Evening star., 1921-10-02

into the shell of his private life and
there deals with individuals, particu-
larry with dependents. II has no more
to do with his spirit than his tall
coat and his white tie. Its remark
able impression comes from its unex-
pecteiness: its effect is the shock OF
surprise. In public he is ready to
shake the whole world by the hand.
almost pat it on the Shoulder; but in
private he Is careful to see that the
world does not enter even the remot-
est OF his lodge gates.
'"Ths truth about Arthur Baifour."
said George Wyndham. rs this: He
knows there's been one Ice age, and
he thinks there's going to be an
other"
Little as the general public may sus-
pect II. the charming. gracious and
cultured Mr.. Balfour is the most ego
tistical OF men. and man who would
make almost any sacrifice to remain
in Office. It costs him nothing to
serve under Lloyd George; 1t. would
have cost him almost his life to be
out Of office during the period so ex-
citing as that Of the great war. He
loves Office more than anything this
world can offer: neither in philosophy
nor music. literature nor science, has
he ever been able to find rest for his
soul
He is SO self-absorbed that he ap-
pCda W uC ~hOlly uud"AIe OF tnO0c
who minister to his comfort. OF his
servants he never knows the least
detail. not even their names. and even
q devoted secretary who served him
faithfully for many years may find
himself treated almost as o stranger
In moment of need.
1t has been said that the whole his
tory OF philosophical thought is an
attempt to separate the object and the
subject. MI. Balfour appears to have
made this separation complete-so
complete. indeed, that he can scarcely
be called selfish. since for him there
exists no objective Held for the opera
ton of unselhshness.
80 -
T LAMENT this self bsorption of Mr..
Baifour as much as lament In his
cousin. Lord Robert Cecil. the lack Of
the lighting qualities OF leadership.
To no man OF the unionist party, after
the death OF Lord Beaconsneld and
Lord Salisbury. have more hopeful op-
portunities presented themselves for
creative statesmanship. He might
have settled the Irish question. He
might have avoided the Boer war. in
the conduct Of which he behaved with
real nobleness at the beginning. He
might have saved Germany from her
own wArmongers. In any case he
might have led the unionist party to-
ward reconstruction and 80 have pre-
vented the slap.dash methods at re-
form set going by Lloyd George. after
q long and irritating period Of tory
pottering. For few men in modern
times have exercised so great a fas-
cination over that curious and easily
satisfied body, the house of commons,
and no man in public life of our times
has enjoyed q more powerful prestige
in the constituencies. Indeed, he stood
for many years as the dignified and
honorable fiegurs in the public lifc
of Great Britain, and his influence in
politics during the hrst part Of that
period was without serious rivalry.
have always thought IL Significant
of his true nature that Mr.. Balfour
should be one of the worst offenders
in that unlovely front bench habit Of
putting his feet up on the clerks ta-
BILE The last time was In the house
Of commons ]. H. Thomas was lying
back on the opposition front bench
with his legs in the air and his muddy
boots crossed on the table. The boor-
ishness OF his attitude struck my conf
panion very sharply. But / pointed
out to him that the difference between
Mr.. Thomas. the labor member, and
Mr.. Balfour, the great gentleman, was
merely o size in boots.
CepyrigAted By g. r. P1tnan's osoa.
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