SIR GEORGE REID.

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1911, Page 2

SIR GEORGE REID.

Sir Georg© Reid must have determined 'before ne arrived in London as the -first Australian High Coiiimissbner, to capture the Press and maJke a name as an after-d-ainer speafcer. He succeeded beyond the anticipations of im Australia. He was wise enough to realise that it is not oratory — unless it fee of the incomparable Rosebery order — that counts at -Big gatherings in London, but brightness wit, and humour. Before many weeks were over London sub-editors had marked Reid as "good copy." Among (brilliant men of all professions he stands out as a man worth listening to at any time. The London corres pbnde'mt of ' 'the "Sydney Morning 'HeraW" describes a. speech he made to one of the most critical audiiences an England — at the midnight farewell supper to Mr. H. B. Irving on his depatrture for ' Australia. Dozens of the most prominent ,men in art, law, and polices were there, yet a famous r K. C. 'cOuld be heard whispering to a fr'end "You wait till Reid speaks: "?hat will be something worth hearing. ■Sir George described an "experience of his own with; an amateur drama- ' ix: sociiety in his early 'days, when in "carrying a dead man off the stage, he became entangled with the scenery. "Before Sir George was half-way through that story he had the whole <-oom rocking in their chairs-nove]ist s barristers, party leaders, nearly 'helpless with "laughter. He led them on, only a consummate artist couJd do from comedy' 'to^'tragedy. The laughter •suddenly* stopped — he was dealing with the awful fire in the Empire Theatre. Edinburgh, the night (before. Se swayed that audience from one extreme to 'another— led them through laughter almost to tears and back n their level spirits again." A few weeks ■• later 'he -fnvited la num-ber of uotaWe people, including many London editors, to meet the Federal Ministers. His tasikl in commending the chief guests -to the assembly was sot easy; as the "Daily Telegraph." correspondent, says, utteratices of this knd asre usually rather painful. But by a cunni ng .mixture of banter and seriousness Sir George made the introduction mo sat enjoyable. He chaffed the Secretary of State for the Colonies, .and the Lord Mayor, and he made amusing references to various d'sibmguvshed Colonials, in the throng. Of his experiences in aDpering- ibe.fore ilVIr Just-tee Cohen he said : "My law was always righit, of course, hut he always seemed to get into trouble when he followed it," and there must have been loud laughteT at these words : — 'I have a dm sort of recollection—perhaps yon will confirm kif I.any correct— that I was in active poetics in Australia at some time or other— but all that. I was active ous desire to obtain possession of things which do not seem meant for ynu . ha , 'Ms aprear ed. ' ' This lain d of thing, puts; on good •terms with Australia, which are a preliminary, to friendship.