FROM MORLEY TO MUSSOLINI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17564, 15 June 1925, Page 10

FROM MORLEY TO MUSSOLINI.

LADY OXFORD’S BOOK OF RECOLLECTIONS. .Lady Ox lord iias won the baltle> to be considered a clever woman, with one 'of the most vivid personalities of on v times, in her own right, and one hears less to-day than formerly of whether it is embarrassing for a leading statesman to have such a wifely companion, says the “ 'Westminster Gazette.” In these further recollections, which go back to 1891 w*th a diary of a journey io Egypt with a family party, and which contain impressions of America in 1922. Spain in 1923, and Italy in 1924. Lady Oxford continues to make the chief character in. her book herself. There is a keynote, to all her life of the confession she makes that “ T know something about youth, ns the Tennants are a race apart, not because wo are specially clever, learned, famous or amusing, hut because we have Iho truth of this in her own caso is illustrated by the charm of the Egypt diary, which, written before she was married to Mr Asquith, has the same ruthless and engaging candour about men and things one finds in the very latest of her pages. Thus wo have a characteristic, note of her father on a visit to Milan Cathedral: “I’ap.-i. spoke at the lop of his voice while all the people were praying. I have corao to the conclusion that he has really immense moral sentiment, a. good deal of artistic sentiment, and no religious sentiment whatever; awe is unknown to him.” THE AMERICAN TOUR. laird Milner was then working in Egypt, and there are many glimpses of intimate walks and conversations. She talks of discussing modern politics with Harry Cust, and the Rape of the Sabines with Rcnnell Itodd.

The shrewdest note in. this diary is a, forecast of the future of John MorIcy in politics: ."'niis summer M. dc Vogue raved about liun to me— if you cau imagine the praise , ot so stiff and grave a man being called raving. I can quite eeo how thoughtful French men must be struck by Morley; bis austerity and licaltliinoss must almost wound the majority of them, while exciting their highest admiration and respect. He looks at life from a height, quietly, objectively, and a little greyly. His philosophy steps in between liim and political power. He larks faith. There is a thin veil between his principles and his.personality. One knows—-without asking why—that bo will never be Prime Minister.” The American lecture visit seems to have been a trial of nerves, arid she found addressing large audiences a considerable ordeal. But her sense of humour survived every difficulty, and sho confesses that on one ocassion she was relieved when an enterprising lady shouted from Ihe gallery “You got my money for nothing. Good-bye, I have had enough of you.” She had stage fright in Boston, and does nob qualifv hot* strictures on Prohibition. She interviewed President Harding and cx-Presideut 'Wilson, and wei4t on to Canada, where she found the Canadian Prime Minister *• a man after my own heart, shrewd, straight, modest and cultured.” Marriage crops up frequently, and Lady Oxford records that in Ottawa she lay awake- all -‘night, wondering what she would have felt like had she married a Governor-General of Canada or a Viceroy of India: "L came to the conclusion -that only men of a certain kind of vanity and ambition, or animated by the highest sense of public duty, could ever be found to fill these honourable positions.” SOME GOOD TALKERS. Obiter dicta of this kind strew every page. Speaking of conversationalists, she wishes sometimes she had known the English King who never smiled “ because gravity has more charm than looks for me in people, and some or tho wittiest men ] hav c ever known seldom laughed ” —Lord Rosebery, Godfrey "Webb, Sir Charles Bowen, tho Marquis dc Several, Raymond Asquith, Teixeira do Mattos and others. Lord Rosebery seldom laughs, she says, “but lie has the most beautiful smile I ever saw." She regards Mr John Burns as one of the best talkers she has ever met. Other good conversationalists ciri d are Lord Moulton, Lord Morlcy, Robert Louis Steven son and J. A. Symonds, and Ihe Master of Balliol (Jovveit) made the most appreciative and caustic comments on what was In. personal portraiture and descriptive journalism there is nothing in. this book equal to the famous sketch of General- Booth, but her hour's talk with Mussolini in Italy has many penetrating touches. Her conclusion I have an uiibcelamourc.fi mind, and bare seen 100 many pocket Napoleons ami public favourites to. l>o easily imposed upon -, but t left the Palazzo Cliigi feeling 1 had seen a very rare man.” Yes. Lady Oxford again justifies herself as a. member of the journalistic profession, of which she can be such an unsparing critic when site likes.