The Lloyd George family at home consisted of Mr. and Mrs. George, two
sons, and two daughters. Of the two boys, both in the twenties, one
was at Cambridge University and the other in a responsible position as
a civil engineer. Both are now soldiers, fighting in France. There
are two girls, Megan and her sister, Olwen, a charming girl who has
lately become engaged to a medical officer in the army. There is
another person who frequently completes the family circle at 11 Downing
Street. It is Richard Lloyd, the old shoemaker who forty years ago
risked his little all to educate his orphan nephew. It was one of the
pleasurable anticipations of Lloyd George, when he was appointed
Chancellor of the Exchequer with the privileges of this historic
residence, that Richard Lloyd would be able to come and stay there.
"My dear old uncle," he said, "will be so proud to come and stay at the
house in which Gladstone, his great hero, at one time lived."
Lloyd George is wiry, but no man, however strong, could continue
indefinitely to put himself under such a strain as I have indicated
without occasional complete rest. When he is not under too heavy a
time he will go for a weekend's golf to Walton Heath, some twenty miles
from London, in Surrey, or spend a couple of days at Brighton on the
south coast. But when he is really exhausted there is only one place
for him, and that is his beautiful home near Criccieth, about a mile
from Llanystumdwy, where he spent his boyhood. On the hills rising
from behind Criccieth and forming the foot of the Snowdon range he has
built a graceful residence, whence he can look down over the wooded
slopes to Criccieth and thence to Carnarvon Bay. On the other side the
house faces the snow-capped mountains. From every window there is a
beautiful scene. A lane leading from the gates, between towering
hedges, winds through fields and woods down to Llanystumdwy.
With the charm of mountains, countryside, and sea there goes an
invigorating atmosphere. "When I am exhausted," said Lloyd George to
me once, "I come down here from London and I sleep long nights. In the
daytime I sit out here on the veranda in a basket-chair with a rug
around me, facing the sea, and here I rest and sometimes sleep. This
beautiful Welsh air wraps me all round with its healing touch, and I
let it do its work, and I am soon well again." During these
recuperative days Lloyd George does no business, writes no letters,
receives no visitors, sees no one but members of his own family. After
about three days of this treatment he is recovering himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account