LORD ROSEBERRY AND THE CHUMPKIN

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2213, 30 March 1881, Page 3

LORD ROSEBERRY AND THE CHUMPKIN

In a sketch of the racing career of the Lord of Dalmony, a (porting contemporary telle the following capital anecdote— si nan a verro e hen trovato. The Earl ie remarkably unostentatious in manner, and, beyond being a natty dresser, is unpretentious. We have heard a rather good story about him, which, if true—and we have no reason to doubt its veracity—is characteristic. Being a Scotchman, be is fond of running horses in Scotland, and by his patronage has done much to revive several race meetings north of the Tweed, especially at Ayr, at which he always, if possible, is present. At a recent meeting there, having an important political appointment to preside at in London, he hurried through by express, via Carlisle, to be present the first day. For his companion in the railway carriage he had m remarkably “ pushing ” species of commercial traveller, who, ignorant as to who his companion was, ever and anon attempted to force a speaking acquaintance, and seeing his lordship perusing the “Sacing Calendar," on approaching towards Ayr “ broke earth" with the remark, “ Racing is a great institution. Suppose you’re going to Ayr meeting P” “I am going as far as Ayr,” replied his lordship. “ Pity young swells get fleeced by blacklegs. Some noblemen, I hear, drop fortunes on the turf." “Indeed!" “I do a bit myself sometimes—a tenner or e pony's about my out. Know anything good for today, worth my while touching ?” “I am not a tipster," “Beg pardon; saw you reading ‘ Racing Calendar’; thought you might know.” “ Well," replied his lordship, with a quiet smile, “if I give you ‘ the straight tip’ will it be of service to you ?” “ Depends if I fancy it.” “ Put your tenner or pony on Lord Rosebery’s Ohevronel for the Welter Cup.” “ Kot for Joseph ! I never back i-iord Rosebery’s horses. They say he’s a regular ohumpkin,” “Indeed! Perhaps they’re right. However, you asked me, and I can only add that I heard Lord Rosebery himself tell what you term a ohumpkin to back hi» horse.” “ Depend upon it, if it was all right, he would not let yon overhear hie conversation. Mum would then be his game. Why, there’e a lot in that race! I'll bet yon a pony Lord Rosebery don’t win it ?” “Really I’m not accustomed to bet in railway carriages with strangers.” “ There’s my card—Mr Robert Fushabout, representative of Messrs Fleecy, Wool and Shoddy, Woodetreet, Cheapside. Fact is, you ain’t game to bet.” “ I think you’ll lose your money ; but as yon challenge me, let it be a bet. You’ll ese ms in the stewards’ enclosure at the course, 1 have no cards with me.” “Agreed; it’s a bet. I bet you an even pony against Ohevronel for the Welter Cup. But what’s your name, young fellowP" “Primrose. Sometimes lam otherwise addressed." “All right, young Primrose ; pay and receive after the race." The companions separated at the station. Ohevronel won in a canter, and the commercial received the following short note by a messenger from the stewards’ stand—“Mr Primrose (Lord Rosebery) would feel obliged by Mr Pushabout handing to his servant £25, which his lordship will have much pleasure in forwarding as a donation to the Commercial Travellers' Orphan Asylum.” The “bagman” paid his pony, looking very crestfallen, and was heard to ejaculate—“ Done, by Q- ■ who on earth would have dreamt that the good-looking, affable young fellow, whom I imagined was a chumpkin, was in fast none other than the Earl of Rosebery, giving me a d good honest tip about bis own horse, by which I was fool enough to lose five-and-twenty pounds ! Any way, he’s a regular trump, and he's right—l’m the ohumpkin after all.”—“Liverpool Echo."