SIR ROBERT HART.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13917, 31 May 1909, Page 3

SIR ROBERT HART.

THE LIFE-ROMAXC'E OF A ORE AT

I'KO-COXSII

Perhaps this book takes us as near as wt* are ever likely to get to the reminiscences of Sir Hobert Hart. One tamies, indeed, that it is his apologia for the autobiography which we should all have liked him to write, but which personal modesty and reasons nf high diplomacy forbid. Short of an autobiography there could not have been a more interesting account of Sir Robert's life than this l»v. his niece, who has had every opportunity of studying a. great man and his great work. Rightly "the outstanding note is the personal one, because in personality there lies the secret of every career; and that of Sir Robert Hart is here illumined by many an intimate touch of character, many an anecdote. Rightly, too, the word "romance" is used, for in this sense we have a story to be mentioned beside that of Sir George Grev, the most romantic figure among our Victorian pro-consuls. ' The Irish boy, what will be become? Mrs Bredon's annals of the early years of Sir Robert Hart are almost a natural preface to what follows, or so, with a knowledge of what did follow, they seem to the reader. The simple heart, the clear head, the strong mind —yon have only.to. put them in the setting —the human setting—of China and her problems, half a century ago. and you see the Appian Way which. Sir Robert Hart was to drive through the history and progress of that country. No part of Mrs Bredon's narrative is more interesting than where she writes of the Tai-Ping Rebellion, of "Chinese " Gordon, and of Li Hung Chang, because Sir Robert also played his part ill the settlement of that affair, and we feel as if we were hearing his version of things, new lights for old. It is historic Gordon's quarrel with Li Hung Chang for executing the Tai-Ping princes who surrendered after the takTng of Soot-how. But what happened following the execution is told bv Mrs Bredon with new detail and colour: . , "When Gordon heard of it lie was as angry as only a passionate nature such as his could be. Ihe idea thathia unspoken word of honour to helpless prisoners had been broken tor him made liim' mad with fury. Out into the citv lie went, revolver in hand, to look for Li, and to avenge what lie called the " murder." His sense of his own guilt was certainly morbid; morbid too, was his treatment of the head of the Xa Wang, which he found exposed iu ail iron lantern oil one of the citv gates. He brought it home, kept it for days beside him, even laying it on his bed, and kneeling and asking forgiveness beside it. The Xa Wangs son he adopted into his bodyguard. No father could have treated his own child more tenderly. I believe, not once, but a dozen times, in an afternoon, he would turn to the boy and ask wistfully, " Who are you:-" receiving the same soft answer, "I am -your soil,' each time with the same pleasure. . Sir Robert Hart was called m to make peace between Gordon and Li Hnng Chang: . "Li promptly explained his action, by justifying his policy from his own point of view, and finally ended by saving, 11 Do tell Gordon I meant to" do it; I meant to keep my word as to the Princes' safe-conduct; but when I saw those fellows come in, with tht'ir hair long, the very sign of rebellion, and only wearing the white badge of submission in their buttonholes, 1 thought it such insolence that anger overcame me, and I gave the order for their execution. But it was ijjv doing, not Gordon's; my sate-con-duct, not Gordon's, that had been lated. ..." At the close of the rebejlion the Chinese Government wanted to suitably reward Gordon, and unsuitably offered him a sum of money. Furious at being treated as what he called "an adventurer," he chased the messenger who brought the offer,out of the camp. Marvelling at the ruin who refused money and not knowing what to do, the Chinese ."turned to the "I.G." — the Inspector-General of Maritime Customs—and Sir Robert "sounded" his friend:

••Tell Wen Hsiang" (then Premier), was Gordon's answer, " that though I have refused the money, 1 would like a Chinese costume." Accordingly, by Imperial Decree, a costume was sent him, and, on Hart's* suggestion, the famous Yellow Jacket was added.

SECRETS OF POWER. OO O* Bv this time Sir Robert Hart was himself firmly established in the regard and confidence of the Chinese. It there was a difficulty to solve —especially a foreign difficulty they naturally turned to him: " What is your secret power of settling a difficult matter:'" a friend once asked him. "* Whenever I deal with other people, and especially with Chinese," was the answer, " I always ask Myself two questions: what idea that I "do not want them to have will my remark suggest to them, and what answer will my remark allow them to make to inel-' r But the habit of deliberation had awkward consequences once anyhow. At a soiree a charming lady came up to. Sir Robert with a rose in her hand: •'May I offer you mv moutonniere saidi she, smiling. The mere fact of a question having been asked him suddenly put him instinctively upon his wuard; an uncommunicative look :>pn ad over his face, and to her horror and his own subsequent- amusement, lie answered, "I should prefer to consider the matter before answering." Away back in 1875 there was a " Margery affair"—the murder of one Margery, a Consulate interpreter — which threatened serious complications and even war between England and China Sir Thomas Wade was our Minister in Pekin then. and Sir Robert Hart missed hini trom church on a particular Sunday—a Sunday when a Bishop was preaching. Surety something wry unusual iiad —surelv the "Margery affair" had become' dangerous! He promptly called on Sir Thomas Wade and found that—- " Blacker clouds than ever obscured the horizon; war was as near as riesh to boue. Luckily, the I.G. saw at once that tfie new contretemps was due rather to accident than design. A misunderstanding of Chinese d.spatches —which are always open to several translations —had given Wade a wrong impression of the lorce ol their contents and the 1.G.. accordingly begged permission to explain the point at issue aS Two S hours later the Minister came completely round tc his view, antl the critical moment was safely pasv \ hi>h service, you see, and this book puts"us on the track of many so rendered. THE SIMPLE LIFE. Frequently we meet Li Hung (.nang —meet him as nil individual as well as a statesman. Sir Robert Hart liked Li's household because of the simplicity he found there—no wearisome courses at dinner, but fish and perhaps a dish of chicken with rice. Incautiously, as it turned out. he praised this fru«aht\ to his own Chinese writer, for the remark reached Li's ears in a distorted form. Nest time Sir Robert went there he had to i'aee a grand, ceremonial banquet: ■ You shall not have the chance to eo away asain and say that > ou have freen. fed like a coolie in my house."

said tlio Viceroy proudly at the end o". tin; banquet. •• Xevertheless, the very simplicity of your hospitality was what L most appreciated," the I.G. replied. "Hut it' you believe that I could have made any such remark, and if you persist m altering the style of my reception, I sh-ill not come to lunch with vou again."

The story of the siege of the British Legation at Peking during the Boxer troubles is near enough to be within easy 'memory. Sir Robert- Hart, of course, was in the Legation, and the " most important" message lie got out of it was —what think you:-'—one to his tailor in England: "Send quickly," the wire read, "two autumn office suits, and later two win-t.-r ditto, with morning and evening dress, warm cape, and four pairs of boots and slippers. 1 have lost everything, but am well. We have still an anxious fortnight to weather. —Hart, Peking, 5 August, 1900." A startling message alike to the Chinese who read it in Peking beiore it was put on the cable, and to those who heard of it in London —a quiet message with much meaning, and therein characteristic of the sender.