A COFFIN AND A HONEYMOON. The Singular Manner in Which a Doctor Started for Europe.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 254, 11 April 1888, Page 3

A COFFIN AND A HONEYMOON. The Singular Manner in Which a Doctor Started for Europe.

C'oNChKviM. the death of Queen C'arolino, the late Dr. Lushington used to relate the following anecdote :—lt: — It was considered inexpedient, (doubtlos for political reasons) (hat hci funeral should take place in filmland, and to I>r. (then Mr) Lushington was ooniided the task ot coin eying her body to J}iunM\ick. to be interred in fcho place whence *he came. The coinmi^^on w:^ a li.it 1011 01 my, one ior so \ounu a man, and doubtless earned with il home pecuniary advantages ; but it came at a most incon\enicut noment, tot Mr Lushingtoii was on (lie point of being married. What was he to do? Decline the commission or ask leave to postpone the wedding 7 Lt wa=i -i delicate question, and one on w liich ho thought it wise to take advice. " l\v i>o means postpone the wedding," r-aid thu hiend whom he thus consulted ; " rather as| v permission to tan c it hcUstened on. The lady hat- plenty of spirit ; no and put the oa-e laii iy before her, and tell her in\ ad\ ice to \ou both is to get quietly manied at once, and start next day tot the continent, taking the eollin with \on. Htunswick will be simply the ih>t hatting place on your journey, and then, ]M\ini> sately deliveied \our ehaiuo. \on can uo on and ini'sh >our hone) moon m Swit/ei land, or .111 \ w heie el^i- 1 you please." Mr Lusliiny-ton acted on this- advice, and the •> ioi>estion was i owned t.nouiabiv l)^ thclad\. The man iaue took place, and the next d:i\ the younn louple started, undei these mo<t o> iumal cucuinstancLs, tor then luii)e\ moon. Tho\ ti.ivelled post, of eouiM\ iel.i\s hems,' pumded on the io.ul ; bur the\ had not <_jone many stages w hi>n the sound of g.)llopin«_>; hoot- was heaid behind. A iiH'^ii»(t fiom the kinu ' "His .Majt_s(\ had iec'M\ed infoimation that a most nnpioper ltiseuption li.id been piaced upon the eofhu. It this weictiuc, it must at once be iimowd. fhs oniois weie unpeiatne" Theie was notlnnu foi it but to <toj> llie hoiitse and take out the cothn tor examination. Upon it was found a plate beating these wolds '•( aio'ine, the much-ill u-cd w ite of ( Jeoige IV ' This liemii' e\identl\ the obnoxious him -iption icteued to, the messenger at onto jno-diu-ed his tool«, wieuched oil the plate and galloped nwi\ with it to London. The cothn was then returned to the hearse and the lest of the louinev was completeil without any tuithci mteii uption. Man\ \eais attei Hr .'.uslnngton was culled to r ho bedside ot a d>i;ig man. "'He had something on his mind, he said, •' and tould not be easj till he had made a clean bicast.it it He wa« the \eiy mosseimei who hail been sent to wiench till the msei iption, and a> nobod) h.id e\er [jattieulul\ HHjuued attei the plate Ik had \om tuied to .ippinpiuite the sunc, wttli the idea that it mi^ht •omi' da\ l>e of \alue as a cuiiosij\. Of late, however, his conscience had been lepuuehing him tot this ict of dishonostv, and lie had now -ient fo> l)v. I iishington that !n> tmVht lCstoie the stolen plate into his hand-.'