The New York herald., 1922-08-16
NORTHCLIFFE SEEN
BY HIS ASSOCIATES
Intensely Human Side of
His Character Revealed
in Anecdotes.
FOND OF RURAL LIFE
Loved to Wander About in
Old Coat With His
Fox Terrier.
ALWAYS BOY TO MOTHER
Told Lord Beaverbrook That
He Would Go Broke in
Fleet Street.

Special Cable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
-, London, Aug. Is
ine intensely human side Of Viscount
Northcliffe's character Is revealed in
anecdotes published to-day by his as
Sociates and employees. "The Chief was
one of ourselves writes Charles E.
Hands, who was the star reporter on the
Dd,ty Mail almost from it's first day
ana one OF its war correspondents in
the Boer war. 'He had surprising
number of old acquaintance with whom
ne loved to hold cheerful talks
mere was landlord at Basing-
stoke VINO hated motor cars Lord
Northcliffe would go miles out OF his
way 10 meet him, and they would chaff
one another vehemently. There was a
gardener on the Canterbury road who
was great crony of his. Every mans
opinions were of interest and informa-
tlon to him, whether right or wrong, If
honestly expressed. Whenever he met
man OF sincerity of character in any
walk OF life he made a friend"
The Mirror says: "He liked nothing
better than to wander about in favor
ite old coat with his fox terrier, and OBJ
serve sympathetically the lives of the
fdstics. His interest in French garden
ing and sweet peas, which were to re-
oelve the backing of his newspapers.
arose from a very real understanding of
rural England's simple pleasures In his
younger days he was an ardent natural
ist, and it was once said of him that he
knew nearly as much about British birds
as Viscount Grey of Fallodon. He could
identify any variety of bird on sight,
and always recognized the different
notes. He made a special study of wild
birds"
Sized Up Lord Beaverbrook.
Lord Beaverbrook, owner of the Doily
Express, writes: II met him first at a
dinner just after l was elected to Par
lament. / sensed that he was sizing
me up, probably because 1t was re-
ported / was about to buy the Standard
Shortly afterward he invited me to Tha-
net. When he asked what my private
fortune was / told him. and he said: If
you go into Fleet street you'll lose II
all. am not sure the prophecy may
not yet come true
t. Hannis Swaffer. one of North
clffe's lieutenants. who had an ION
again, off again" career on the Chiefs
newspapers, says that his mother had
more influence over him than any other
human being. 1T was when he was with
her that you saw him the boy again.
dreaming dreams ana planning an even
more brilliant future. You must come
and meet my mother he would say,
and that was the greatest compliment
he ever paid.
Mr. Swaffer adds: HE always wore
spotted tie. blue or reddish, with big
white spots. He hated spats. He
wouldn't let other people wear hand
kerchiefs sticking out of their breast
self. He hated the name William so
much that he made a member of the
staff call himself something else. An
other man of foreign name had to
call himself Hamilton. He talked like
a tyrant, especially at the telephone,
and il you answered back and got the
better of him he hung up the receiver.
Directors and Office boys to him were
all alike. They were parts of his ma
chine, and he boasted that any Office boy
could become a director If he liked
Nearly all of the best journalists in Eng
land worked for him. and many left
after few weeks, as they would not
tolerate his administering will. / left
three times. once Of my own accord.
That was a record"
Always busy Thinking.
A Times associate writes HE was al
ways putting on his thinking cap. Often
have gone tn hts room early in the
morning and found him busy thinking.
his eyes upon the ceiling, deep in con-
centration of thought. Ii was his habit
IN think o,it NOT only the work pran0aad