The Premier's Early Days: Election Impressions: A New Burns Memorial: R. L. Stevenson Memoirs From Our Own Correspondent.
Edinburgh, Nov. 8.
Perhaps nowhere is Mr. Bonar Law better known than in Helens-burgh, the pleasant wateringplace down the Clyde, within easy reach of the city of Glasgow. The Helensburgh folk always prophesied a great career for the quizzically enigmatic young man who taught in Sunday School, lectured and debated in his church's literary society, and played game—all with rare skill. In the Helensburgh days, Mr. Law's face of masked boredom at any social gathering brought many a smile from those who knew him best. Bored he might be, but he was observant always. Watching some bridesmaids flitting around, at one of the many weddings he so dutifully attended he remarked thoughtfully, head wife to one side, 'I understood these maidens should be identical in garb." So they are," replied the mere woman beside him. No, for I observe the buckles on their sashes are of different patterns.'""
Mr. Bonar Law was lazy about turning out to concerts and parties (social, not political, in those! days), but he was extremely alert! in catching the early morning train to Glasgow, which he dubbed the! "Strivers' train." The next was the '"Thrivers,'" and the 9 a.m, belonged to the "Arrived." It was char ristic of the mao that, when his fellows classed him among the "Arrived," he would be found! hastening to the train of the "Strivers.""
Op Sunday mornings, the Bonar Laws evidently revelled in there} being no Strivers' train to catch.; They were certainly in time for} church, appearing with the utmost: regularity, between the close of the voluntary and the entry of the clergyman. It was a full pew. Once upon a time, in a church hall in Helensburgh, the Prime Minieter gave a lecture on ''Success.''; His old minister, on reading the report of his Glasgow Rectorial address, remarked sagely, "That's Bonar Law's 'Success' lecture, plus! his experience since." The old! material was used.- Wil] Mr. Bonar Law still prove himself an adept at using ''old material?"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.