The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-25
LIFE OF A NAN,
FAITHFULLY
RECORDED"
In "Mr. Lloyd George" E.
7. Raymond Shows Ex-
Premier as Human Being,
Warts and All.
MR.. LLOYD GEORGE. by e. T.
Raymond. New York: George

Mr.. LLOYD GEORGE. BY e. T.
Raymond. New York: George
II. Doran Company. -.
IT'S very human Lloyd
George that Mr.. Raymond
= portrays In this most brilliant
biography--an agreeable surprise
to one accustomed to paens of
praise, undiluted with suggestion
that the subject might be other
wise than God-ike in every par
ticular, enlanating from the aver.
age modern Boswell, who under
takes to chronicle the life and
virtues of living celebrities. Per-
haps it is because Mr.. Raymond
does not attempt to gloss over
any of the ex-premier's frailities-
and he had them, In common
with other men, as the author
shows-which makes the work
so convincing.
Being thus convinced that the
work is entirely without bias or
prejudice, either negative or posi-
tive, the reader is allowed to
make his own decision, and few
there are who will fail to accord
Lloyd George his full need of
glory, His history, from the early
days OF childhood In England
where he was born; his removal
to Wales upon the death of his
parents where he was educated
by his stern uncle, q sober, God
fearing man and maker Of shoes
by occupation; his early work as
''the peoples lawyer: his first
entrance into Parliament and his
slow progress toward his eventual
goal, the cabinet; his success In
cutting British red-tape and get
ting things done as minister Of
munitions, which led to the pre-
niership Of Great Britain, an Of
flee OF far greater powers than
those possessed by the King, him
self; all these things are related
in thoroughly painstaking, yet
highly interesting fashion.
The picture of the Prime Min
listers war efficiency is illuminat-
ing. His methods were not ira
ditional, not even constitutional,
but in the great crisis they were
successful, Mr.. Raymond says,
and the world probably agrees
with him. "Mr. Georges part in
placing the allied armies under the
control aof one man constitutes his
highest claim on the gratitude of
the British people" He pays him
a well-deserved tribute in the last
paragraph of the book:
IF only that he impaired in
black time when it appeared but
too likely that the alliance might
falter and succumb from mere
sick headache, his own defying
and invincible spirit to a tired, puz-
zled, distracted and distrustful ma
ton, if only that he dispelled the
vapors, inspired a new hope and
resolution, brought the British
people to that temper which
makes small men great, assured
allies that their cause was in the
fullest sense our own, and, final
ly achieved the great moral vic
tory implied in unity of command;
If these things alone be consider
ed he will be judged to have earn
ed for his portrait the right to a
dignified place in the gallery Of
history"
This gratitude, which England
and the world owes the little
Welshman, does not blind the
author to the weaknesses of
Lloyd George, to his lack Of
logic to his swerving policies.
He discusses his attitude at the
Peace Conference.
Indeed, of all the leading
figures at the Conference, Mr..
George was the one who least
knew as regarded the many gen
eral issues exactly what he
wanted. President Wilson want
ed the millennium and might at