SIR JAMES BARRIE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20615, 14 January 1929, Page 12

SIR JAMES BARRIE.

WHEN HE REFUSED TO STAG'D FOR PARLIAMENT . Sir James Barrie’s refusal to stand for Parliament mgre than 20 years ago on he ground that ho had ‘ grown into a hermit” is disclosed by Lady Pentland in her ‘Memoir of Lord Pentland” (Methuen), says the London Daily Mail This js a sympathetic account of the career of a distinguished Liberal politician, who during the war was Governor of Madras. In -I? 05 ’ kord Pentland, then Mr John Sinclair, suggested that Sir James (then Mr J. M.) Barrie should contest a Scottish university seat. The dramatist wrote In reply; “The universities would have been an ideal seat if I had been able to stand at all, but X am convinced it is wiser s 1 should not. Public life would be too much out of my line. I have grown iuto a hermit. Politics is a great and fine calling, but it is not for me.” Lord Pentland was a Liberal Whip in the House of Commons, and later held office ns Secretary for Scotland. In this memoir Lady Pentland has sketched a chapter of political history.