Evening star., 1935-08-29

popular, why he was not actively ana
helpfully employed. Such genius as
his, such courage and such ascetic
disregard for self. constituted him a
national asset. Yet those whose re-
sponsibility 1t was failed to take ad-
vantage of his availability. He was
forgotten by those who were duty
bound to remember" him. And that
circumstance contributes to the mys-
terry.
A. his funeral in Moreton church.
yard only one floral tribute was to be
seen. 1t was bunch of hlacs and
focget-me-nots and bore a card in
scribed: ITO T. E. L., who should sleep
mongsthe kings" But Lawrence was
not invited to rest his bones in West
minister Abbey, nor were his remains
invited to st. Pauls Cathedral. He
lies, instead, in distant Dorset, far
from the arena of officiaiism which
never quite knew what to do with or
about him.
But Lawrence himself must share
Whatever blame there may be. His
was a peculiar personality, a curious
temperament. He was not easy to
work with. There were quirks in his
nature which interfered with normal
fellowship and hindered the free give
and-take of intimate friendship. He
preferred to be isolated from the
commonplace, matter-of-fac worlds
His temperament did not fit in" Like
his American contemporary, Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh, he was "a lone
eagle" Small wonder. then, that few
were willing to assume the task Of
directing or guiding him. He made
his own rules, played the game ac-
cording to his own standards-and,
though chivalrous and gallant always,
was unique in a strange, difficult, irri-
tating fashion.
Spurned a Commission.
He changed his name arbitrarily,
calling himself Mr. T. E. Shaw" His
commission as lieutenant colonel in
the British Army he traded for re-
enlistment as a rookie private. A CLERK
in quartermaster's depot, he spent
two years handing out clothing and
equipment to tank corps personnel.
Letters to him were destroyed unread
Society he avoided, politics he eschew-
ed. Even the soldiers who were his
chosen companions-in-arms never
penetrated his reserve. Col. E.s F.
Lawson summed him up in the words:
THE first impression of him was not
very convincing. A rather weather.
beaten little man in fancy dress. But
when he spoke one knew that one
was talking to a great man." He was
5 feet 2 inches tall, compactly and
somewhat heavily built. His face was
red, and he could be draStically
choleric. AS recently as four months
ago he issued a hot demand to the
press to be ignored" Yet COIN
cidentally Fhe resented being passed
over" But, it must be explained at
once, he did not want any recogni-
ton he had not merited. An oxford
acquaintance wrote of him: Law
renee was always giving himself, his
friendship, his time, his brains, his
possessions, and especially money
when he had it, but unwilling to ac-
cept service or gift from others. a
princely giver. but chary receiver" :"
His principal complaint appears to
have been that his Arab followers
were "let down" at the Peace Confer
ence and afterward. He did not seem
to realize that without his help they
would have been treated still more
shabbily.
Nor did he comprehend the sin
cerity of appeals frequently made to
him to take more active part in work
in which he would have been welcome.
Winston Churchill applied to him in
vain "to quit his retirement" Lord