LORD KITCHENER AND THE LADIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 173, 10 October 1908, Page 8

LORD KITCHENER AND THE LADIES.

«A Perfect Beast."

'Few people would suspect, to look at Lord Kitchener, that he was 58 ; yet it is a fact that the Indian Commander-in-Chief was born as long ago as .June 24, 1850, and, therefore, entered on his 59th year the other day. Before he was 21 Kitchener joined the Mobiles of Dinan m the war against German^, and took part m a balloon ascent with two French officers. One of the legends which have gathered round the man is that before consenting to , participate m the South African campaign he made a stipulation that he should be allowed to hang any man he pleased. "That is just like Kitchener," said a newspaper. The story Was not true, but the comment, gives the popular conception of the famous soldier. Though it is- highly probable that Lord Kitchener will

DIE AS HE HAS LIVED, A BACHELOR,

he strongly .. resents the oft-repeated remark that he is averse to the society of the opposite sex^ He considers, however, that they are apt to take up too much of a soldier's time. A short time ago, while m Calcutta, he sent for an' officer and .told him ;he wanted him to go to Bombay to do some hard work for three months or so. "How soon can you be ready?" he asked. "Oh, m about a week ; I will ask the wife to start packing at once." "Oh, but she is not going with you," retorted Kitchener. "I said I wanted' *you to do some hard work, you know." It was left to one of the opposite sex, by the way, to give Lord Kitchener the most caadid

-■ OPINION OF HIS CHARACTER he has ever received, and he tells the story with great enjoyment. A tennis party had been organised for one afternoon at a certain small, hill station, and the 'whole of the officers practically hoped to be present. Suddenly, to the . general consternation, Kitchener ordered a parade of the whole of the troops of the garrison the. same day. ' On the night before the day fixed for the party a young lady who knew him rather well went up to him and asked him if' it was true that the parade was really Nto bo held. f 'Quite true," replied Kitchener, half-suspecfcing» what was coming. "Had you forgotten the ' tennis party ?■" demanded the girl. ".No, not m the least," was his blunt reply. "Well, I think you are a perfect beast,!" she exclaimed angrily, as she stamped her foot and turned away.