A GREAT AUSTRALIAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20044, 6 September 1920, Page 6

A GREAT AUSTRALIAN.

f— MORRISON OF PEKIN. To pretend that you know Morrison, maintains Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Janies, in a “ .Nineteenth Century ” article on “ Morrison of Pekin,” was to affect tho impossible. It was even difficult to advance with him beyond- tho standpoint of a trusted acquaintance. In his association with Morrison on the staff of “ Tho Times,” Colonel James ‘‘ came under the ‘ spell of his manysided greatness,” and was “ inspired by his seriousness; elevated by his humour;, impressed by nis infinite capacity for taking pains; chastened by his manly dignity; delighted by his kindliness of character and love for children; terrified by his unerring memory; appalled by his cold judgment on men and matters; enticed by his peculiar vanity, and overwhelmed by his pride ih Australia and himself as an Australian.’* At tho zenith of liia fame, says Colonel Janies, Morrison was invited to meet Joseph Chamberlain. Seated opposite to' him at tho dinner-table was a distinguished admiral, who asked, “ Dr Morrison, have wo not mot before?” “Yes,” answered Morrison, “but it is many years ago. You were tho first lieutenant of a sloop in the South Seas.” “Ifut where did 1 meet you then?” “ Do you remember when your yards were fouled by the yard-arm of a brig in harbour? I>o you remember the dreadful language you used to the unfortunate A.15. who was sent up aloft tho foul? Well, 1 was the As doctor on a sailing vessel Morrison rapidly detected malingerers. When one shellback complained of counties? aches and pains lie filled a glass with every noisome drug he could find. • Thank you kindly, sir,” said tho hard-c-ase ” ; “ I’ll just take it for’ard, and drink it there.” “ No, you don’t,' saul Morrison. “I want my glass; you drink it straight clown.” _ When Mr Moberlcy Bell had engaged nun for 1 The Times, M he invited Mornson to dinner. “ I had to make a railway journey to come up to London,” he replied, “ and in order to pay for the ticket 1 had to pawn my dress clothes.” In one of his “ secret service” letters to " The Times” Morrison mentioned that under cover of darkness a secretary from one legation was entering anr by a. back window. He added: “It is not known whether hj goes there on diplomatic duty or for the purpose of .dalliance with the Minister's pretty maid-servant.” Morrison never turned away from genuine case of trouble. The number of “ lame dogs” that ho helped over stiles will probably never be known. Every day he entered in his diary a precis of conversation held in the course of the day. Many an inconsistency or inexactitude came to light when Morrison found it expedient" to refer to his “ Domesday Book.” _ With all his natural Astuteness Morrison had a certain childlike simplicity He was delighted when his portrait appeared on the cover of one of the Northcliffe magazines. Yet soon his humour came into play, and, referring to the alleged Glapham Common murderer, he said, “You don’t imagine that, ■lhe British.public will think it is Stinie .Morrison, do you?”