“WHO’S WHO”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25208, 24 April 1943, Page 4

“WHO’S WHO”

Not Winston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill nor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, not Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin nor Peter Fraser, not Adolf Hitler nor yet Benito Mussolini, claims the longest biography in “Who’s Who”' for 1943. Indeed, there are Roosevelts who take more space than the President, and there are mere heads of musical institutes and of private schools who demand more indulgence of the reader than either the head of the German State or the self-claimed Capo del Governo and Primo . Ministro of Italy. Since death removed the challenge of Dr M. R. James, the record rests easily with Dr Nicholas Murray Butler, sometimes yclept “ Nicholas Miraculous,” of New York. There are a few who keep Dr Butler on his toes, carefully recording his fresh honorary degrees, new grand crosses and further memberships of learned societies. Sir Harry Brittain has found time, in the intervals of shooting, ski-ing and “ pursuing the simple life,” to assemble more than a column of directorships and public-minded activities, and M. Joseph Bouchor, official painter to the armies of France in a more glorious day, a long life productive of much art; but few exceed the column and none comes dangerously near the two columns which Dr Butler requires to place himself on record. The paper shortage has dismayed him no more than it appears to have daunted the Messrs Adam and Charles Black, whose most famous publication is this year bigger again than ever. On the principle, perhaps, that we should know our enemies, “Who’s Who” admits no distaste for a person who has been publicly branded by the British Prime Minister as a monstrous abortion of hatred and deceit. Herr Hitler, it appears, had a rather more distinguished educational record with rather less of paper-hanging (or, as it is genteely recorded, of supporting himself as artisan in the building trade) than popular fancy allows. His favourite sport is not, apparently, as Mr William Shirer would have us believe, chewing the edges of the carpet, or, if it is, Herr Hilter does not confide the fact. Indeed, here at least he is moderate in i his claims, and almost disturbingly normal in his conduct, even to remembering that his telephone number is 11-6191. Perhaps less modestseeming are the statements of men not so celebrated. There is the baronet, for example, who declares blatantly that he captured a spirit at the headquarters of the Spiritualists, in 1880; the judge of the Ckinty Courts circuit of Worcester and Hereford, an admirable jurist, no doubt, and an excellent husband and father, who still cannot resist claiming “ what is believed to be the world’s record for trout killed on dry-fly.” Spare-time activity which leads a man, and a judge withal, into such controversial realms as this is to be lamented, especially when it is compared with the Italian Duce’s uninhibited violino, equitazione, automobilismo, I and so on; the moderation of I“ a little bridge ” which is enj joyed by the commissioner Bhag- | alpur Div., Bihar; and the prol priety of the recreations of the i professor of English literature in the University of London, who indulges in walking, the Record. Office and detective stories. But even while, in a time of trial and tribulation, “ Who’s Who ” allows its contributors and readers such varied and pleasant excursions, the grim note that is war enters its pages. The obituary list is abnormally long, with more than a few eminent Service names. The essence of tragedy is compact in the entry of a distinguished first baron: “Heir: 'none (his grandson, H. H. Hirst, ! died on operational duties with the i R.A.F., May, 1941.) ”