"Whips" Messenger.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1894, Page 3

" Whips" Messenger.

There is a permanent staff of Whips' Messengers, five or six old men who have been at this business all their lives. They are curious shabby old customers, with no | politics, no opinions, and no ambition in life except to get together a majority for the Government of the day. They serve each party which happens to be in power with equal fidelity, and even enthusiasm, for the hatred which these old men immediately contract for the Opposition as soon as a change of Government takes place is remarkable. Much of their existence is spent in hansom cabs rushing all over London after stray M.P's. The Whips' messengers have notebooks, really of a most interesting character, containing hints as to the habits of M.P's., where they are likely to be found, and other useful particulars. The second LoL'd Wolverton once told he had seen these note-books, and that they spared neither character, age, nor sex. There was one curious memo, about Bob Lowe (the late Lord Sherbrooke), namely, that whenever a French play was going on in London Bob Lowe was always to be found there. The messengers used to detect him at once by his white head in the stalls, and drag him off— for, of course, they have the entry to every theatre and public place in London.