San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19

brother of their craft, and never
once let me down By putting into
my mouth words 1 did not wish TO
say. They were mostly young col
lege men, and, though / hate to say
it, a keener, better-educated crowd.
on the whole, than the average Of
their kind in English journalism.
will record only one more Of the
wonderful things that happened to
me as a representative of English
journalism in New York.
On the eve of my departure, after
my second visit, a dinner was given
in my honor at the Biltmore. 1t
was organized by Mrs. Macvickar,
who has the organizing genius of a
lady. Napoleon, and a committee of
ladies, and a thousand people were
there. They included all the most
distinguished people in New York,
many of the most distinguished in
America, and they were there to
testify their friendship to England.
They were there also to express
their friendship, if l may dare say
so, to me, as a man who had tried
to serve England, and America, too,
in speaking and in writing the sim
pie truth. They wrote all their
names in a book that was given to
me at the dinner, and I keep it as
great treasure, holding the token
of nations kindness.
What added little sauce piquante
to the proceedings was the delivery
from time TO time during the dinner
of notes from Sim Feins parading
outside the hotel. The first message
| read was not flattering. You are
dirty English rat. You ought to
be deDorted." Another informed me
that was a paid agent of the British
government. Another was a general
Indictment informing all American
citizens that it was a disgrace to dine
with me, and an act of treachery to
their own nation. Another little mis-
sive described me as typical black
guard in nation of cutthroats. So
they followed each other to the high
table, where ] was the guest of
honor.
/ had a great time in the United
States on each of my three visits,
but notwithstanding all 1 have said.
shall never make another lecture
tour in that country. The fatigue of
it demands the physique of an Arctic
explorer combined with that of an
African lion tanner. Several times |
nearly succumbed to timed tomato
soup. Twice / did lose my voice in
wind forty below zero, and regain it
by doses of medicine which destro. ed
my digestive organs. Nightly l was
roasted alive in sleeping berths. Daily
did my head swell TO unusual proper
tons, not in conceit, but in central
heating system which is a terror 10
Englishmen. visibly did wither
away as 1 travelled from city TO city
received by Populations of leading citi-
zens on arrival, after sleep-disturbed
night, with the duty ahead of keeping
bright and intelligent through long
days program, saying the right thing
to the gracious ladies who entertained
me at lunch, the bright thing TO the
city club which entertained me at din
ner, the true thing to all the questions
asked about Europe, England, LLOYD
George, prohibition, Mrs. Asquitb, the
American flapper, Bolshevism, Frances
and the biological necessity of war;
to business men, professors, Journal
lists, poets, finanTssS E1hRps, society
leaders in Kanss OR ~ A1tH Rap
ids, the president Il ~ Hsqnsn
church, the editors of the local news
papers, the organizers of my lecture
that evening, and the unknown visitors
who called on me at the hotel all
through the day, and every day.
One can't keep that sort of thing
up. It's wearing. -.
l remember that in the Copley
Plaza hotel at Boston, little old
gentleman carrying a black bag tap
ped at my door and introduced him
self by the name of Doctor Gibbs. He
said that his hobby in life was 10
search out Gibbs in the United States
and he found thousands He presented
me with a copy of the Gibbs family
bulletin, and opening his black bag
produced a photograph OF his great
grandfather.
Ii was my son Tony who called
my attention to the fact that / was
amazingly like that venerable man,
who was toothless the lived before
the era Of American dentistry aud
\. it'll hair that had worn thin as the
sere and yellow leaf. | decided that
| should become exactly like him.
sans hair, sans teeth if ! Continued
this career Us an English lecturer "A
America. In order 10 ayoid prerias
ture old age. | made a resolve twhicl
l shall probably break not TO make
another lecture tour in the Unitea
States.
Bur Of all my journalistic adyen-
lures. | count these American expert
enees as my most splendid time. and
for the American people l have a deep
gratitude and affection. l can Only
try 10 reDay their kindness By using
my pen whenever possible 70 increase
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