THE LATE MR LABOUCHERE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1198, 22 January 1914, Page 3

THE LATE MR LABOUCHERE.

(Moot, people think of the late Mr Henry Labouchere, wlio died on January 15, 1919, al tlie ago of eighty-one, us a politician in his time, however, lie played many parts, and it has truly been said of him that hud lie been a poor man he might have risen to eminence in anyone of half-a-dozen tailings. JSut he was the son of a rich banker, Jolm Labouchere, of Broome Park, Survey. and the nephew of a peer- —laird Taunton. lie never knew the spur of poverty. Therefore he dabbled in things. lie took nothing' seriously. 11c was the puck of politics. In turn u'member of a travelling circus in the States, an attache, theatrical proprietor, traveller, journalist, editor, and newspaper owner, ins wit and cynicism proverbial, and ho wrote as brilliantly as bespoke. lie never reached political office, because his thoughts and methods were too original and fearless, lint his death was sincerely mourned by members of all parties, for it was recognised that one of the most fascinating, it perplexing, personalities of modern times had passed away. The fojlow lug stories are taken from the lifo of .-‘‘Labby.’’ written by his nephew, Mr.Mgar Thorold, and published by ( unstable. As a boy at Eton “J,al>by" loved bis lit tle joke. One day he decided to play the part of a man about town. Jiavingdressed liimself with scrupulous care, lie sallied forth, and, entering the best hotel in tlice place, engaged a private room, and in a lordly milliner ordered it bowl of punch. The waiter stared, but brought the liquor and wont away. The boy, having tasted it, found it horrible, and promptly poured it into .an antique oak sideboard. lie waited a little to sei- if it would run out on the carpet. Luckily the drawer was watertight, and Lahoucheru rang tho (jell again and proudly ordered from the amazed waiter a second bowl of punch. Ho poured this also into tho sideboard, and in a few minutes rang for the bill, tipped the waiter majestically, ami swaggered out of (hohold (pate satisfied tiiat he had won the admiration and respect of tile whole stall'. “Labbv” was rather proud of tho popularity he enjoyed at TTankfort while m the diplomatic Service. '“At my lust ball supper,” ho said, when relating tho incident, “1 found mvsc-Jf next to a grandee gorgeous ill stars- and ribbons. A servant, canto to pour out champagne. 1 sliocm my head, for 1 detest champagne. Iho grandca nudged mo ami said, ‘Let him poor it out. ? This 1 did. and lie explained to mo that our host never gave Jus guests more than one glass. ‘.So you see, if I dnuk yours, I shall have two, -After llr > theio used to bo quite a struggle to pit near at Court suppers. . .. Ho began his connection with journalism by buying for £14,000 a quarter share in the Daily Nows (ho sold this in 1895 lor £62,000), and later on he became proprietor of tho old Queen’s Theatre in Long Acre, where his company included Henry living (to whom ho paid £5 a. week). Lionel Brough, John Toole, Charles Wymlhain. Ellon 'Tony, and Henrietta Hudson, who afterwards became Mrs Laltoucliere. Apropos of “Labby” and journalism, it is an interesting fact that ho started Truth .with 9. capital of only £IOOO, and the paper

was such a success dial for die firs! tew years die whole ol the ea|hlal "iiibai hed rotDiiinod lllltoilelleil. “LiibbV jesled to die hist. ‘‘On the afternoon of the day before lie died, ’ says Mr Thorold. “as I was siding at his bedside, the spirii-lainp that kept (lie fumes of eucalyptus in constant- movement about his room, Tbnuifdi some awkwardness of mine. \v;w overturned. Mr biibonc-here. who was dozimr. opened his eyes at. die sound of the hide commotion caused by the accident, and perceived the flare-up. ‘Flames V he murmured, interrogatively. ‘Xot yet, I think.’ lie laughed ijuimcally and weiM off to sleep again.”