HOW STATESMEN KEEP FIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16675, 20 October 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW STATESMEN KEEP FIT.

> VARIOUS ■'. RECREATIONS. - ; Sir William Robertson's belief that the General Staff's: ability ..to cope with all its tremendous'..problems' is very largely 1 due to "'■". keeping fit" makes the recreations of our statesmen,; on whom, the brunt of the war also falls. heavily, interesting reading to men who are suffering from War. nerves and fatigue, probably because they, do not "keep fit." -'''■' ( ;■ '.With golf Mr. Lloyd George has maintained': his fitness' in face of . the hardest mental work. ' Give him a day off and he takes, riot. to his "club,' but to his clubs'. •' '% Golf :is also "Mr/ Bonar : Law's favourite exercise. 1 But his joy : is a' 1 game"of "chess— in which, among amateurs, he is a master. ■ The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Eric ;' C. ~; Geddes, -proclaims ; his favourite recreations as shooting and golf. But he says .ho has .played .very'littlo'sinco'vhe was ■ 17, and. not at all for . the last three ,years. : . ; ' ;■/■,. .;;-;;: :.. Sir.Edward Carson's physical recreations are officially stated to' be riding, golf, and cycling.' •;, v-, _ ■-, - ■ _ : Lord ■■ Devonport divides his recreation between shooting, gardening, rowing, boating, and yachting. Lord Rhondda, who was very useful with his fists at Cambridge, now finds the dearest f delight .of his spare moments • in i farming. .' ' . 'Therein he resembles,. another Welshman, v Lord Justice ' Vaughan Williams, ! who at a house party of his said to an intimate friend : " I don't know what you I would like to do, but I am going to spread manure." /• •,'.;.:;. . ■ i ti The : Speaker of , the ' House of Commons is fond of a bout with the foils. ; ;; The late Mr. : Chamberlain did \ not be- ' lieve in : the ' necessity/, for any exercise ; : beyond, watching orchids grow and smoking strong cigars, 'arid he remained very fit up to a good : age; but .Mr. Gladstone attributed his fitness to systematic treefelling, and Lord Roberts remained young beyond the ordinary limits by the excellent open-air exercise of hunting. Sir ' Edward Clarke, ' a true veteran, drills with, the volunteers. The Lord Mayor of London believes in a good walk.