Lord Rosebery and the Scotch Farmer.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 3

Lord Rosebery and the Scotch Farmer.

Tiilki; is a story told about Lord Kosobery which I hope is true. It certainly is not improbable. One night last season Lady Rosebery was 'at home in Berkely Square, and nearly everybody in London who is anybody was bidden to attend. On the day before the party took 'place, Lord Rosebery met in Piccadilly a Scotch farmer ■/■whom he had occasionally seen at election timed in. Midlothian." JFollowihsr his" natural" impulse of kindliness he invited the Scotch.man to the e\ening party. He arrived in due time, and in a costume which, broadly following the regulation for evening dress, was ot a cut never .«een in Berkely Square. He wall- ed about, looked at, the company, atld finally found his way to the supper room, where weie spread all the delicacies of the season. • The Scotchman had not been in the room ten minutes when bang went a lobster salad, half a chicken, a handful of merindues, and a large plate of jelly. After this'hd began to triHe with the good things on the table. Seeing- a glass diah of olives! he,> full of trust in the result of his general sampling, tool? a. spoonful, thinking they were somothing in the confectionerd line.- Tlie're'sulfi was not satisfactory, ane he slyly deposited the debris under thy table. He noticed the ladios all about eating with evident delight a pleasant looking thin'sr, pink or cream colo'ued, served in saucers. He asked for one of these, and the servant gave him a bountiful supply of ice cream. He took a big spoonful and conveyed it to his mouth. A look of pained surprise cro&sed his countenance, but he was not going to disgrace his J^st. He cloaed his eyes, s>hiit hjs. mputh firmly, and with a few spasms swallowed the ice, This was all very well for him. He was a strong man, accustomed to diflicultes, but he felb that to avoid pain to others someone should know about fchi°. Looking round lie saw Lord Kosobery talking to a group of ladies and gentlemen. Sidling up to him with the eaucer of ice in his hand, he plucked him by thealee\e. ' I don't suppose you know it, my lord,' he loudly whispered : ' but I think I ought to toll you. Thoro has been a mistake (somewhere, and this pudding's froze. ' Lord Rosebery gr isped the situation in a moment. With perfect courtesy and with a pretty appearance of critical inquiry he tasted the ico cream. 'So ifc is,' he said. 1 That's \ery strange. 4 He went off to sueik to one of the servants, a,nd returujflg, sa^l, 'It's all right ; lam tojd that th^s a n,ew kind of pudding they freeze on, purpose ;' and, tak}i« v \\\s frietKT m jt> he le<i \\\m from tho roQf