the days of my life-第111章
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ds a year； and with Becky Sharp who remarked safely that in these circumstances it was easier to be virtuous！
I worked hard on that Royal mission。 During the five years of its life； indeed； I only missed one day’s sitting； and that was because the steamer from Denmark could not get me there in time。 Shortly after the mencement of its labours I was nominated the Chairman of the Unemployed Labour and Reclamation mittee； which involved a good deal of extra； but important and interesting； business。 Also I was the Chairman of two of the tours that were made by mittees of the mission to inspect the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland； during which tours I am glad to say there were no differences of opinion or other troubles； such as have been known to arise on similar occasions。
When we had been sitting about a year； finding that there was not really very much in the Coast Erosion business； which had been somewhat exaggerated； Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers and I approached Mr。 Lloyd George one night at a dinner party and suggested that； as had been originally proposed； the question of Afforestation should be added to our Reference。 This was done； and some experts in the matter were appointed to the mission。 After this we investigated that great subject with much zeal and； being pressed by the Government； presented an interim Report。 It was drafted； with the assistance of course of our clever and industrious secretary； Mr。 Grimshaw； of the Board of Trade； by the Chairman； Professor Somerville； and myself； quorum pars magna fuit my extremely able and learned friend； Professor Somerville。 We presented a scheme for the consideration of the Government； under which； had it been adopted； enormous areas of waste or poor land in the United Kingdom would in due course have bee forests of great value。 Needless to say it was not adopted； it’s fate was the fate of my Land Settlement Report； minus the appointment of a mittee to “knock the bottom out of it。” The fact is that the venture was too sound and quiet to be undertaken by a Government of party men who look for immediate political reward rather than to the welfare of the country forty or fifty years hence； especially when； as was likewise the case in my Land Settlement Report； the immediate finding of large sums of money is involved。
Also the inevitable critics arose。 Gentlemen who thought that they ought to have been on the mission； gentlemen who thought that they ought to have been called as witnesses； gentlemen who honestly disagreed； shouted aloud in the accustomed chorus； and in the end the thing was practically dropped。 Which is a pity； for it would have worked well in the long run and proved of great benefit to the United Kingdom in those ing days when the timber supplies of the world will run short。 Also it would have given a great deal of employment on land which now uses but little labour。 However； I did not feel its failure in the same way as I had felt that of my one…man Report； since now I shared the responsibility with about a score of distinguished persons who had unanimously made our futile remendations to the Crown。 It was one more piece of； to all appearances； wasted work； that was all。 I must say I do not wonder that many officials bee slack and remain well content to do as little as they can； seeing what are the results which overtake those ardent spirits who show themselves guilty of trop de zele。 Cold shoulders and rapped knuckles； these are their portion。
After the funeral of our Afforestation scheme we proceeded to examine more coasts。 I wonder if there is a groin or an eroded beach on the shores of the United Kingdom that I have not seen and thoughtfully considered。 Amongst other places we went to Ireland； where； as the Chairman of the mittee； I examined all the southern coasts of that beauteous isle； also a fine variety of inland swamps which it was thought possible to reclaim。
It was a very interesting experience because of the number and different classes of people with whom we came in contact as we journeyed from place to place in motor…cars。
I found the Irish the most charming and attractive people that I have ever met and the most inprehensible。 What rather disgusted me； however； was the mendicant attitude of mind which again and again I observed among those who gave evidence before us。 They all wanted something out of the Government； and generally something for nothing。 I remember growing enraged with one witness； a most shameless beggar； and saying to him； “The fact is； sir； that after the British Government has given you the horse； you expect that they should feed it also。”
“Shure； your Honour！” he answered； quite unperturbed； or words to that effect。
As I was dressing one morning at a Cork hotel； I received a telegram informing me that King Edward had died during the night。 We did not leave Cork till ten or eleven o’clock； but up to that hour； although the news was well known； I saw no indication of public mourning。 No bells were rung； and no flags flew at half…mast。 This may have been mere carelessness； or it may have been — something else。 That day； when stopping under a tree to shelter from a heavy shower； I fell into conversation with an Irish farmer of the humorous type； and told him the sad intelligence。 He reflected for a moment； then said； “Is that so； your Honour？ Well； he’s gone！ Let’s thank God and the saints it isn’t us！”
On the other hand； the same tidings moved an old woman in a wretched shanty in Connemara literally to tears。
“And it’s dead he is；” she said to me。 “Shure； he was a grand man！ Never a week but he sent me five shillings with his own name to it。”
Further queries elicited the fact that this old lady believed that his late Majesty personally posted to her five shillings each Monday morning； which she drew at the Post Office in the shape of an Old Age Pension！ Hence her loyal soul。
On my return to London I saw King Edward’s body lying in state in Westminster Hall； and afterwards watched the noble panorama of his funeral from the upper balcony of the Athenaeum。 Thomas Hardy and I sat together； there were； I remember； but few in the club。
The great military pageant of the passing of the mortal remains of King Edward brought back to my mind that of the burial of Queen Victoria。 This I saw from the house of one of the minor Canons； which was exactly opposite to the steps of the Chapel at Windsor。 The sight of the gorgeous procession passing up those steps impressed itself very deeply on me。 The bearers staggering under the weight of the massive leaden coffin that yet seemed so short； till once or twice I thought that they must fall； the cloaked King Edward walking immediately behind； followed by a galaxy of princes； the officer； or aide…decamp； who came to him； saluting； to make some report or ask some order； and received a nod in answer； the troops with arms reversed； the boom of the solemn guns； the silent； watching multitude； the bright sun gilding the wintry scene； the wind that tossed the plumes and draperies — all these and more made a picture never to be forgotten。 And now； after a few brief years； the mourning monarch who formed its central； living figure passed by in another coffin； himself the mourned！
A few days after the funeral I met at dinner one of the physicians who attended the late King during his last illness。 He told me that he did not think that His Majesty knew he was dying； and that no one informed him。 He thought that the King believed that he would pull through； as he had often done before。 When it was suggested to him that he had better not see people； he answered； “It amuses me；” and that he did not want any “fuss。” This doctor was of opinion that there was nothing in the story that the King had worried himself over the political situation； as he was “not that sort of man。” He died because his heart was worn out； for he had “warmed both hands at the fire of life。” He did not seem to be spiritually troubled in any way； though he kept “all the forms。” He added that on the day he died the King smoked a cigar。
Whilst I was still engaged upon this mission I undertook another piece of work。 One day General Booth sent an officer to me to ask if I would write a report upon the social e
