In the Public Eye

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 124, 21 November 1925, Page 24

In the Public Eye

NOTABLE PERSONALITIES IN THE NEWS Mr. Arthur Ponsonby, HI.P. "The Contemptible Little Army" was a phrase attributed to the : oxKaiser during the early years of the war, and one which helped to crcalo an antagonistic attitude towards Germany. It was firmly believed to be correct at the time as was the story of the corpse factories, but like, many other statements of that period it is now receiving the fall light r.f day with disastrous results. Mr. Arthur. Ponsonby, Labour M.P. for the Brightside Division of Sheffield, writing in "The Nation" recently, said that he had proved the statement attributed to the ex-Kaiser to bo a fabrication. Mr. Arthur A. W. H. Ponsonby has been described by a Labour journalist as "the only man who lias come out of the splendours of a, Court, the mysteries aud privileges of. the Diplomatic Service, and the inner circles of one of the hUtoric parties to become a Labour member of Parliament." He is 52 years old, and is the third son of Sir Henry Ponsonby and Lady Pon; sonby. He was a page of honour to Queen Victoria. After Eton anl Balliol lie spent nine years in the Diplomatic Service — at Constantinople, Copenhagen, and the Foreign Office, and for three years lie wag at the Liberal Central Office. la 1906 he contested Tauntoii, but was defeated. He became Sir Henry Camp-bell-Baimerman's private secretary, and succeeded his. cli-ief as member for Stirling Burghs. He was an advanced Eadical member, and left tho majority of his party on the war. After joining the Labour Party he was returned for the Brightside Division of Sheffield in 1922. Professor William Blair Bell. The world of medical science last week was very excited over the .statement made by Professor John Adami, who declared that no longer could he keep secret the valuable discovery of Dr. Blair Bel), who had found a cure for cancer in the use of lead. Professor Bell is a well-known gynaecological and obstetrical surgeon, practising at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary and a 1 lecturer at the Liverpool 'University on (he same subjects. He was. appointed, lo the- Liverpool Infirmary in 1905 after a notable scholastic career, during 'which lie won many prizes and scholarships. In 1916 Dr. Bell was appointed Hunter-' ian Professor, of the Royal" College of Surgeons, of which lie had been a locturer since 1913. He was awarded (he John Hunter Medal and Hie triennial prize of the College of Surgeons for original work on the pituitary body, anil was also awarded the Asiley Cooper prize for original work on the same "subject. He has been a prolific writer on medical subjects, mostly relating to women's diseases; of .which tbfi chief works are "The Sex Complex," "The Pituitary," and "The Principles of Gynaecology." In addition to these writings.he has contributed many scientific papers in medical journals and the transactions of learned societies. General Hertzog.

The problem of the black laces in South Africa has caused most of that Dominion's. politicians considerable worry, and the latest pronouncement is Lliat of General James Barry Muimik Hertzog, the Prime Minister,. who h;;s evolved a scheme by which the black ■ aces will secure representation in Parliament, a scheme which he made known this week. General Hcrtzog-enjoys the somewhat doubtful distinction of being the one prominent politician in the British Empire who has frankly expressed a wish to see his own country secede. Born in Cape Colony, he went to Europe and studied for a time in Holland, and on his return practiced at the Bar at Bloemfontein, the capital at that lime of the Orange Frck State. When the Boer War broke out in 1889 he had been raised to the Bench, and at the end of the war he held the rank of General. After pence had been signed at Verceniging he returned to the Bar, and, in IEO 6, with the grant of Responsible Government, he got his chance, his party, winning an overwhelming success, at -the polls, and he' joined tlie Ministry under the venerable Abraham Fischer, who became .Prims Minister. For the last nineteen years General Hertr.og has been the best hated, and, .to be fair,.the best loved man in South Africa. With the coming of the Union in 1910 the scene changed and the actors regrouped themselves. General Botha became Prime Minister, and to him the British Empire stood for i something of an ideal, and General Hertzog entered his Ministry as Minister of Justice. For a session or two all went well, but Botha's Imperialistic utterances caused Hertzog to express the opinion that his leader was placing his country in a secondary position, and the. Prime Minister resigned. General Botha was immediately called upon to form another Ministry, and from the reconstructed Cabinet General Hertzog. was. omitted. i<'roni that day-, for twelve, long years, General Hertzog, carried on an implacable and unceasing war against his former chief, and since his death against General. Smuta, whom he last year defeated and became Prime" Minister. The man. himself is as interesting as his career. Tall and spare, well groomed, and with the national courtesy characteristic of the Dutch, he is not without considerable charm of manner. Mr. W. A. Craick. The Tecent treaty between Canada and Australia has excercised the thought of the most elert brrfins of both countries, and Canada already appears to regret the arrangements made between the two Dominions, Australia's protective -tariff being difficult to penetrated Last Suturday, however, Mr. W. A. Craick, i editor of "Industrial Canada," declared that a solution of tho p7 ioblem had been discovered. .Mr. Craick was one of the delegates representing the weekly and periodical Press of Canada, at the recent conference in Australia. He was born .it Port Hope, ■Ontario, in 1880, and is tho son of Scottish parents. He received ■jiis-higher education at the University of Toronto, graduating'in arts in 1932, imineciiately following which he became associated with the Maclean Publishing Company, publishers of trade and technical newspapers at Toronto, being the first editor of "Cnnnrlinn Printer and Publisher." Through this source.he became widely known among the newspaper publishers of tho Great Dominion us well as to the Press Association. Later on Mr. Craick became editor of the •'Busy M.iin'a Magazine," now known as "'Maclean's Magazine." 1" 1310 he. resigned this position and became a freelance, visiting practically all parts of Gaii.'ida ami willing artiulps and, stones for many publications .in Great firitain, ih« United Slates, and Canada. During this period he did ennsiJoralile ppfi^iaJ work fur the "CJlnbe." and the '.'Star," both prominent newspapers in Toronto. He followed this tip by becoming associate editor of tho "Ftn-i'ncul Pcf=l of'C n.irla,' 1 retaining' this connection until 1919, when lie"-w»» offend Wei needled i his i>re»ent position, • ■ ■ • '