23 NOVEMBER 1929, Page 5

His popularity • as a " character " in this

country was indeed so useful that he is believed to have been instructed by his Party managers never to offend the law suffici- ently to get into prison. He established several newspapers, including The Star, T. P.'s Weekly, and M.A.P. Much of his writing was light-weight stuff, genial anecdotes and personal reminiscences, but it all served his cause, though for some reason or other it never enriched him. It can fairly be said that few men who have suited their work to the popular • taste have so charmingly disarmed criticism.