Letters to the Editor
[In view of the length of many of the letters which we receive, we would remind correspondents that we often cannot give space for long letters and that short ones are generally read with more attention. The length which we consider most suitable is about that of one of our paragraphs on " News of the Week."—Ed. SPECTATOR.] LORD KNUTSFORD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,-I know that you will not fail to record the nation's loss in Lord Knutsford's death. May I add a little to your words ? He was the most dauntless man that any of us could have known. In his youth he proved his physical courage more than once with his fists against odds. His moral courage was such that he leaped to meet difficulties and dangers from the day that he began to reorganize the Poplar Hospital to the days through which he shouldered the vast responsibilities of keeping the London Hospital not merely from falling back but unceasingly progressive. The newspapers will be full of stories to illustrate him as " Champion Beggar " and so on. But he was much more than that, even if the title conveys, as it should, the wonderful and universal confidence that he inspired in the thousands who entrusted their money, much or little, to him knowing what good use would be made of it. In praising his work for the London he would certainly prefer that we should say that Miss Luckes and Mr. Morris, the House Governor, made up a quite incomparable trio; and this is no disparagement to the present Matron or to the host of doctors who have served the Hospital. And in estimating his courage no one should forget that all his work was done under a handicap of deafness that might have excused any man from public work.
His work as a Director of Dock Companies, which first took him to East London, has become past history since the rise of the Port of London Authority. But the part he played in the great Dock Strike at once made him a very well-known man throughout the East End. His chief War work was another piece of hospital work. He started and steadily enlarged the Special Hospitals for Officers, which saved the bodily and mental health of many men suffering from nervous shock.
He was always a passionate man in the best sense. Injustice to the defenceless and the sight or thought of curable pain roused in him the unconquerable passion of a Christian Knight, and no St. George inflicted more wounding blows on " the Worm " that is allowed to ravage this earth. Of course he enjoyed his work ; no man could have done it day in and day, out for a life-time unless he took pleasure in doing good, unless he could have fought evil and suffering with a :zest, unless, too, he could have faced horrors with a sense of ,humour behind him. Through his mother .he was descended prom Sydney Smith and he had a very ready wit. What !could have been quicker than his ready answer at a Hospital 'meeting to a crusty critic, who asked whether it was true that the Committee had sampled a gift of sherry sent by King Edward ?—" Yes, Sir, it is true, and do you suppose for a moment that we would give to the patients what we would 'not drink ourselves ? " The mention of King Edward recalls the real friendship, much more than acquaintance, with which he was honoured by the King and still more by Queen Alexandra.
At Royston he took the part of the good neighbour to everyone about his home. It is an illuminating comment on what some of your correspondents write about sport, that this life-long and devoted scourge of all kinds of suffering, was amongst the keenest of deer-stalkers, game-shots, and fisher- men. His friends were legion, of course, and found in very curious quarters, partly from the ex-patients of the London. They included criminals of whom he used to tell us surprising tales. He would have made an incomparable Governor of a gaol," His wife and daughter can count upon as wide a sympathy as anyone in the world who suffers such a loss.
He died'-fittingly in the London, which the doctors insisted on his entering for his Operation. The East End is always sentimental, and in this matter it is most deeply and genuinely grateful to its benefactor. One can think of nothing that will stir emotions there to such an extent as the death of this good friend in the place he made for fellow sufferers.—I am,
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