"THE GLOOMY DEAN”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 106, 6 May 1929, Page 11

"THE GLOOMY DEAN”

RECREATIONS WHEN YOUNG LONDON, March 19. The Dean of St. Paul’s, when the guest of the evening at thc annual dinner of the Sylvan Debating Chib, was challenged by Mr Cecil Harmsworth to reveal his> recreation. Air Harmsworth pointed out that thc Dean was the only one among the 20,000 celebrities in “Who’s Who” who did not say what was the nature of his recreation. He was referred to as “the gloomy dean,” but Air Harmsworth thought of him rather as a witty humorous being, a theologian, a scholar, a mystic, and a trenchant journalist. Dean Inge replied:—“l used to play both cricket and lawn tennis with moderate success, but now I am about to enter my 70th year I am confined to potter along thc Embankment.” He said that thc English were a truthloving and honest people, and added: “We owe our present predicament to this characteristic, that we arc so simple-minded and honest. Ever since the war we have been doing our best to promote the cause of peace in the world. Wo have even gone to the length of paying our debts, which nobody else has thought of doing. In consequence, we are in a very bad position as compared with our brilliant neighbours in France.”