A LABOUCHERE STORY

New Zealand Tablet, 24 July 1913, Page 61

A LABOUCHERE STORY

A Labouchere anecdote which has not been done to death is given in the new volume of recollections by Sir Henry Lucy, to whom it was told by Labby himself. It concerned the younger son of a peer, who thought that a berth in the diplomatic service was as desirable a place as any for one who took life rather easily. He knew nothing of the special subjects upon which the preliminary examination was based, but

there was at least the promise of a lark. As far as he could make out,. he : did not, supply a single correct answer ;. to the long \ list of -questions. Nevertheless, he came out first in the competition. ; .... It was a surprise even for a confident young lordling.- Meeting one of the examiners at dinner a few days later, he ventured to ask how the thing came about. 'We at once saw you knew nothing, was the reply. But your manner was so free from constraint under what to some people would have been peculiarly embarrassing circumstances that we said to each other, "That's the very man to make a diplomatist." So we gave you a start on your career.'