The Son of Lord Birkenhead Speasks of His Father.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17679, 2 September 1929, Page 6

The Son of Lord Birkenhead Speasks of His Father.

"I am completely dazzled by my father! I feel about Lord Birkenhead just as I 'should imagine any stranger, any member iof the public must feel—that he is quite pjtp;6 remarkable to be possible. , He is always a glowing, spectacular figure in my mind, but at times he seems to ■me,aw entirely fictitious character —acme!body one reads about in a favourite look. Occasionally I have to say to myself: "The Birkenhead that people talk about is really the pater!" f\ Thefirst remark that I ever remember Jlim addressing to me was when I was about four and a-half. I was learning the alphabet, I think, when he said to me: tr'Look herd. Be a stout fellow. Don't let them give you any work to do unless you jlay an equal amount. Think you can remember that?"

had worked. I raised an awful rumpus, and she wanted to punish me. I rushed to my father that evening and told of the punishment I was to endure—standing in a corner, I think it was. "Don't!" he said. It was the first time he had ever given me any advice, and as I look back on it now, I see that he was as serious with me as though I had been an important client who had come to him when he was at the Bar: I can remember his adding: "She can't do a thing." How characteristic of him.

Funny as it seems, that little episode was the beginning of my companionship with my father. It had shown me his point of view. He would always take me seriously. He would never preach. He would be vexed if I weren't allowed plenty of fun. I associated him in my mind with pleasure, and as a result I have felt, and always do feel, a sense of pleasure when I see him approaching me. Then he began to teach me games. He is a great sportsman, and I liked all the same sort of things that he did. I was brought up without any dogmatically religious ideas, and since small boys usually require a. deity, my father became mine.

My nursery governess, later, for some Treason, wouldn't let me play so long as I

One thing that convinced mo very early in life of my father's real understanding was the fact that he never preached. He treated me, even when quite a young lad, as a person who had an individuality of his own. . I think he considered it as indelicate to criticise over much, or to try to probe into my mind, as he would had I been any elderly gentleman and not one of the family at all. I have always felt grateful for that.

I think the one fault with which he has no patience whatever and the only one, perhaps—is a want of energy, a lack of effort. He can forgive stupidity and mistakes more easily than anyone I know, more'sympathetically, too. But he simply r n't any use for a person who doesn't try. It is the ambition, not the fruits of ambition, that my father admires.

I am ambitious, more ambitious, I suppose, than most young men—just because my father's admiration give:-, me a different kind of thrill from any thing else and I can't afford to miss the sensation. I'm going to study for the Bar, and beyond tiiat nothing definite is arranged for me in the way of a career. But whatever I do, it's jolly well got to be a success, because I couldn't face him if I were a failure, although he would be the first person and the only person to whom I would go were I ever in trouble—trouble apart from failure, that is. Everything I have ever attempted, and, so long as' he is alive, everything I shall attempt, will be done with the object, quite deliberately, of gaining his admiration. I don't care two straws what anybody else thinks of my work. I feel that when ■ I've got his opinion on any subject, it's the last word. It's so "difficult to say what I think of father, when I think so many different things at different times. Sometimes I see him as the great legal luminary in the country distinguished for. tho greatest lawyers in the world. Sometime I see

' : , HIS HATRED OF HYPROCRISY.

Frederick Winston Furneaux Smith, son of Lord Birkenhead, r< cently came of age. One of his godfathers is Mr Winston Churcl ill. "People say lam exactly, almost uncannily, like my father m at my age," says Lord Furneaux in an interview published in tb "Cape Times.'* "That's encouraging, for if I look like him, perhai I am like him, and I ask for nothing more," ~,^^^- ihmMBlW *.:'.ui:.,..

him as Lord Chancellor, sometimes as Sec' retary of State for India.

One trait in my father's character which: has influenced mo strongly is his capacity for friendship. As a youngster —I think' it was during my first term at school —II had a row with a chap who had been my' friend. Ho had really done me an injury, i As usual, I confided, during the holi-: days, in my father. I said that I didn|t; know what to do, cr how to punish thisboy. ;-'■ j My father looked at me in honest be-, wilderment. His remark wasn't meant as, a lesson. But it turned out to be one. I had seen another side of my father's complex character. "Once a friend, al-, ways a friend," I realised was one of his; basic principles. . He is like that. A marvellously genial: acquaintance, he gives his friendship but] rarely. When he does, it is for life, re-1 gardless of what may occur. J As a matter of fact, he is not a raanij who needs a great many intimate friends.! I have an idea that he does not care for] too many ties. He is essentially a joyous. f>erson who likes to be free to spend the! ittle time he has in amusement, w

I am a little like that.' I try to dis-' cover occasionally how much is inheritance and how much is direct influence, but T can't tell. lam quite sure that -none ofthe family is so active by temperament as we appear, and that our "busyness" is due to . father's insatiable desire that we should achieve success on our own merits. Should I have a son in years to come, I hope I shall be able to make him, desire, without any direct action on my i part, to rouse my interest as I desire to, rouse my father's. It spells limitless ambition and very painful effort at times, but I think it's better than being a shadow. How one jumbles up the present and the past! As I say that, I recall how, in my preparatory school days, we had a rather sanctimonious master, who was presented to my .father. I can remember how my father squared up his shoulders and throw out his chest, as though the mere contact with con t gave him a sense of physical restraint that was uncomfortable. Scorn for Hypocrisy.

That was my first introduction to his scorn for hyprocrisy or cant. I could read him even then, and I saw that dislike as plainly as though it had been a conoits&tj thing. * ; lie is just the same now. But I never see him make that gesture without recalling my "prep." schooldays, and the glory - of nis visits to me there. ' It is difficult when you belong to a man of Lord Birkenhead's calibre not to become a mere shadow of him. That's the thing I must struggle against. For that. reason; I'm glad that I went to i school.; away from him. It would be impossible - ' to develop much individuality with so, powerful a personality in continuous con- j tact; with you. ! , People say that I am exactly, almost \ uncannily, like my father was at my' age. That's encouraging, for if I look , like him, perhaps. I am like him, and in that case, I ask for nothing more. That's what I think of father!

Mean smokers? Yes, we've all met them, though, (fo:tiraat.ly), they're in the minority. . There's the chap that begs a fill, a generous one, and then (absent-mindedly) slips your pouch into his pocket. There's the joker who finds he has left his purse on the piano or something and borrows a bob to buy baccy with. You can kiss that bob good-bye. You Ml noveir see. it again. The cadger will smoke any sort, but prefers National, Tobacco Co.'s goods. Shows his good taste. This tobacco i s the purest and freest of nicotine of any. Unequalled for flavour and bouquet, too. This is largely because it is toasted, in which respect it differs from all other tobaccos. It is, in fact, unique. There •are various brands. Those most asked for are: "Riverhead Gold" (a mild and delklious aromatic); "Cavendish" (sporting mixture); "Navy Out No. 3'' (a delightful blend .of choice leaf) ■ and "Cut Plug No. 10" (a fine, rich dark, full-flavoured-sort the old smoker will especially appreciate). Remember all are toasted and therefore safe; no bite, no after effects.* 34