VAGABOND IMPRESSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2628, 9 October 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

VAGABOND IMPRESSIONS.

BRITISH FAIR PLAY

(By FRANK FOX (the well-known Australian journalist, in the “Daily Mail.”)

The “coldness and reserve” of the English character, the bleak fnliospitality of England to the stranger, are two misconceptions I had .-to abandon very quickly. It is I think, a fairly general impression in Australia that within the charmed circle of English hospitality one may bo very barmy indeed, but the difficulties of entry are enormous, the preparatory ceremonial rites protracted and burdensome. The idea takes its origin probable in the notable difference between the Briton abroad and the Briton at home. Abroad something —it may be shyness—'keeps the Englishman aloof, reserved cautious, of making or accenting advances towards acquaintanceship. At home the Englishman is truly a lordly host and he stands not on the order of his asking, but asks. (I do not speak—it is perhaps not necessary to explain—in this matter from experience of official hospitality such as that extended recentlv to members of the Imperial Press Conference, but as a mere private individual having no official or delegate standing whatsoever.) In London I found drifting back to me vaguely the story of one of the great English Crusaders. He was entertained at Constantinople by the Grand Turk, and invited him to dinner in retrain. That was counted rather presumptuous. and the TJrand Turk arranged that nowhere in the city should the Christian be able to get firewood. It was- in. the depth of winter. The Englishman ruined his fortune, but saved the name of his race, by buying up all the walnuts of Constantinople and using them for fuel. There does not seem to have been since any radical departure from that tradition.

BRITISH HOSPITALITY

To another aspect of British hospitality I had my attention first drawn by a crowd of omnibuses and drags outside Buckingham Palace. I learned that the grounds of the King’s palace had been that day thrown open to the public. Subsequently I ascertained that to a large extent the royal palaces thus welcome the people as guests, and that the great houses of the nobility, which have fine collections of paintings, are in very many cases treated as semi-public" institutions. This shows a fine public spirit and that feeling of common patriotism between classes that I noted before. Tt must be 'largely ameliorative of discontent arising from The Englishman docs not at all suffer i from an uneasy sense of dignity. In the ' ordinary relations! of life he does not j seem to worry about matters of pre- j ccdonco. From several experiences of j speaking for the National Service League I have personally felt the ■embar-! rassment of being in a friendly way forced to take precedence of men of noble service; on bne occasion, in particular, when there were present the brave general who led our forces in the Burma campaign, a distinguished Indian administrator, and one of the most noble of the young men of the Commons who is said to be marked‘out for the next Ministry, But no protest was allowed: “You are the visitor, and you have come to help our cause,” was the argument. I had to give way, or rather j take way. I fear that in few other communities would such a spirit be possible. It marke the true type of greatness which knows there is no need to be assertive; which forbids small jealousies. DEGREE OF ALOOFNESS.

But I have noticed in some business relations a degree of aloofness, a tradition of inaccessibility which is a little disconcerting and must also be bad for business. Of course, the heads of various concerns cannot let the street flow through their offices, and men who are very notable must guard their time against the intrusion of the merely curious. Ido not refer so particularly to them. It is the smaller business man, the little official, who seems to be difficult to approach by the stranger who has or may have business to do with him. Yet I should say that for the man who has still some way to make in the world, whether in commerce, in journalism or in any of the other professions, the more he comes.into contact with the general public the better for him. A hermit policy may help coolness of judgment; it must mean loss of opportunity. Extraordinary fadr-mfainded is the British spirit. The! tradition of sport seems to be carried into all sorts, of social and business relations, and what “isn’t cricket” is generally reprobated. The passion indeed, for fair play is carried almost to excess. To give a man a chance, and a second chance, and even a third chance is the general feeling.

This interferes a little, I should say, with national efficiency in some of the sterner tasks of life; but it is very ad-

inirable and suggestive of a good reserve of strength. It is the feeling of a man who considers that ho can give away a point or two and still win, THE SENSE OF FAIR-PLAY. A by-product of British fair-play is a curious sort of generosity towards old favorites. I was much struck by a conversation on Trumper at a well-known club luncheon table in the early days of the tricket season. I had hazarded the opinion that Australia should not play Trumper. “who had seen his best days.” “Mr. Trumper, sir,” said an old army man at the table, “it a great cricketer, though he is in bad lucl< now. I should play Mr. Trumper if I knew he would not make a run.” The table generally nodded approval. I can understand and admire the psychology of this; but it is/a feeling which can be carried too far. At an important meeting I noticed an attempt to “sit on” a man who had intervened, with the best intentions and some- good cause. It was curious to note how in the audience a ripple of sympathy, went round for the victim. Nothing evidently could have been more useful to him than to evoko on his side British fair-play. In the English character, so far as 1 have- been able to judge it in the mass the- point for criticism I have encountered is a certain lack of wjrat oneunight call elan. It is evidently an excellent character to sit down in a trench or doggedly to fight for a position inch by inch; but a little infusion of the Celtic spirit of “rush” would seerii. to my Australian mind, improving. The times move more quickly nowadays, and sometimes things have to be done in a hurry, decided in a hurry. But, after all. one cannot have 'the ideal. Perhaps with more elan there would bo less doggod,iiess—and so a balance of loss. (To be Continued.)