The Washington times., 1922-09-04

that reason would like to tell tn
It lost when he went away on ii
He believed that one of the best
means among many of promoting
friendship between countries was a
community of sport interests. and
therefore he spent much time and
energy promoting international com.
petitions.
Every golfer who went to England
70 the big tournaments can testify
to- his unfailing hospitality. His
papers gave large space to sport; his
sports writers were highly competent
and generously paid.
Our players were treated with the
utmost courtesy; much attention was
given TO their matches in his papers,
and he, himself, busy and over.
worked always, found time to attend
the tournaments and was frequently
seen in the galleries Of American
players. ,.
Now, with the British players in
this country, I am glad to see our
papers extending them the same
courtesy and consideration that we
received from the Northcliffe press.
Al Sc. -.
=. remember In the British Anna
,tpre at HoyIake in 1921, when Fred
Wright had just defeated Lord
Northcliffe's gardener, his lord
chip wanted to meet the young
American to congratulate him on
Jiis victory.
nHe added jokingly that it had
served his gardener right, for he
could not get him to practice enough
that he liked gardening better than
solfing, and that he took more in.
terest in the disposition of a plant
than he did in his golf shots.
Lord Northcliffe had very beau.
ttful gardens at Elmwood, his beau
tfful Kent estate, and a good golf
course. Throughout that whole week
at Hoylake he took the deepest in
terest in the matches. and expressed
his pleasure that SO many Americans
were there.
or his personal relations with
me I cannot write without emo
tion. and 1 only mention them at
all because they may show one
side, not so well known to the
public, Of a many-sided man.
I met Lord Northcliffe first in
the British Amateur at Sandwich
in 1914. He followed the matches,
and when suffered defeat he sent
O. kind note of coincidence that
cheered the heart Of the van
quished in strange land. Little
notes and postcards ! received at
Various times.
y Then at Liverpool last year his
kindness seemed boundless. The
use of his car to take me to the
club each morning, and constant
nourtesies at the hotel. On the
day was defeated by Mr.. Fownes
he was on the course. and obsery-
ing that my mother was very tired
he took her to the hotel himself,
sending his car back a little later
tor me.
~
D., Afterwards In London my
mother received . letter from
him suggesting that the family In
England, my father, my mother.
choosing our own time, inviting
.eur own friends or enjoying Il
alone as we desired.
'I'c,
HE felt, he said, that 1t could
make all of us happy. for there
was a good library, a beautiful gar.
den, and a golf course. And 1t was
beside the sea!
To our everlasting regret circum.
stances made the acceptance Of the
generous invitation impossible. but
the appreciation of the heart that
prompted it-that unexampled hos.
nitality-will remain with us to the
and of our days.
There can be no doubt that Io:a
Northcliffe loved America and
Americans, next to his mother,
stor," said he, America has al
ways been good to me; not just
since have been successful, but
before when success seemed very
far away"
=, It seems a far Journey that he
travelled in these days Of bitter COM
petition from the little house in
ireland to beautiful Elmwood. the
mansion in Carlton Gardens. the
big offices of his publications.
all that these symbols stand for.
1t is q still farther journey on
which this indefatiguable traveller
has gone now so unexpectedly.
sBi lIuoI lIdt Ills hOpcs Ills lditH
In promoting international golf,
will be realized, and that IL will
bring about the healthy competi-
ton, the. understanding friendship
for which he labored. In any event
American golfers will always hold
him in grateful remembrance.
~.
In honor Of George Duncan
>. and Abe Mitchell, famous British
., pros, now playing in America,
more British flags are being dis
played than we have seen before
In, many a long day.
They are, perhaps, the most pic
turesque pair now on our links.
Both are tall and thin; Mitchell with
a moustache. Duncan without; both
driving far, playing their irons bril-
liantly and sending their long, curl
ing puts into the hole.
In other words, playing a game
of fine technique. This Is the sort
OF game that II pays the learner TO
watch. And fast! I doubt II there
is any other golfer In the world who
can produce good golf shots with the
rapidity of Duncan.
~ wonder sometimes IL our CALLER