Mr W. S. Gilbert at Home.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 19 December 1891, Page 2

Mr W. S. Gilbert at Home.

Id the Strand Magazine is an account of an interview with Mr \V. S. Gilbert. During the conversation Mr Gilbert narrated his law experiences. He said : — I was at the Bar four years, and am now very^ deservedly raised to the Bench —^ but only as a justice of the peace. I was not fortunate in my clients. I well remember my first brief, which was purely honorary. lam a tolerably good French scholar, and was employed to interpret and translate the conversations and letters between attorney, leading counsel and client— a Parisian. It was at Westminster. The Frenchman, who was a short, stout man, won his case; and he looked upon me as having done it all. He met me in the hall, and' rushing up to me, threw hfo

arms round my neck and kissed me on both cheeks* That was my first fee. On another occasion I defended an old lady who was accused of picking pockets. On the conclusion of my impassioned speech for the defence, she took off a heavy boot and threw it at my head. That was my second fee. " The circumstances attending my initial brief on circuit I am not likely to forget. I was to make my maiden speech in the prosecution of an old Irishwoman for' stealing a coat. Mr and Mra Bancroft and the members of the Prince of Wales's company, then on tour, were present on the bench, and, I am sorry to say, at my invitation. No sooner had I got up than the old dame, who seemed to realise that I was against her, began shouting, ' Ah, ye divil, sit down. Don't listen to him, yer honour 1 He's known in all the slums of Liverpool. Sit down, ye spalpeen. He's as drunk as a lord, yer honour— begging your lordship's pardon.' Whenever I attempted to resume my speech I was flooded by the torrent of the old lady's eloquence, and I had at last to throw myself on the protection of the Recorder, who was convulsed with laughter, to interfere. Mrs Bancroft says, in her memoirs, that I never got that maiden speech off ; but in that she is mistaken, The old lady had three months,