TWISTED QUOTATIONS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 195, 28 July 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

TWISTED QUOTATIONS.

HOOD S EFFORT BAD TO BEAT A bsck which society is reading with avidity - at present ?S "The 'Journals of Lady Knightley of Faws'oy," who during her life "'knew everybody who was anybody." as the saying goes. Funnily enough ooe of the very oest stories of quick repartee is told against this witty lady's " hubby," Sir Reginald Knightley, who was very pro ; id of his -'claims of long descent," and fond of telling people how his ancestors came over with the Conqueror, if not a bit before. . He was riding his favourite hobby one night in a mixed company, which included Sir William Harcourt, and that witty statesman was heard to say. in a stage whisper: — •'And Knightley to ths listening aarth Repeats the story of his birth," thus very slightly parodying a wellknown coup'et from the only hymn Addison ever wrote Sir William was rather given to th's sort of thing. It is a matter of history linn- he went eu the cruise to Copenhagen in one of the late Sir Donald Carrie's boats with Gladstone and Tennyson, when the Danish Royal family, including our own Qucn Alexandra, then Prince.-s of Wales, came on board, and the Laureate read "Maud"' in the cabin. Next morning Tennyson, peihaps unable to sleep, came on deck at an unearthly hour and found Sir William already there, logether tbev sat, halfdozing. and enjoying a smoke, when a third member of the party joined thm?. Sir William sent his companies iutj a roar of laughter by quoting from Tennyson: "The early pipe of ha'f-awakened birdi." But nobody has ever beaten Hood'* record. He and other cronies had spent the evening with Campbell, who wrote " Hohenlinden" and *'Ye Mariners of England." The lauivate ot th-:-Xavy lighted his departing guests o.i {o the hs-idiiig of his lodgings and stood leaning over the banisters till they should have landed safely. Suddenly Hood'.-; foot slipped and be went to the bottom and landed on t u : runt - •' Who's that?" cried Campbell, in a.'arci. "J, sir, ro'ling rapidly," was the in--t.-.iu reply, and that remains and 's likely to remain a record for quick quot:it;:>n twisting to meet the occasion.