Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-03
BY MAI. GwILYM LLOYD GEORGE,

BY MAJ. GWILYM LLOYD GEORGE.
LONDON, June 3.-When was little
and people used to tell me about Santa
Claus Immediately would imagine that
they were describing my father!
Nothing has happened to obliterate
that first impression. know Of no one
so genial, so eager to do good turns to
those around him. so jovial in his whole
outlook as Mr. Lloyd George.
My earliest days were spent in Wales.
We spoke Welsh. When my father be-
came a minister of the crown we began
to speak English at meals. This was
simply out Of courtesy to many guests.
Could Joke With Children.
1t used to be fathers great Joke to
give me Welsh sentences to translate
into English. knowing full we'll that I
couldn't do 1t. He had a wonderful way
with children and could rag them to his
hearts content without ever wounding
the most sensitive.
I dent think that my fathers infiu-
ence over me was less potent because
he was always so busy that I could not
spend much time with him. He would
flash across my horizon for few mo-
ments 1t seemed to me that had been
lifted on to a different plane.
It was a matter Of principle with my
father to send us children to state
supported schools because he thought
this the finest type Of education IN Eng
land. It was part of his creed that
every man should have equal oppor-
tunity in education. He felt that II l
had to go out into the world and carve
my own future 1t would be wisest that
1 should mix with those who had to
face the same prospect.
Before the war I went to EaStbourne
College. While I was there I discoV-
cred that my father was living sort
of vicarious second existence through
me. As a lad he had had to work too
hard to enjoy games or sport or relax
alton of any kind. Through his achieve
ments. I, his son, was able to go In for
ali that sort of thing to my hearts
content. And through me he was en-
joying 1t all, experiencing 1t.
Began to Seek Him.
Until then had always taken my
father for granted. loved him, hon.
ored him. but felt no sense OF respon-
sibility toward him. But once l saw
that / could be the source of much JOY
and pride to him-and my little sue
cesses on the school cricket, foot ball
and hockey teams he made appear TO
me as vital as any one of his own su-
preme triumphs in the political nelo-l
began to seek him out, study his IDEAS,
try to know him as man, apart from
as a father.
war. NV sister Megan, in consequence,
spent more time with my father tnan
I did. Although there is bond be-
tween father and son that I imagine TO
he quite a different thing from the al
lection between father and daughter,
she has become, naturally, his closest
It is one Of the distinguishing quail
ties of Mr.. Lloyd George that one does
not have to be with him great deal Tor
him to color all ones ideas: l never
feel that my sister has been given more
OF his mind or heart than I have,
I left Jesus College. Cambridge, and
from the age Of 10 until "a saw prac-
tically nothing of him. I became a
major and didn't miss one engagement.
And yet, although I saw practically
nothing of him, don't know that MS
influence over me had ever been so
powerful, so inspiring I felt that SO
long as my father was at the nelm
everything must go right.
Wanted Him to Go to School.
When I returned from the war my
father wanted me to 60 back TO the
university and qualify for any pro1es-
sion I wished. 1t was probably the best
advice he ever gave me. but 1t vas the
one counsel Of his I did not take. l
have regretted 1t since. However, 1t was
not lust blind contrariness which
held me in Its grip. All through the
summarizing
independent.
Not one word of criticism did my
father utter. His understanding OF
young people. is always perfect, greater
perhaps than his understanding OF his
own generation, because, although he
is nearly Sc. he is young man at heart.
Then one day he asked me whether
would not care to take up politics.
I saw that here lay his dearest wish
he wanted to serve England once again,
through me. That was how l became
M. P. for Pembrokcshire.
So soon as I started to study politics
seriously he gave me a piece OF advice
that I have never forgotten. He said,
1.-THE man who learns nothing knows
nothing Learn-and then keep on
learning!"
The newspapers have liked to picture
LLOYD George an unlettered man. q man
upon personality and keen quickness Of
intellect. 1t Is popular, but tnaccu-
rate portrait. He has at great pains,
developed that intellect. He was a stu
dent-some rather learned folk have
spoken Of him to me, indeed, as
scholar.
MY father has always been a great
reader. That is a side of him that has
Influenced me a great deal and yet 1t
is, as say, not even guessed at by his
supporters, let alone his opponents.
What do I think of father? To my
mind, that Is putting the thing the
wrong way around. For 1t would be
much simpler to say what don't think
Of him, in view of the fact that think
so much. so very, very much, that I
cannot begin to express myself.
will just try to boil 1t down to this:
I think him the most delightful human
being that have ever known.
think him the most intelligent per-
son have ever met.
think him the most understanding,
the most human, the most sympathetic.
the most sincere, the most idealistic
and at the same time practical person
with whom have come In contact
I think him the most inspiring, the
most electric of personalities.
] think Of him as my closest and