MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE RIVIERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE RIVIERA.

- " Nevertheless,' he is still very ill. The, ex-Minister cannot ■:■ walk unaided.. ; •: These bright spring mornings local- peasants see him-leaning f heavily: upon the supporting arms •' of < his daughter, and his nurse, -walking up and down the road outside the (house. Often he does not get further' than the entrance gates. It is a pathetic figure, and whatever one's - political opinions one's sympathy goes out to this once strong man overflowing:with vitality, in his time of weakness and dependence. However, sun, air, and rest are slowly working wonders, and improvement is steady. Every afternoon, after his hour's walking exercise in the morning, Mr; Chamberlain-goes for a long drive, usually accompanied by his wife, daughter, and nurse. A pair-horse landau - from the only livery 'stable at? St. Raphael goes, up to fetch : him regularly between two and three o'clock, and he remains out till sundown. " •

"Mr. Chamberlain is delighted with the country, and seems to chafe much less at his enforced inaction than might be' expected. '- He is confident of his ultimate recovery and return to politics. He does not rise early at Valescure. ' Friends are 'coming down to visit him at Easter. -They will not stay at Villa Suveret, however Mrs. Chamberlain has engaged rooms for them, at the hotel ■ near by. ; The ex-Colonial Ministerwho, by the way, is always spoken of by the villagers as Monsieur le Ministre — stay • at.Valescure until the end of April."' ■■ . l ,

The special commissioner of the Tribune, at, St. Raphael, Vol., contributes an article on . Mr. Chamberlain's life in the Riviera. After describing the ■ ; place, the writer says' : — ' . , J , ; ,",^li, J .Chamherlain sees no one but his family, and his servants. His life is, indeed, almost that of a hermit, and he. imposes the manner of living on his nine servants, of whom only two are English. I learn j that Mr. Chamberlain is certainly better than he was a few months ago. The three weeks he has spent at Valescure have done.wonders. His lace has lost the grey-ish-yellow hue',, the haggard and worn expression it had when he arrived on the Riviera. I met him driving out one afternoon, and was struck by his healthy complexion, the alertness and energy displayed in his ; eyes, which seemed just as; keen as of old. Mr. Chamberlain was conversing in ah animated way with his companions. There was nothing of the invalid about him.a ■:•" >-"•.'■'■"• - : y' : ' - ■:■ '