Mr Chamberlain.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1900, Page 3

Mr Chamberlain.

A quaint little story concerning Mr Chamberlain, 'which, if it be not true, has at least originated from someone who has studied the Colonial Secretary and his ways pretty closely, is told in " M.A.P." It is said that one day lately Mr Chamberlain was engaged in* conversation with a friend in & well-known London hotel, when a young fd^g: approached him with a diffidence that bespoke a great desire to exchange fr&W words with the great mat* o* be snubbed in the attempt. -**May 1 speak with you for a moment, Mr Chamberlain?" he asked. "Certainly," was the ready reply, and the politician rose from his seat " I cannot say it here," said the young man, glancing nervously around and leading the way to a remote corner of the room. Arrived there, he spoke his important communication in Mr Chamberlain's ear : "I am on the staff of the , and I should esteem it a great favour if you will tell me what you think of the present situation in the Transvaal ! " Mr Chamberlain started , looked sharply at him, and then, his severity softening into pity for the young man's simplicity, he said, " Follow me !" Leading the way like a man requiring still greater secrecy for what he had to impart, be walked through the dining room iatet a passage, down some steps into the reading room, into the drawing loom, and finally into a y remote and curtained dark corner, where, after a hurried glance round to make sure there were no eavesdroppers, he whispered in the young man's ear, 41 My friend* I really don't know anything about it 1"