LORD ROSEBERRY AND THE CHUMPKIN

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2489, 12 March 1881, Page 2

LORD ROSEBERRY AND THE CHUMPKIN

In a sketch, of the racing career of the Lord of Dalmeny a sporting contemporary tells the following capital anecdote —si nonaverro e ben trovato. The Earl is remarkably unostentatious in manner, and, beyond being a natty dresser, is unpretentious. We have heard rather a good story about him, which, if true, —and we have no reason to doubt its veracity—is characteristic. Being a Scotchman, he is fond of running horses in Scotland; and by his patronage has done much to reprieve several race meetings north of the Tweed, especially at Ayr, at which he always, if possible, is present. At a recent meeting there, having an important political appointment to preside in at Loudon, he hurried through by express via Carlisle to be present at the first day. For his companion in the railway carriage ho had a remarkably “ pushing” species of commercial traveller, who ignorant as to who his companion was, ever and anon attempted to force a speaking acquaintance, and, seeing his lordship perusing the ‘Racing Calender,’ on approaching towards Ayr “ broke earth” with the remark “ Racing is a great institution, Suppose you are going to Ayr meeting ?” “ I am goino- as far as Ayr” replied his lordship, “ Pity young swells get fleeced by blacklegs. Some noblemen I hear, drop fortunes on the turf.”_ “Indeed!” “I do a bit myself sometimes —a tenner or a ‘ pony’s’ about my cut. Know anything good for to-day, worth my while touching ?” “ 1 am not a tipster,” “ Beg pardon, saw you reading ‘Facing Calendar;’

thought you might know.” “Well,” replied his lordship, with a quiet smile, “IE I give you the ‘ straight tip,’ will it be of service to j r ou !” “ Depends if I fancy it.” “ Put your tenner or ‘ pony ’ on Lord Rosebery's Ohevronel for the Welter Cup.” “ Not for Joseph ! I never back Lord Rosebery’s horses. They say he’s a regular chumpkin.” “ Indeed! Perhaps they’re right. However, you asked me, and I can only add that I heard Lord Rosebery himself tell what you term a chumpkin to back his horse.” “ Depend upon it, if it was all right he would not let you hear the conversation. Mum would then be his game. Why, there’s a lot in that race ! I’ll bet you a ‘ pony ’ Lord Rosebery don’t win it ?” “Really I’m not accustomed to bet in railway carriages.” “ There’s my card —Mr Robert Pushabout, representative of Messrs Fleecy, Wool, and Shoddy, Wood street, Cheapside. The fact is, you ain’t game to bet.” “I think you’ll lose your money ; but, as you challenge me, let it be a bet. You'll see me in the stewards’ enclosure at the course. I have no cards with rae,” “ Agreed ; it’s a bet. I bet you an even 5 pony against Ohevronel for the Welter Cup. But what’s your name, young fellow ?” “ Primrose ; pay and receive after the race.” The companions separated at the station. Ohevronel won in a canter, and the commercial received the following short note by a messenger from the steward’s stand : —“ Mr Primrose (Lord Rosebery) would feel obliged by Mr Pushabout handing to his servant £25, which his lordship will have much pleasure in forwarding as a donation to the Commercial Travellers’ Orphan Asylum.” The “bagman” paid his “ pony,” looking very crest-fallen, and was heard to ejaculate “Done, by G ; who on earth would have dreamt that the good-looking, affable young fellow, whom I imagined was a chumpkin, was in fact none other than the Lari of Rosebery, giving me a d good honest tip about his own horse, by which I was fool enough to lose five-and-twenty pounds ! Any way, he’s a regular trump, and he’s right—l’m the chumpkin after all.”— “Liverpool Echo.”