GALSWORTHY'S LOSS

Evening Post, Issue 19, 23 July 1934, Page 14

GALSWORTHY'S LOSS

TKICKED OUT OF WATCH

A PERSISTENT MAN

Amusing and characteristic incidents in John Galsworthy's early life, beforo his books made him famous, are revealed by his friend and fellow-novelist, Mr. Foid Madox Ford, says the "Daily Telegraph." As a young "man-about-town," Gals.worthy kept a small stable. He and .11 r. Ford were members of the same bpciting club. One night, leljtcs, Mi. Foid, Galsworthy and a friend came into the club after leturning fiom the Derby. "In the tiain with them, coining back, there had been a thimble-rigger. Galsworthy had been perfectly aware that the fellow was-, a swindler. But ho obstinately backed himself to discover under which thimble was the pea —which was, of course, under none. With the grim persistence that was the main note of his character he had backed himself, doubles or quits, againßt tIK thimble-rigger and his confederates. He had lost his watch and chain, tie pin, signet ring," So Galsworthy and his companion came to the club to borrow money to redeem the watch, which had sentimental associations. "Grim persistence . . . . that was what it was. Galsworthy thought that the trick ought to bo exposed tor tho benefit of the public. 'Ought,' that was even then his great word!'' Afterwards "Jack" Galsworthy was invited tp stay with the author in the country^ with Joseph Conrad as fellowguest. Mr. Ford, driving a wagonette, met him at the station. Galsworthy put his luggage in, but would not get in himself, saying he wanted some exercise. HIS RUBICON. "I touched up the uiarc. fcihe was a pretty good goer, aged, but with :i strain of Wilfied Blunts Aiab blood. I did not expect to see that fellow again until a quarter1 of an hour after T got to tho house. But there he was, still beside the box-seat, trotting along with the utmost equanimity. And as if we had been strolling down Piccadilly he continued conversing, . . So- he trotted tho inilc and a quarter to the Pent. "I felt like Maupassant when th« head of Swinburne rose out of the Mcditeiranean beside his canoe, anfi the poet swam, to shore beside him conversing .-joyously .of Anaereon."' Coniad used to call Galsworthy "Poor Jack," because he was so worried about his writing. "The life Social still had its lure for him; he was not very sure of where, as a TMiter, he was going, . . .Then cime tho mental crash. He crossed his Rubicon. I can place tho very agitating day, and after that Galsw erthy was no more the young bachelor about town, oven in appearance. jtfpr was he any longer 'Poor Jack.' He had got leligion and his path was plain."

Legends grow up about him after he' had become famous, and the author describes how one day ho-fonnd Galsworthy reading a cutting from an artiule vihich described his early stiucgles with poveity and the titter sufferings lie had gone through. "Considering that I nover had less tha.i several thousands a year," was GnWorthy's smiling comment, "I can't bo said to have suffered."