MR BURNS HIS OWN FOOTMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10638, 14 April 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR BURNS HIS OWN FOOTMAN.

_ o

The new President of the; Local Government Board has lived for some years in the lower half of an unpretentious house on Lavender Hill, Battersea, and his family consists of his Avife and boy. Mr Burns is his oAvn footman (says Mr Robert Donald in the Pall Mall Magazine for March) and in that capacity is kept busy when at home. During my visit he was continually ansAvering the bell. All sorts and conditions of people seek his advice.

First tliere Avas a call from a Avoman who had Avalked from Hackney to knoAV if she could get help from the Unemployed Fund. Then a local politician looked in, and Avas no sooner disposed of than a ring announced another -visitor, Avho turned 1 out to be a sturdy tramp Avith a suggestion to shoAv hoAv the President of the Local Government Board could begin a division of his salary. A municipal official next came, seeking advice, folloAved by a Avoman avlio wanted to get her daughter out of a County Council asylum. And so on, a neA'er ending procession of visitors, to all of Avhom Mr Burns opened the door.

He has led a simple life, and, since he began his public career, a very open one. He has ahyays been a teetotaller and a non-smoker. He has never been seen Avith an umbrella or an overcoat. He has a poAverful physique,, and has alAvays enjoyed good health, although he has lived all his life in Londonf except for the one year he spent in the SAvamps of West Africa. His reefer jacket and boAvler hat are still serving him as a right honorable member of the Privy Council and as President of the Local Government Board.