TRIALS OF PUBLIC LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 19953, 24 August 1928, Page 5

TRIALS OF PUBLIC LIFE

Last mouth Glasgow conferred the freedom of the city on Sir Austen Chamberlain. Tins reply oi the recipient possessed a human touch that charmed Ids hearers. Talking oi the joys and work of public lito, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said : “To have been in public life for forty years perhaps excuses some rellcctions on a public career. There are moments when wc are vexed by some passing incidents; at suck moments i have collided to my wife that it is a dog’s life, and that I don’t know why 1 submit to it. And then she says, when 1 suggest that with my books and a little bit of garden i could bo very happy, that I. might bo so for six months, but that alter that X should weary of my leisure. 1 once—and this is, perhaps, a warning to the younger among you against indiscretions in moments of expansion—l once in our early married life told my wild a story which 1 owed to the late Lord Bailoutof Burleigh. There was an election in his county, and he was sitting with the committee ol the Conservative Association, running over the voters’ list and marking otf the proclivities of tho people whoso names were enrolled. They came to ‘.Jock Somebody,’ and one of the committee men said, ‘Oh. dock’s all right; ho told mo lie is to vote for us.’ ‘ But,’ said another member, ‘Sandy told mo that Jock said to him that ho was to tote with them.'’ Then they wondered what Jock was really going to do, and at last somebody suggested ; Does no one know his wife; he probably tells the truth to lierf And, having found a volunteer, limy said, ‘Go and Unci out what he is when he is at home.’ The volunteer went to see Airs Jock, ami. having passed the time of day with her, ho duly asked his question. ‘ You want to know what my man is when ho is at. home," she said. Well, he’s a nuisance; that’s what, ho is.’ Yon sec what great effects from little causes spring. I told this story to my wile sonic, two and twenty years ago, and whenever 1 show a tendency to seek release from public duties, she says— AVhat! and ho a nuisance at home! But. after all, if I have these moments of weariness and distaste. J can, nevertheless, say, after my long experience, to any young man or woman who is thinking'of the possibility of undertaking public work, that it is worth while, that tho more yon do it (lie more interested you become. If there arc moments of disappointment, still tho work is profoundly interesting; ami 1. think T may add, in the light of my own experience, that a rich and generous reward awaits anyone who gives holiest service according to their measure.’’