JOE THOMPSON AT THE GOVERNOR'S BALL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 299, 18 December 1877, Page 4

JOE THOMPSON AT THE GOVERNOR'S BALL.

* Bohemian/ ia his odd notes in the Brisbane Week, relates the following delicious morceau which we fchiuk too good to be lost : — 1 You don't kcow Joe Thompson, the Victorian racing man, do you ? Nei.her do I j but I beard a good etory of him the other day from a Melbourne friend. Joe is one of those shrewd, illiterate, and by no means too conscientious men, who have atnasaed large fortunes by * making a book' on horse races. Except for his own fiae clothes, fine house, furniture, horses, and equipage, he is the same rough eld piece of goods as when he used to hawk fish and sell hot pies. By some unaccountable means or other he recently got an invitation to the Government House on the occassioa of a ball there. When Sir George discovered the mistake, he deputed to Captain Pitt the delicate and disagreeable duty of getting Joe ' out of that* as speedily as possible. The captain started on his errand, and after a short search discovered the bold horseyacing hero diligeat,iy»aq conaciea&ioualy getting outside as much of the vice regal champagne as possible, and, at the same time relating to tm amazed knot of listeners pithy anecdotes of a decidedly stirring character. Captain Pitt took Joe on one side, and as gently as possible, informed him that he had got in by mistake, and must get out again as soon as he conveniently could. * All right, old man,' said Joe, but just let us two 'aye another bottle O J that, fizz fast.' To (his the captain

consented as the readiest means of getting the man away peacefully. When the bottle was empty, Joe prepared to depart, affirming in the most vehement and emphatic manner that he didn't bear the Governor the least malice in the world. He then held oat , his hand to Capiain Pitt, as though to shake hands, bot slipped a sovereign into his fingers, whispering as he hurried away, <I allua treats servants the same whether their masters is civil or not,' Before the captain could recoyer his astonishment and hand back the money, Joe was gone.