Scrapbook of Colonel (Hubert) Bruce Logan
Bruce Logan (1886 - 1965) was born in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, England and was a renowned sportman, primarily for rowing but also for boxing and rugby.
BALDWIN, now and then would step from the political arena and expound so well some literary or semi-philosophical theme that his detractors would say, "Kipling, his cousin, writes his speeches for him!"
Yesterday, Robert Menzies, the Premier* from "Down Under" made Baldwins best look second rate.
His address on The British Character —actually an analysis of the English— it was delivered at Hatchard's book-shop—was penetrating, perfectly framed, despite the fact that it was largely impromptu and humorous.
YET Maisky, the Russian Ambassador, who sat in the from row, must have known that a race that could spend nearly two hours on that sort of gathering in the middle an all-vital war, beyond analysis.
I sat between Boyd-Rochford, the trainer, and Bruce Logan, our most famous amateur boxer. Next were C. B. Cochran and Margot. Near were R. B. Bennett—the Menzies of Canada—Elinor Glyn, Geoffrey Dawson, editor of "The Times," Lord Snell and W. J. Brown. Celebrities were every where.
JOHN HATCHARD opening his Piccadilly bookshop 1797, recorded In his diary, said Sir Thomas Moore, the chairman, his faith in God, the confidence his friends and the £5 he had in pocket.
Menzies elaborated on the religious quality of the English and their genius for friendship, and added: "The fiver symbolised their confidence in the principles of limited liability in finance."
HE applauded the courage and honesty of our hearts, our nice, slow, chuckling, juicy humour." and our great quality of patience—" It looks like a long job so we'd better settle down and lay in a little more preserved fruit."
Yet tardiness might become a terrible vice.
He praised our "greatest of all qualities, kindness and tolerance. "Live and let live."
THEN we heard of Plymouth and the rest.
"A Blitz is almost like a mother-in-law," said Menzies. " You feel more kindly towards it, the farther you are away from it. "
"I have just come back from a journey around half a dozen blitzed cities. They arc tragic cities."
As for our grit, he spoke of the smiles he had seen in the faces of old men and women newly bombed and told how the workers in factories, even in the ruined towns, were happy, cheerful and determined.
Yet—and this seemed his moral —we should learn how to plan, cease muddling through, stop saying, "Providence is on our side."
*Robert Menzies was Prime Minister of Australia - not Premier as stated in the article. Premiers are leaders of the States of Australia.
Clarence Hatry was an early business partner of Bruce Logan at a time when both were trying to make a mark. Hatry became extremely wealthy and it was said that he was desperate to enter the circle of the upper class but, likely because he was a Jew, he was blocked. When eventually he was released from prison for fraud, he became involved with Hatchard's Book Store and, it is also said, that the following story was his way of seeking petty revenge on the aristocrats that snubbed him.
"Hatchards was in trouble, since the owners ‘dearly loved a lord – and half of Debrett’s, it seemed, treated Hatchards like a lending library, except that there was no annual subscription. The gentry strolled into the bookshop, selected and walked away with books that took their fancy, charging them to accounts that might never be settled…
"At Hatchards, to begin with, things went well. To quote Greenfield again, ‘Hatry set to work. He sent a letter to every aristocratic debtor, stating that in one week’s time he would remove all the books from the Hatchards windows. In their place would appear a typed list, showing which customers owed how much and for how long. There were abusive phone calls and threats of writs for libel but, as if by magic, the cheques poured in. Within a fortnight there was enough in the till to pay the staff’s back wages and settle the agreed purchase price.’ Moreover, Hatry was able to talk round the publishers who were owed money. ‘Hatry went to see them in turn and the message was always the same. “Foreclose – and you will get a few pence in the pound. Give me six months and continue to supply books – and I will start paying you back. In another six months, you will be paid up to date.” It says much for his charm and the force of his personality – and their acumen – that they all accepted the word of a recent gaolbird.’[510]
Wright, Anne. The Threadbare Plea: The Hatry Crash of 1929 (p. 387). Kindle Edition.
