SIR EDWARD GREY AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 11

SIR EDWARD GREY AT HOME.

HIS QUIET LIFE AT FALLODEN.

There is no more interesting figure amongst statesmen of the first rank of the present days (says tile "Review of Reviews") than Sir Edward Grey. There are few about whom the general public knows loss. This fact lends the greater interest to a brief character sketch of tho Foreign Secretary which Mr. Comrio Colquhoun contributes to the "London Magazino" for August. He draws a pleasant picture of Sir Edward Grey's life as a private citizen in his native Northumberland, when he is'able to escape from the cares of State. He may appear a trifle cold at Westminster, but among his own people, .Mr. Colquhoun saySj he is regarded with very different feelings:— . "The litho figure, the aquiline nose, the mobile mouth, the eyes in which sincerity over shines —the-face, in short, of a dreamer —all bespeak individuality. A triflo cold, austere, and passionless he is voted by some, but those who hold this view would discard it when once they were brought into personal contact with him. Go to any villago near his country seat in Northumberland, and you will hear such terms as humility applied to him. Vanity? He knows .not the meaning of the word, whether it refers to dress or general bearing." AS A LANDLORD.

Even in the most trivial affairs he makes it a point of honour to discharge them with conscientious thoroughness. As a landlord he is generous to a fault, though he is ,not a'rich man: —

"The farms on his eiitate at Falloden are mostly small, and are let to hard-working men! He and Lady GriSy used to take pride in going round tho farmsteads in order to ascertain whether they could do anything that would make for the comfort and happiness of tho tenants. Sir Edward loves the life of the farmer, and a short time ago announced that he was looking forward to the time when he could spend his leisure in farming. Not that.he is obsessed with the pride of owning land. Ho has been known to orfor it, ■ without being. asked, for tho purpose of allotments." A QUIET, PLACID LIFE.Falloden is not a large estate, but the Hall is a very comfortable abode. It is reached by a fine avenuo of trees. Sir Edward Grey is said to be very proud of his quiet northern retreat:— '•''•■• ' ■ • " While' at Falloden he occupies himself in his garde'n and grounds. There he lias never a dull moment. His love of natural history claims him. Ho has a duck-pond, and his collection of fancy ducks would be hard to beat. And tho rose-bushes tended by his liite wife! He shared her enthusiasm in rose cultivation and her delight when her blooms were successful at Newcastle flowor show. It is a placid life.ho leads at Fallodon. He has nevor entertained in stylo,, as the world interprets tho term, but occasionally such old friends as Mr. Hnldane, the War Secretary, are welcome guests at the Hall." Angling and tennis, as is well known, are his favourite recreations. Tho former has the greater attraction for him nowadays. ,At I'alloden he does his angling in a pond stocked with trout obtained from Scotland. When he makes a fishing excursion ho generally goes, Gays Mr. Colquhoun, to tho north of Scotland.