Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
Continued From Third Page.l

Il
INV latch kew. bolted my door. went TO
my tiny green and red sitting room,
stretched myself out on my divan,
oriental but very comfortable, lit
a cigarette and considered things. Yes,
I considered my existence, and sud-
denly I knew-it seemed like that
that hated living in Shaftesbury
avenue, with a burglar overhead and
lady of pleasure at right angles TO me
I didn't hate London. still loved
London. But hated shafteshury
on the following day I left my fiat
and never went back to 1t. had an
my things packed by the firm that had
put IN the furniture and had carried
out the decorations, q firm In Victoria
street "run" by an Irish lady. Shaftes-
bury avenue saw me no more.
That sudden departure was like q
little crisis in my life. I knew from
that time that could hate something
"a way Of Life for instance-and not
be aware Of my hatred till moment
OF sudden illumination arrived. Such
another moment OF illumination came
to me after an interval during which
I was very hard at work and still quite
life for me and that London was the
ideal place TO live In.
Became Journalist.
I had become o journalist. At first I
wrote furtive pieces-as my friends and
I called them-"turnovers" FOR The
Globe, ETC., etc. Then got some
regular work. I did q musical article
for The Qentlewoman every week.
reviewed music, Joined the stair Of
paper called Hearth and Home and
worked for other papers In small way.
Then began 10 write short stories and
was asked for another. AZ last !
my work 90 q journalist. Then The
editor Of the World sent for me
He told me that their musical critic
the famous George Bernard Shaw, had
resigned his position and he offered It
to me. was aghast and, am sure,
showed Il. But wasn't 30 aghast that
I refused the offer on the spot. No;
asked for time to consider the matter
and, having considered, accepted.
This new obligation seemed to tie me
more firmly than ever to London.
didn't mind that. For by this time
considered myself an absolute Lon
doner. remember seeing about Lon
don during these years q very well
known man called Kenneth Howard, Of
whom II was said that he never slept
People came and went. changes came
over London. Hard-worRing men took
their holidays. Pleasure-loving men
went abroad, went to Scotland, came
back. But Mfr. Howard never slept
out Of London, and looked Of him
strolling along the pavement OF Pic
cadilly or going in and out OF the clubs
and understood him. =
For my life was London. When ]
wasn't at home writing I was perpetu-
ally sitting in concert rooms. I went
TO every good concert. During the opera
season I heard all the operas given
Ny exercise cons sted chiefly In walk
ing from where I lived to Queens Hail
Opera House, and walking home again
Although had been brought up 10
ride horseback and had been very fond
Of lawn tennis, I now never rode, never
played any game. Although still young
I was getting fat. Ny complexion had
no freshness. Why should It have when
I gloried in being a London sparrow,
when my horizon was bounded by the
pavements ana the chimney pots?
At this time wrote and published q
book called FLAMES: A London Phan-
tasy," in which embodied some of my
experiences In London and tried to ex-
press some Of my feelings for London
Not long after 1t had come out I re-
ceived visit from q nephew Of the late
Lord BurnhaIn, whom knew slightly
the Daily Telegraph 10 have O talk
with his uncle. wondering what had
prompted this invitation, I went to the
great once IN Fleet street and was re-
ceived by Lord BurnhaYn, who was the
principal proprietor and the COM
rnandef-in-chie Of the Daily Telegraph,
as his brilliant son is today.
Found Lord Burnham Delightful.
Lord Burnham, Is I very soon found
out, was one Of the most delightful Of
men and astute Of Journalists: Our
interview then was not very long one.
Almost Immediately he came to the
point. He invited me to Join the staff
Of his paper as descriptive writer.
I can see him before me now, sitting
In q big chair In front OF O very big
writing table, short bald, rosy, smart,
looking at me with his wonderfully
brilliant and intelligent eyes, eyes that,
once seen, couldn't easily be forgotten.
As was silent, he enlarged on the
sort of thing he wanted me to do for
him. While he was talking and I was
listening had another moment Of
I didn't want'to 60 on living in London.
Not only that! felt as II for long
time had been sick Of my life in
London without realizing 1t. But now
how was that?-Lord Burnhafn had
made me realize IL.
Made Sudden Decision.
I thanked him for his offer, but I
didn't ask for time to consider 1t. Fol-
lowing q strong impulse, told him that
I intended TO give up journalism alto
gether, to give up London life, to go
away and to devote all my time TO the
writing Of books. I didn't tell him that
when I had walked into his office a. few
intentions,
We parted good friends--afterward
came to know him much better and to
like and admire him without reserva-
ton. went home and almost imme-
diately resigned my position on the
World. knew that my time In Lon
don was over. I was taking risk. I
knew that. Most Of my friends seemed
to think was doing crazy thing, but
I felt as had felt on that night In
Shaftesbury avenue the night before I
went out Of my fiat. I had to 60. and
I went.
That must be now nearly IS years
ago. In those IS years don't think
there has ever been O moment In which
I have regretted my separation from
Life. But my conception Of Life has
changed. have long ago discovered
that the marvel occasionally goes out of
town, that 1t stays far beyond what
used to be called the cab radius" that
it may be found, and In full vitality. in
the most unexpected places, nay, even
In the desert which Balzac described In
the phrase God without man."
Existence has become much uuieter
for me, yet often feel that 1t Is fuller
than Il was, although It Is less exciting.
For there Is an excitement IN great
cities which q like no other excitement.