 1920-04-11

my latest informant. was born In
New York State and educated at
Windsor. Nova Scotia, but Is the
daughter OF w. A. Ross. of Bel
fast, who spent much OF his life
in America, but who was never
naturalized. Yet this is what John
H. Anderson wrote about her:
NEW AMBASSADOR, LIKE PREsI-
DENT, COLLEGE PROFESSOR
He brings with him an Ameri-
can wife, who was Miss Isabella
Gamble Ross, third daughter OF Mr..
and Mrs. w. A. Ross. of Livingston,
Staten Island. She was born at
Dobbs Ferry, Of Scotch. ancestry.
now president OF the Arm Of w.
A. Ross and Son, of IL William
street. Sir Auckland met Miss
Ross in 1905 on a voyage from
England to this country and the
wedding took place at st. Mary's
Protestant Episcopal Church on
Staten Island"
Well. Lady Geddes will soon be
here to tell us herself whether she
is an American or not!
Washington seems to be taking q
keen interest in Sir Auckland, or
Campbell. as he Is more widely
known in England (Sir Auckland
Campbell Geddes) because he. like
our President. Is a college profess
sor. He occupied the chair Of
anatomy at McGill University and
was demonstrator and assistant
professor OF anatomy at Edinburgh
University and later became pro-
fessor of anatomy in the Royal
College OF Surgeons at Dublin, going
from there to McGill University at
Montreal. He accepted the prcsi-
dency OF the latter university but
has never filled the position. ac-
cepting the ambassadorship here
instead, which fact has rather
peeved the university. I have heard
II said Yet his academic training
Is only one part Of him. But let
me tell you some more that Mr..
Anderson wrote about him. He
says:
To many Americans Sir Auckland
has suffered a loss OF personality be-
cause he is the brother OF Sir Fri"
Geddes, but in the empire the entire
family Is a source Of continued won
derment and admiration. II SCENE d
TO spring fully equipped to the ma
tion's assistance at a time of great
stress. and now is helping to steer
it through turbulent period Of re =
construction. Sir Eric Is minister of
ways and communications: Auck
land. before his appointment to the
embassy At Washington. was min
lister OF national service and recon-
struction and later president OF the
local government board: a sister.
Mrs. Chalmers Watson, Is command
ant of the Woman's Royal Air
Force. and the youngest Of this as
tonishing quartet is Evan. who is
known as the family's merchant
prince" because he operates a large
steamship company in the Mediter-
ranean.
Both Sir Eric and Sir Auckland.
despite their titular honors, appeal
to the Imagination Of the average
American largely because their ca
reers have been so closely analogous
to the careers Of hundreds of sue
cessful American business men. The
family Is Scotch. Eric was born in
India, Auckland In Edinburgh In
1878. The latter was educated at
Edinburgh University, London Hos
pital and Freiburg.
The father was an engineer whose
work and contracts carried him to
many parts OF the empire. Perhaps
through these outdoor associations
his sons became ardent sportsmen.
and In college distinguished them
selves and on the London Scottish
football team. Sir Auckland re-
vcals less the physique Of an ath-
lete than Sir Eric, forthere 10 little
resemblance between the two. Sir
Eric, better known to Americans be-
cause of his more recent visit to
this country, Is remembered as a
tall, heavily built man, radiatine
physical power and mental yieor
from every inch of his well. knit
frame. Sir Auckland is tall and ts
rather thin. though tough and wiry.
His spectacles accentuate his high
forehead 10 . ..,,sIn, and add to his appearance
TEMPERAMENTALLY THEY
REVEAL WIDE DIFFERENCE.
Temperamentally, the two rev.s,
an equally wide difference. Sir Eric
Is the high-powered iocomoeve
! type, who 10 never content with less
than top speed. He is the man OF
business, direct TO the point Of
aDruptness. whereas Auckland is
more leisurely. but equally efficient.
He has q genuine sense Of hur1or,
one that Is vouched for by Ameri.
can associates who know him Of
old. and he invariably finds time for
a Joke. That no enjoys insinr
Scottish songs, the Americans who
witness his career In this country
probably will have to be satisfied
with the testimony OF others who
knew him when he had time and
comparatively few cares.
In the course OF his professional
ly moving about Sir Auckland sus.
pended other interests long enough
TO enter the South African war as q
lieutenant In the Third Highland
Light Infantry. The experience
gave him q great interest in mill.
tsry affairs. which he pampered as
hobby and literally rode It to
France in 1914 with the rank of
major. He served on the adjutant
generals staff, where he won al
most immediate distinction for his
executive ability. and In 1915 was
sent home with the rank aof briga-
dier 9eneral. To take charge af tha