Hughes on Ice

At least once a month it is the pleasant duty of the Pilgrim Society of London to fill itself with turbot a la Reine, champagne and Anglo-American sentiment, welcoming or speeding some distinguished U. S. citizen to or from Great Britain.

Last week the convivial Pilgrims, shepherded by their elderly sportsman-president, Baron Desborough of Taplow, met to honor Charles Evans Hughes, newly elected Judge of the Permanent Court of International Justice at the Hague. After the ice cream, Britain's imposing Lord Chief Justice Baron Hewart of Bury drained a bumper to Justice Hughes, sitting solemn and white-muzzled at the head of the table.

Lord Desborough, arch-tactician of many similar banquets, congratulated the World Court's Hughes on the appointment of his son, Charles Evans Hughes Jr., as U. S. Solicitor General (TIME, May 13). Mr.

Hughes beamed delightedly behind his white whiskers.

When the banquet was over, an enthusiastic U. S. businessman rushed to the speakers' table, his shirt front all but popping with emotion.

"The thing that pleased you," burbled the businessman, "you, the cold, icy Charles E. Hughes, was not the compliment to yourself but the news about your boy!"

"I am not cold and icy!" replied Justice Hughes, "but you are right about the way I feel about the boy."