A LETTER FROM LONDON

Northern Advocate, 8 July 1925, Page 8

A LETTER FROM LONDON

NEWS AND NOTES. (Special to "Northern. Advocate.'') LONDON, May 21. LORD MILNNER'S DEATH. The news of Lord Milner's death did not come as a surprise to his friends. As a matter of fact, all hope was abandoned some days ago. Even if he had recovered, the terrible complaint from which he suffered would have left him infirm in mind, if not of body. By his death a great and solitary ligure disappears from the public stage. Lord Milner was in, but not of, what is known as the governing classes.A strangely aloof figure, he.. , inspired , the passionate devotion of thosfe wh.o came into immediate contact with him, and yet, curiously enough, strangely repelled those - who met him superficially. Therej are men, like Lord Balfour, who are universally loved. Lord Milner was loved by some; intensely disliked by others. ■

' "DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES.^ His. famous '' Damn the consequences" when' he exhorted the Lords to deal drastically with the Parliament Bill, has often been quoted against him by his enemies, who pictured him as a Junker of the worst type. The son of a German father; born in Germany; cradled in Germany; it was natural that they should Seize on such a designation. His early training did in some degree tinge all his- after life. The Germans are the best-disciplined race in the World. Lord Milner expected to find the same discipline prevailing in those circles wherein his life-work lay. He was iconoclastic. After the fateful interview in South Africa, President Steyn. turned at the door and remarked: "You understand—if this is your decision, it means war!" "Let it be war!" was Lord Milners laconic response, as he stood with his hands behind the tail of his coat."

<< SPLENDIDLY POOR.'' - When his peerage was conferred upon him, Lord Milner could adopt no territorial designation. He had no es- ' tatea. Sis sole habitat, at that time was, I believe, a couple of rooms in St. James'. As Mr Joseph Chamber- ■ lain magnificien|ly described it, Lord Milner came back from South Africa "a poor man —sple«4i4jy poor!" During the later months of the War he was a member of the i««£jr circle of the War Cabinet, and it was. he who was sent over France to reconcile the differences Foch and Haig. He undertook (fjUio a private mission to Russia whicfo delayed, if it did not ultimately prevent, tha break-up of the Russian Empire,

A LONDON VIGNETTE. TI-o London season has nTvnr.-* -n real most: Wembley is once more drawing myriads to town and '' everything in the garden is lovely." For the re t we "are getting traditional April vreather in the month of May. The .days are quickly alternating panoramas of sunshine and. shower,-but the air holds its guerdon of summer, and the birds lave nested. I doubt whether our London parks and gardens will ever' look beiiutiful. Summer 's riotous .Colouring already begins tti green, lawns of surpassing freshness, and everything, has the heart-srwelling magic of pristine youth. The limpid sunshine sparkles after each warm shower on a world' powdered with diamond dust. And the nights ar£ ravishing. Looking westward up Cannon Street to-night the dome of St. Paul's and the tower of the Old' Bailey were silhouetted against a cloudless apple-green. sky, deepening down to velvet-blue* right overhead, and away in the south-east, «above the shadowy roofs, an ivory-silver moon hung like a Persian magician's lamp. Poor men who lack half-crowns for the Royal Academy may admire that masterpiece, from, the top of a 'bus for a penny!

ADMIRAL STURDEE. It is said much for the personality of the late Admiral Sturdee that two men of such varied character as "Charlie" Beresford and "Jacky" Fisher gave him their devoted friendship and something more than professional regard. It was a sure instinct which prompted Lord Fislier to send him racing out to the Falkland Islands to hunt down the enemy's sh&gs under von Spee. How completely he justified the trust is a mater of history. Yet to meet him casually you would never have imagined that Sturdee was a great scientific sailor. He had a whimsical "schoolboy" grin that was misleading. His own story of how just prior to-the Falkland? action ht piped all bands to a. good dinner and was then "ready for a fight," is typical of the man. A sticker for detail, I have seen liim stop suddenly in one of our naval ports to direct ratings engaged in towing a barge—to the concision of a dignified flag lieutenant following in his wake.

DERBY SWEEPS. While everyone is complaining of the shortage, of money, there seems no lack of funds -where; Derby sweeps .are concerned. The usual lengthy Bsts are now making their appearance in the club smoking rooms, and so grea/t is the rush to get tickets that, in some oases, these lists have already swollen to a length never known before. The prizes are worth winning, the first generally running well into four figures and that, too, at an entrance fee of onlv £1 Is. There are curious traditions about these club sweeps. Almost invariably the winner turns out to be a very rich man to whom a thousand pounds or so is a mere bagatelle. Even if you draw a mere outsider you get a consolation prize of £10 10s. There is less temptation, therefore, to imitate the clubman who drew an outsider, o-a-ve it to one of the club waiters and learned a few days later that the outsider" had actually won.