THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1948.
THE MAN WHO COULDN'T QUITE
1908 WITH THE BOYS
He manages a club in London's East Eng.
LEMENT ATTLEE was
Young Man Who Couldn't Quite. He couldn't quite win his house colours at Hailey- bury. He couldn't quite get a First at Oxford. He couldn't quite carn a living at the Bar. In fact, he couldn't quite make a success of his early life.
Yet he had been given the best could offer. Hiz education Britain father was a successful solicitor who raised a large family in Portinscrie- Richard, rond, Putney Clement
fourth con in 1883, was the born and seventh child. Every weekday father went to the City clad in top hat and frock coat. Every Sunday morning he led his family to church; the children went again in afternoon, and for eventong.
tho
to another church
He read poetry
The "staid, uninspiring and colourless" figure who occupies No. 10, Downing-street has reached the highest office in the Stato after years of failure. How has he done it? A now life of Mr. Attico tolls the story of his rise to fame,
1945-WITH THE OLD BOYS
He poses with his newly-formed Cabinet.
-1920-MR. ·
MAYOR
As Stepney's teader, he takes * deputation to sea Lloyd George Downing. streat.
The facts in 1 article cre aken from Mr. Atties, by Hou Jenicima (ffaine- mann, 128.00]
that In extensive
Four years later Attlee moved to Haileybury. He has described his publle schooldays as "on the whole enjoyable, though there were cod- siderable periods of black misery.
the bishop's succession of diocesan examination he was placed Attlee and a Mrs. governesses laid the beginnings of top. Clement's schooling. One of the formerly been Lord Irs
Randolph employed d
She con- Churchill's household.
her charge there, young demned
"extremely strong Winston, willed." Clement. It seems, was less unruly. He read poetry, Wordsworth ᏉᏁᎦ .
favourite his
author.
At the age of nine Clement went went small prep to a
school at Potters Bar. The two clergymen who ran it were keen on only two subjects: win his House cap either for rugger
and Scripturo.
Clement's Games repertoire of cricketing statistics soon became profound; less impressive
and
Games worship was then at its height. With a few exceptions no one was considered anything unless he was good at games, and the re- it was to create an inferiority com plex in the unathletic." Attice was falled to not good at games. He
and rugger in favour of bridge and hockey, billiards and tennis.
goidance of Under the casual
#
The overcrowding, the poverty. the accurity of life in Stepney
from hime Coming shocked family with a long social con- selches (blic of his sisters was missionary) Attice felt inipelled to take some action to right the squafor of the cominunity in which ho Hved,
Uphold by the spirit of revolt of existing order against the society which he found In his favourlie tomantle poels he turned first to the Fabians and then to the ILP. Most of us become Socialists through our hearts Brot and our heads afterwards. It was certainly so with The
inenbership of the Stepney branch of the ILP was less than a score.Atlee's inexhaustible supply Ume, fils integrity, his of spare superlof education, and his now. found reforming zeal, toon made him the outstanding ILP politician, h Elected branch the
a few months, hé at street corner
district.
a don who preferred hunts with the Bicester to tutorials with his pupils, Attlee fell under the spell of secretary after the Renaissance. "I admired strong, began ruthless rulers," he has written, "I professed ultra-Tory opinions. He
took a second-class.
Before Attico left Oxford in 1904. he had already decided to make the law his career, apparently hoping that his father's position would ease the way forward. After studying with
to speak
BY CHARLES WINTOUR
POCKET CARTOUN
by OSPERT LANÇASTER
"Honestly, br., Diutwurst, If you soln th the National Health Schamo #shalt never be able to trust you twitht my dreams again."
Mrs Rose Calls Him Somerset
By JACK GAVER
United Fress Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK.-"My wife," said
Billy Rose, "goes around the house calling mo Somerset.
"She advists me that I will be sure to havé a best-seller if the publisher gives away station wagon with each copy of the book."
Д
a Chancery conveyancer, he was called to the Bar in 1000
Atilce mado ELF even slower start than
barristers. .In most
stood for the three years he seems to have held meetings, twice
Soon he was in only
briefs; two
one of these, borough council.
Which is by way of indicat- was in the more general demand as a speaker, appropriately enough, Bankruptcy Court As his blogra- and addressed nearly 300 political ing that the mighty Rose hasn't pher discreetly remarks. "It was a meetings in four years.
of 1009 Attice single theatrical bee in his In the summer time when Clement Attlee's life was
He's too one of considerable leisure." Anally left the Bar and took a job bonnet these days,
with a a society run by the Webbs busy becoming a book author. to organise support for Sidney's
on the "I had a book ready about a famous Minority Report
Once when a speaker year ago," Rose explained. "I Poor Law.
some of up at a meeting of had collected
my failed to turn Liberal women in Bolton, Atteo
columns and that was going to deputised and gave an address on
be that. Then I got to "Birth and Infancy."
about how Inquiring around such compilations had sold in the past. Book people told me
Bored with inactivity he fought other pursuits. One evening Attico and his brother visited a boys' club in the East End supported by his old school. It was the first step to No. 10. Downing-street.
his firat visit,
#
His interest aroused. Attice was
evenings spending three
He soon left to become secretary week at the club. Two years after at Toynbee Hall, but that fob did soon
two years in which not last more than 12 months.
but he won
Attica Attico continual frustration.
was before on the actual field
College, asked to manage the club on a part-, employment
He time basis and a part-time salary,, unsuccessfully, of play, and falled to get his colours. Oxford,
Old Testa- dropped the classics in favour of He moved to Stepney and lived over and of the His knowledge ment, on the other hand, was so modern history. He dropped cricket the club.
After five years of a conven- his Iegal career Was marred by Nearly two years were to pass that even the best of them by
or cricket.
tional classical education went up to University
with
some
relict.
Vinegar
TO THE LAST!
Twenty months after his death he becomes the most talked-of man in America by lamming out
at his wartime colleagues—particularly "Glamour Boy' Mountbatten and those other Limoys'
THE man they nearly picked for General
T
Joe."
Ike's war job was General Joseph W. Stilwell, known to the world as "Vinegar
His official job was Commander of the American forces in the Chinn-Burma-India theatre. It was he who said so very bluntly: "We took a hell of a beating in Burma."
Now, although Stilwell is
British: renders in
by O.V.R. THOMPSON
MOUNTBAT-
A little later, though, Stillwell ac cused Auchinleck of plotting for his recall,
It is about EARL TEN, however, that Stilwell has the most to say. Lord Louls Mount- placed in
botten, of
course, was
command of SEAC, and Silwell was his deputy.
At first this: "Louis is a good egg ...fuil of enthusiasm and also of dis- gust with inertia and conservation. hot for the one happy Doula is family Idea, and is very cordial and friendly,"
Atflec found
come
again.
to
full-time
tried, the biggest name writers just "HO for n few Jobs, did moderately well if that.
the conclusion
that, without specific qualifications, "So, I threw the thing away one was always either too young or and started from scratch. Loo old."
In the Army.
Finally Sidney Webb pushed him
Of
in-
some using course, I'm cidents and characters from the old stuff, but it's a com- plete new job of writing with
into a port as lecturer at the London integrated chapters instead of
School of Economies in the new Social Science Department esta blished with the ald of money from an Indian steel firm.
just a paste-up collection."
TO PRINT 50,000 COPIES Rose is calling the book "Wine, Words." Simon and up as soon as Belgium was invaded. Women and
When war broke out Allee joined
away station
He pulled strings to join an active Schuster will publish it in October
will not give and unit, was
eventually promoted to command a company, fought at wagons at $3 the copy regardless of
Mrs Eleanor Holm Rose's Gallipoli, Mesopotamia (where he The publisher has ordered a first
wounded was regrettably,
printing of 50,000 coples, a aguro shrapnel
that exudes confidence.
by
from British barrage), and in France. His war career was not particularly glorious, but he did his best like millions of others.
advice.
writer
"This is a new racket for me and I don't know what is going to hop- pen," Rose cald. "But I know I'm biggest Attlee went back to Stepney after going to get some of the the war. The work he had done pre-publication stilling any there Was
not forgotten. His ever received. I'll get it through the colleagues-who, with good reasons, fact that Look magazine, which has still regarded him as a man of a huge circulation, las bought the leisure thrust spate of work on his thing for publication in eight install- shoulders. He was co-opted to the ments before the book comes Poor Law Guardians, represented Starts in June. Limehouse on an Asylums Board
"Being new at this geme; I didn't and, after
SCCUEC helping to
in the local think that sort of thing would do the Socialist victory
was elections,
book sale any good, but experts tell co-opted
Mayor.
I couldn't have done better. Freudly, fervently, he led a delega-Millions will be made aware of the lion to protest about unemployment book by this means, and a lot of in the East End.
out.
'After my scalp' FTER rumours reached Sulwell AF
that he was to be recalled he wrote: "Mountbatten is burned up. reels the doublecross himself, be-
them will be potential customers cause he'll have to work with a new
Other jobs avalanched upon him when it's between covers." man, Wants me to wall over and
He took to commitee work like a break
him in."
on the Dicky Ravel to its rap. He sat stuff.
committco of London
the Stile scalp. in China and he wants to
to
the get
Is
F
Up and up
The
ART BY DALI
dead he has suddenly become British hogging all the material; "Happy family the most talked about man in quite willing to divide ours wins (Mountbatten) was super-enthusins joint
There will be a jacket designed by America. That is because his but never any mention of putting tic about mixing us all up. Chinese boroughs, and on the board of the
fooled Dicky. He local electricity undertaking. He was Salvador Dalf, the wilted watch and politeness bas
chairman of the London Socialist crutch artist whose work long has heirs, with the best intentions, theirs in the put."
Stilwell had itle regard for the thinks they'll do everything." have just made public his
British Forces,
Just a few weeks later, though, mayors, a JP, an alderman, and a fascinated Billy, himself a collector which ho called
member of hls local of old and now masters. wrote: "Louis is ofter my leading Stillwell snooty. privato wartime diary.
I stand between him and Finance Committee.
Roso hired Dali to do a series of Whether they achieve their But what is most interesting intentions to clear his name Diaries is his assessment of
paintings to decorate the lounge of rid of me. The old double-cross
his Ziegfeld Theatre when he open- from the stigma of his sudden British generals with whom he came, strong. Louis is playing the
ed it with "Seven Lively Arts" back. and game
won't take recall from the China-Burma- in contact.
thorough apprenticeship In in 1945. Besides there will be about Indin theatre-is questionable. The Brat was FIELD-MARSHAL chances. All he wants is something
zerved him For these notes and fragments, EARL WAVELL, who, on Sulwell's which can be labelled a victory and local government which Attlee thus 36 Dall drawings scattered through
admirably the work. never intended for publication. Allied Commander.
arrival in the Orient, was Supreme if the Chinese can be left to take obtained
It on the nose so much the worse when he was elected to Parliament in
With production costs the way 1932. He rose steadily n disclose a man as brave as any,
for them and me."
they are now, Billy is just as happy "Louis trying sly Socialist hierarchy. Other phrases:
that he has not theatre production but also a bigot, a man of
"Saw Louis. Walla Walla. tricks."
In the election of
to 1031, when plans. As long as he manages violent views and of unchange- says of Wavell: "He mumbled He won't take command; doesn't nearly all his party's leaders, with keep a hit show as a tenant in his
HTM
"Louls welches the ono able prejudice.
exception of George Ziegfeld, which has been the case around, and I didn't get very know where he is."
were defeated, Attico over since he got control of it, he But because they are written in far." "As usual, mumbly and inde- on whole programme."
Stilwell inte." "He's not at all upstage, but
visit: The Lansbury,
equeaked home with 650 votes. His has no vinegar instead of ink the
worries. His ip diaries make fascinating and alco he's not what you'd call animated," Glamour Boy....doesn't wear well, grip on the Stepney electorate was Diamond Horseshoe night club. Infuriating-reading.
To hell with the old fool" Wavell and I begin to mous staff, endless buttressed against the landslide by rolling along in its seemingly auto-
more than 20 years' work in way. Stilwell did not like or respect weaseling (about amour Warm his stuff. Enormous
many of his wartime colleagues.
'Extrawdinry'
On a Mountbatten
He is in a constant state of anger euthave); just whining about aim Walla Walla, but damn little fight-district.
over
the
men
under
יד
the
resigned, into tho possible can-
Ана when Lansbury Attlee slipped quietly succession, the only
landlord
And so on. the delays, disappointments,
Curly eyelashes Alexander arrived, and the use of the word "Impossible" by Stilwoll wrote:
WIDOW HAS 164 lus superiors. But above all ho
OUIS has been up" (to the front) "Very cautious "but didn't like the smell of didate. By the time the 1935 elec- Long sharp nose. Rather brusque hated Chiang Kai-shok (he always
had been fought he Peanut), who was and stand-ofsh. Astonished to and the corpses. Louis and I get along established himself so securely that
had GRANDCHILDREN called him The
me-mere me, a goddam American famously even if he does have curly the man he was sent out to serve.
of
Greenwood Reedsville, Wis-All the residents However, even that bitter hatred trawdinry" Looked me up, eyelashind leg over his neck." And could dethrone him. His position as
Chinese troops. Ex-
"Louis, to put it mildly, neither Morrison: nor
in Reedsville call 87-year-old Mrs was momentarily abated whenever
had just crawled out from
|Leader, was no longer open to John Novak "Grandma,” and with Stilmell thought the Chinese leader rock.
a: Gnally
"Did you see Churchill's speech challenge.
Bood
reason. Mrs Novak has 104 was twisting the, British Lion's tall. British For Stilwoll, although of
Then again: "Alex says he now about Louis's great campaign in What brought this staid, unin-grandchildren. understands perfectly and we will Burma? They apparently felt spiring and colourless figure to the ancestry, was bitterly and Brukh.
Descendants of the widow include necessary to pump a little prestige leadership of a powerful party, and 74 grandchildren,-88 real-grand co-operate alongside each other." British hogging - Alex chills me Jos now. Alexan- into him."
ultimately to the Premiership of So it goes on-page after pago great and historic country?
children and two great-great-grand- THE war-the American war, that der impressed me
ambition, children. Sixteen of 31 children of Not Not brains.; whom Sulwell had apparently-con-
Certainly
Hi Mrs Novak also are living. not oratorical force. Blatt admiration was Llout-General
of integrity, sticking power, Birthdays for Mrs Novak on her been S WILLIAM BLAM, but the period gifts
· GLA
sucking
is was hardly a day old, and lot of moral support out of being. Stilwell thought the Chineso leader around us. His own.
times and after Alexander had
as he usually called us, sometimes are in constant deep gloom
1
for
.
་་་་
with a salty adjectivő is weltinextransferred, to Egypt Stliwell had of their closest association is not waspish wit and an unquenchable | anniversary aco no one-day; affair. "He did not like Churchili becajiler bölibent on réceiving nows of covered Intha diaries. Therenze thirst for commuted work worn by Despite the large rämbling country.
according to Billwall, he had hypage
house all lives in, tho Novak clan tiend "ouf Boy," Rousevalt, into let à Rommel Bush Poof Farold but two references to him: "I said it no means exceptional ting Britain hor all the Lease-Lond GENERAL AUCHINLECIC: "If Slim could command the Limeys It was too much spare time in could not etsin uelf inside all at It would work fine." "Good old his twenties that sot Clement on the once. The celebration takes A give the Auk a free hand and it woul NEWrote Sillwell from Washington In
paths to"tame."" hooo sarly days! "Disgusted with the real authority logs will look up.. Bilm
"they.
む
whole month.
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