Two Notable Figures.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 13, 8 November 1904, Page 3

Two Notable Figures.

Now that so much is being said of the British Navy, in connection with the complications with Russia, a brief sketch of two of its most striking figures may be of interest. LORD SELBORNE.

Lord Selbome, " the Kitchener of the Navy,” is only forty-four, but lie has filled the most important position at the Admiralty—that of First Lord—since 1900, having risen thereto through offices of State only less important. He was a Winchester boy who went to University College, Oxford, aud took his B.A. with a first-class in history. Since 1885 he has been in Parliament, first as a liberal for East Hampshire, then as a Liberal Unionist for the same constituency, and afterwards for West Edinburgh. His appointment immediately

preceding his promotion to the Admiralty was that of Under-Secretary for the Colonies. Always recognised as a man of marked ability and ah excellent organiser, as First Lord he has more than proved his worth and fully justified his selection. Lord Selbome is a tremendously hard worker, but takes care to find time, more or less, for open-air recreation. As a boy and young man he devoted his energies principally to cricket and football, playing for his college at Oxford in the former and gaining his colors at Winchester for the latter. But, his cricket and football days being now over, be seeks recreation in most other outdoor pursuits from cycling to hunting, except golf. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. Lord Charles Beresford, appointed to the command of the Home Squadron, is a typical British sailor, breezy, jovial, ready to go anywhere and to do anything at a moment’s notice. Fifty-eight years of age, he entered the Britannia in 1859, was made commander in 1875, and captain seven years later. With the gallant little Condor his name will over be associated. The part she played in the bombardment of Alexandria made her commander’s name famous from that day forward, and earned for him the famous signal from his Admiral, "Well done, Condor /”

When Lord Charles first entered the House of Commons in 1874, he was a young man with all the exuberance of naval youth, and even the solemnity of Parliament could not damp it. There was a certain aged inember at that time who, suffering from gout, was in the habit of taking off his boots during debate and going off to sleep, relying on the noise of a division to wake him in time to vote for his party.

Lord Charles could not let such a chance slip. One evening, the old gentleman having completely dozed off, he crept stealthily towards him, and hid one of the discarded boots. Then the bell rang for division. Up jumped the gouty member, pulled on one boot, searched wildly for the other, and was at length compelled to hobble into the lobby with “ one shoe off, and one shoe on.”