CARLTON AND CABINETS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3145, 27 November 1922, Page 7

CARLTON AND CABINETS.

The destines of England, of the Empire, and probably of the world, are tor the moment in the hands of the Carlton Club, Pall Mali. In one wild rush aristocratic conservatism, whick is supposed to be constitutionally slow and sluggish, has completed the fullcircle and swung back to Runnymede, where the Barons demanded the right to rule the realm.

There is a multitude of clubs in London, but only one Carlton, and it is without question the most powerful political club in tho Empire. For despite most of the trappings of modern democracy, the unwritten constitution of Great Britain is shot through and through with feudalism. Gilbert's whimsical but truthful assertion that every child in England is born either "a little Liberal or a little Conservative" finds fittest expression in the Carlton, which is more difficult to penetrate than the fastnesses of the Llama of Thibet, or the temple of the Mormons at Salt Lake City.

There are only two royal roads to its cloistral and handsome interior—the Peerage or the front bench in the> House of Commons. It is the stronghold of the blue-blooded and the landed gentry. The Duke of Northumberland had a presumptive right to election by being born. Mr Bonar Law only forced his way through its portals by becoming indispensable to the Tory Party and a Cabinet Minister. It still controls the power of selection, and the purse of the great Conservative organisation, which has supplied Great Britain with most of her Prime Ministers.

A tremendously dignified and classical building houses it. Once its members pass the Doric granite columns which flank the entrance they are out of reach of the rest of mankind. Guests are not welcomed unless they be members of the Royal Family. Even the bearer of straw berry leaves is always out of season unless he is a, member. A visitor may be conducted with bated breath to the Great Hall, but not one step beyond it on peril of his life.

And as befits its spirit of changeless conversatism, the club has vigorously resisted every "new fangled idea," from the telephone to electric light, cocktails, "tickers" and smoking. The roar of the Present echoing brazenly through its portico only emphasises its prayerful devotion to the Past. And everywhere you turn is that grim taciturn, compelling word, "Silence."

Visions of the old fogies with buff waistcoats, blue coats, and brass buttons, heavy swells with peg-top trousers and long drooping whiskers, are conjured up by mention of the Carlton Club. But the imagination plays tricks when it presents this picture. Those days are gone. From the top of the motor omnibus you can spot elderly gentlemen, from 8 a.m. (which is unforgivably early) to 11 a.m., eating breakfast m lonely and silent seclusion, with the Morning Post perched in front of them and The Times near at hand. They are all garbed in sombre, sedate black, with spats to match, and a young blood who sports a summer grey suit is frowned upon for levity. They are not the best-dressed men m London. Great latitude is allowed the Peerage in clothes. It is onlv the nouveau riche or the climber who must be m the pink of Bond street perfection .

The Conservative Party may meet in caucus at Westminster, but "its policy is fixed over chops at the Carlton. Ail the strings run back to this spacious club m Pall Mall, and the wonderfully efficient organisation which works the electorates is most securely tethered. hi Australia the cap is taken round to get the wherewithal each election. Ihe bigwigs of the Carlton control a fund which may run to anything from one million to ten millions.' When they play "put and take" with the populace they like every side of their jenny to bear a star.

Originally founded by the great Duke of Wellington, and a few of his mast lntimato political friends, the Carlton Club was first established in Charles street, St,. James', in the year 1831, wrote Ralph Nevill. In 'the following year it removed to larger premises, Lord KensinrjLom's, in Carlton Gardens. In 1830 an entirely new clubhouse was built in Pall Mall by Sir Robert Smirke, R.A.; this was small, and soon became inadequate to its wants, though a very large addition was made to it in 1846 bv Mr Sydnev Smirke, who in 1854 rebuilt the whole house, copying SansoviniV Lrbiary of St. Mark, at Venice.

The Carlton has been the scene of many important political consultations and combinations.

It was in the hall here that Lord Randolph Churchill learnt of the appointment of Mr Goschen to the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, which, it is said, he had just resigned, under the impression that, being the only possible man for the position, he "would be begged to reconsider his decision. He was in the hall with a friend, when a boy came through to put up a slip of telegraphic news. Lord Randolph, stopped him and read the telegram, after which he said: "All great men make mistakes! Napoieon forgot Blucher —I forgot Goschen." A number of oil-paintings representing celebrated Conservative statesmen decorate the walls of the Carlton. In the large entrance hall are portraits of Lord North, Lord Chatham, Lord Castlereagh, and the great Sir Robert' Peel j on the staircase a portrait cf the first Lord Cranbrook; whilst the first, floor is adorned by fine full-length pictures of the late Lord Salisbury by Sir Hubert Herkomer, and of Lord Abergavenny by Mr Mark Minbanke. The dining-room at the Carlton also contains several portraits, amongst them Lord Beacon6field, after Millais. Mr Arthur Balfour (who has left tho Die-Hards), by Saregnt, subscribed for by members, has been added within recent years. Owing to an entirely new scheme of color decoration, the interior of this club-house is now very much improved. The conversion of the great central hall into a comfortable carpeted lounge with chairs is also an innovation of a most convenient kind. In creature comforts the Carlton stands ahead of all clubs in the world.

It seems incredible, almost, that the, ex-Empress Charlotte of Mexico should be living to-day and reassuming her native Belgiaro nationality. Hers has been a tragic fate. Called to the Imperial throne of Mexico, with her husband, June 12, 18o'4, she and Maximilian met with trouble almost from the day of their landing. Within three years and five days the Emperor was placed against a wall and shot. Instinctivelv fearing the. worst, Charlotte had escaped to Europe, and from Court to Court she pursued her way, begging on bended knee literally and in deepest anguish for intervention to save her husband's life. The tragedy drove her mad, and for over 50 years this (Mice beautiful woman has been a hopeless lunatic. A neAv airplane muffler has been perfected in Europe which does not reduce the efficiency of the motor. Silent flying has now become a fact after 18 years of effort by engineers.