"OUR FAMILY AFFAIRS."

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5666, 21 December 1920, Page 5

"OUR FAMILY AFFAIRS."

TRIBUTE'; TO A WONDERFUL , u-, ■■■ ■ -MOTHER.

. Mr, E: F. Henson's new-book, “Our Fahiily Affairs/’ has jtist been pub-lished.-L His 'father, the Archbishop ’of" Canterbury, “E.F.”, describes as ■outwardly stern, and subject to frequent fits of morose'melancholy, due to physical causes; but’his ipother was wonderful. f He 'writes:—She was great friends , with' Mr. 'Gladstone . v 'and, I believe it is' authentically " told ’ thdt when once •at Ha warded there was.discussion -as to ■the‘.identity .of the .cleverest woman in.;England/ 'and', someone, .'suggested my."mother, belaid/ih : ‘that 'impressive voicepr'einforbSd by the forefinger, ‘.‘No*, you’re wrong//..she*’s the.lcleverest woman in Europb/’'... And again: ' •.?•" ' ' V . Did ever any other mother at the age of 40 run so violently .in playing that strenuous game, caflled .' “Three knights a-riding,” - that she broke a sinew in- her leg ? . Mine did • . • • Though my father knew that liis chaplains smoked (sometimes kneeling in front'of the grate to simulate devotion and get rid of the smoke), it never entered liis head that mv mother smoked. ./.'/■ ; . • . She did; ai|d once after a journey to' the Riffel Alp, my mother, racked witli headache,; sat down on a rock . . and as soon as tho-family’s back was turned slid whispered, “Oh, give mo a cigarette, Fred.” I- • • was only possessed ,of a/reeking clay pipe and some tobacco. . But I filled and ■ lit it for her, , and 'there;.she _ sapsmoking her clay pipe like a gipsy Woman.-/ ' *