In the Public Eye

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 12

In the Public Eye

POINTS OF NOTABLE PERSONALITIES

Dr. Wilhelm Cuno, President of the German Republic, is a director of the. Hamburg-Amerika Line. The doctor is not even a member of the Reichstag, but was a Government official until 1917, when he joined the board of the Ham-burg-Amerika Line, and he succeeded to the position of managing director after the death of Herr Ballin. In some respects Dr. Curio is following in the footsteps of his brilliant predecessor in the company, for Ballin, although he never"entered into politics in any way, enjoyed the confidence of the ex-Kaiser and his Ministers :for-many years, and by careful, skilful, and untiring work behind the scenes he succeeded in bringing about many trading and shipping developments which" had an important bearing upon ,the political progress of his country. . . .

Major Astor has announced that it is his intention to transfer his wealth to England. This announcement has created a good deal of interest both in London and in America. The real. estate and personal holdings of Baron Astor in: America, in which bdth Major and Vis-* count Astor participate, totalled over 80,000,000 dollars. The income from the property is estimated at over 5,000,----000 dollars, in addition to which his father made a gift outright to Major Astor of 7,000,000 dollars in New York real property. Although several lots of property-in New York have been sold by Major Astor during the past few years, it is considered unlikely that he will dispose of all his real, estate.

M. Georges Olemenceau is actually one of the foremost journalists in France. He got his first experience as a newspaper man during his sojourn in the United States between 1866 and 1869. Throughout his residence in America Clemenceau sent contributions to the "Temps" in Paris; "Letters from America" they were called, and they dealt with all the foremost questions of the day...His articles on the future of the negro race in the United States, written two years after the end of the civil war, are a model of style and show a clear understanding of this complex problem. They set forth the difficnlties and the dangers besetting the relations of the white and coloured races in the United States. Clemenceau wrote them after an extensive tour of tha South, and he drew a vivid picture of conditiqns in that then: devastated area. Admirable literary documents, displaying! democratic "tendencies, political foresight and large philosophical ideas, they show on the part of this young man of twentyseven nearly all the remarkable old man of to-day.

Gabriel© D'Anuunzio, who was recently reported ill beyond hope of recovery, is well enough to be arranging to return actively to politics. It is pleasing to know that the world is not losing him. .D'Annunzio is a big man—the greatest writer of Italy in the last 40 years or so. He has made mistakes in politics and in war —as in some phases of the Fiume business—but always with the most patriotic, intentions. The best of his poems, novels, and plays show that he- wishes to revive the ancient glories of Italy. At times his practical methods of trying to do this may be wrong, but always.his aims.appear to be of the best. The main trouble in the Fiume episode whs the danger of international complications .being caused by D'Annunzio'a singleness of purpose. The poet proved his bravely in the war. He wa6 ail intrepid' airman,, and he suffered serious injuries. ; > .

Sii* Slichael Culms Seymour, who succeeded- Admiral Pakenham on the Atlantic Command, has a wonderful family record of sea service. The first baronet owed his title to his gallant--sea service in the -Napoleonic wars, and died a fulkadmiral. His third son, another Sir Michael, held many important commands, including that of the East Indies Station and Portsmouth, and became a vice-admiral. His nephew, Edward, is the .famous Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Edward Seymour. ' The third baronet commanded the Channel Squadron and the Mediterranean Fleet, and was Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom and Lieutenant of the Admiralty : thereof from 1901 to 1920. Sir Michael the new Atlantic commander, is his eldest son. .

Mr. Raymond Unwin, the. chief townplanning adviser, to the British Ministry of Health, recently returned to' London from two months' absence on leave in America. It is an interesting- iilustra*tion of British skill and experience in town-planning that he was asked to advise on the various schemes that are being prepared for the replailning of New' York. M

Tha Prince- of Waleo wa3 recently pressni ai a dinner given by the B.N.V.R. -Auxiliary Patrol at which, three winners of the Victoria Cross sat at the same dinnsr-tebie witi. the .Prince. These V.C.'s wars alj nsVal men, and old broiher-orSoers o£ the Vrince; Captain Campbell won hk Oroas aster.- distinguished serv;c3 in the Dardanelles, and also-.holds the D.S.O. three times over; Lieutenant-C'ommandai-' Drummoad also wears. the '.'Legion;, of Honour from the French Government, and . LieutenantCommander Parcy T. Dean gained the award for rescuing officers and men from blockships at the famous Taid on Zoebrugge in April, 1916.

Sidney Dark, •who is joint editor ol the English literary paper, "John o 1 London's Weekly," ana who was special correspondent for the " Daily Express " during the Paris Peace Conference, b»gau, life as a professional singer and latw became an actor. He drifted into journalism in 1899 by writing Green Kooro Gcssip in the "Daily Mail." He ha» published several books on the subject of the stage. :

Mr. Joseph Conrad, the novelist, has taken on the role of playwright, and recently visited the Ambassadors Theatre to superintend the production of hir; first play, "The Secret Agent," founded on his novel of that name, which was to be produced on 2nd November. Asked why he had decided to write a play, he said: "Just for curiosity. I had just finished a"'novel. My mind was a blank, and I wanted'a change. They tell me.it is very difficult to writs a play. Well, everyone must have a beginning, and I was curious to. see if I could not write onfe. TO write plays is not easier or harder than writing novels; it is just different."

Sir William Treloar, carpet merchant, author, ex-Lord Mayor of London, end head of the' famous business thai beav6 his name, is seventy-nine, and ono of the city's busiest men. He vfili overbe reniembsred for his activity and magnificence in providing homes and treatmeat of crippled children. Incidentally Sir- 'William' Treloav'iu his .prims'/was considered one of the handsomest msri in the city of London.