HIS WEAK POINT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9418, 20 May 1882, Page 3

HIS WEAK POINT.

A Premier may have his weak points, and they may be so marked that even his friends cannot conceal them. Some travellers in a railway carriage beguiled the time by discussing politics and politicians. The one thing upon which they chiefly harped was the damaged reputation of democratic leaders.

“ I suppose,” said one of our travellers to his companion, who belonged to another colony, <c that the private character of your Premier is spotless ?” “Well, no,” said the stranger awkwardly, “ I regret to say that it is not.”

“No ?” re-echoed the traveller, in apparent surprise. “ I should have thought you would not have tolerated a man with a stain upon his name, even if he were a Conservative.”

“ Well, you see,” slowly and painfully continued the stranger, “he does his work very well, and he’s not a bad fellow after all.”

“Not a bad fellow,” repeated the traveller, “ and yet you say of bad character?” Another traveller with a stammer came to the relief of his friend.

“The f—f—fact is,” said he, “he’sa good h- -h—husband and a g—good fa—fa —father, and all—that, but if he can swindle you out of h—h—half-a-crown, by g—gad he will ” —Exchange.