St. Loe Strachey
By Amy Strachey The SPECTATOR is publishing three extracts, of which the second appears below, from the memoirs of St. Loe Strachey by Mrs. Strachey. St. Loe Strachey's editorship of the SeEcrwrort and his personal qualities and position brought him into contact wit' h the most important people of his time. The book from which these extracts are taken is shortly to be published by Messrs. Victor Gollancz, Ltd., and is an indis- pensable part of the history of this period, and of special interest to all readers -of the SPECTATOR.
A VISIT TO AMERICA.
"As soon as we landed, we received a letter asking us to stay with the President and Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House for two days."
One day we journeyed to Tuxedo, our first sight of a typical smart American settlement, complete with its club- house, etc. We hmehed near by at Ringwood, New Jersey, with Mr. Abraham Hewitt, who, having recently been Mayor of New York, was always known as "Mayor Hewitt." His firm made munitions, and he told us marvellous stories of the part he had taken in providing cannon during the Civil War and of President Lincoln's recognition of his services and readjustment of the finance. Did anyone pay you ? ' the President asked him, and he modestly admitted that patriotism had been his sole reward."
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"At last the day dawned when the long promised visit to NVashington was to be paid. We were told to come by a train arriving some time after six o'clock in the evening. . . . We ought, of course, to have put our evening garments into our hand-bags, but being innocent travellers we imagined that our luggage would be delivered by express within half an hour. . . . With just ten minutes to spare, the trunks were brought in. We both got ready in frantic haste, and I had just fastened my last hook, for it must be remembered that clothes were much more elaborate in those days, when a knock at the door warned us that the time had come for us to join the company. I don't mind saying that I was petrified with fright. We were shown into a room where a single gentleman was rocking comfortably with his feet in the fender. It was the President, and his start of welcome and cordial words—' I am very, very glad to see you '— removed even my shyness in a moment, while St. Loe felt that he had met a friend whom he had known all his life. A large State dinner followed. There were many members of the American Cabinet, foreign diplomats, and other personages. After dinner I inquired anxiously as to the ' proper etiquette, and was told that all the President would allow was that the company should stand up when he came into the room and not sit down till he did. The only other members of the house party were a German diplomat, Baron Speck von Sternberg (I think he was on a special mission), and his wife. I have a feeling that she addressed him as Spec,' which always made me turn round because we had already begun to call St. Loe Ed. Spec.' whenever we wanted to tease him. There was a great question as to breakfast. The President breakfasted at eight ; Mrs. Roosevelt and Baroness von Sternberg felt that bed was better than this. But I knew that there would be most entertaining con- versation at eight, and I determined to get up. I hope I was not in the way, but on the two mornings we were there, I sat at breakfast all ears. The Alaska boundary was the subject of conversation, and after breakfast the President ushered St. Loe into his business room. A most amusing episode followed, which St. Loe told me before lunch, and which he has touched on in The Adventure of Living. The President Was eagerly talking to him, when an ambassador, I think the Italian, was ushered in. St. Loe offered to Withdraw, . but the President said, No, no. Stay where you arc.' Presently one after another the members of the Cabinet appeared, and before St. Loe knew where' he was, the President had sat down at his table and begun a Cabinet meeting. St. Loe really did not know what to do. Finally he whispered to Mr. Hay; the Secretary 'Of State, The
President has not dismissed me ; but don't you think I had really better go ? ' Mr. Hay bowed formally, and St. Loe tiptoed out of the room. At luncheon he apologized, saying perhaps it was a breach of etiquette to go before he was dismissed, but that he thought the President had forgotten his presence. My dear Strachey,' said the President, 'you acted with perfect tact, perfect tact.' " I * * * 'To return to the White House, my real difficulty was to induce the President, in going into the elevator, &c., and walking about, to remember that he had to go first. On one occasion, when he and St. Loe were specially deep in Alaska, we all stood by the elevator for five minutes, until at last the President said, What are we waiting for ? ' For you to go in first, sir,' said I. 'Oh,' said the President, • I never can remember that I am not free to behave like a gentleman ! ' "
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"Apart from the cementing of St. Loe's friendship with Mr. Roosevelt, which had a real effect upon his life, we had a most delightful time in Washington. The Secretary of State and Mrs. Hay, whom, as I have said before, we had known in London, were most kind to us. Not only did they ask us to a large luncheon, but, what was even more interesting, we dined with them almost alone."
* * * * "Mr. Roosevelt wrote to St. Loe in February, BM, directly after the General Election : I was particularly interested in what you said about your own politics. Of course, I can only speak to you in the strictest confidence, and I may bs guilty of indiscretion even thus. But I quite agree with you about Mr. Balfour. I thought that on free trade and protection he was trying to ride two horses. I have seen many politicians here at home sufficiently dexterous to succeed, at any rate for a considerable time, under such circumstances ; but I have rarely seen such success tell for the good of the country ; and Mr. Balfour's great qualities do not prevent me from agreeing with what you say when you express the hope that democracy will always exact a heavy penalty from the statesman who will not speak out and give a clear lead. I have the heartiest sympathy with the Duke of Argyll's fondness for the leader who meani what he says, and moreover means that what he says shall be understood. As for protection and free trade, I am confident that protection would be most damaging to Great Britain. As regards the United States, I think I once told you that I am on this point rather an economic agnostic. We have certainly prospered under protection, and I have seen the prophecies of the free-traders so utterly fail of fulfilment during the last thirty years that I am inclined to treat the matter as one of expediency purely. I again agree with you about the labor members, and I am glad to see so strong a representation of the laboring classes. I confess to a feeling of envy that it is in England that we first see a labor man a member of the Cabinet. I would give much to have a labor man in my Cabinet. But it would be worse than useless to put one in who was not fit for the job, and there isn't any labor man here who stands in any way as John Burns stands with you. I have in my Cabinet, and I have in the highest positions in the Diplomatic service and in many other positions, men who were at one time labouring men, who toiled with their hands for wages ; but they have all long passed that stage. All that I mind about seeing so many labor members in Parliament is that I do not like to see any party based on class distinctions. I want the Representative to be not the Representative of a class but of all classes. I do not want him to be primarily a labor man any more than I want him to be primarily a capitalist or a lawyer or a merchant. I am also interested in what you say of Edward Grey ; and somehow when you say that he is a Radical Whig you make me feel as if I could get on with him ! We earnestly hope that you will both be over here next year.'.".
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