The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-24
TAUGHT a LESSON
How an English Lord Was Instructed In
Politenes<

How an English Lord Was Instructed In
PolItenes~
Englishmen are said to stand in awe
Of lords, and perhaps there is some
truth in the allegation. Still. it some
times has happened that a lord has
been too presumptuous, and the En-
glishman has forgotten his fear of the
''noble" in his anger at the man.
Edmund Yates, the novelist and
editor, now n man of wealth and in
fiuence in London, began life as clerk
in the London post-office at ninety
pounds year. He was sent one day
by his chief. Sir Rowland Hill. to the
house of the Postmaster-General, to get
his signature to an important dOcu-
ment. The Postmaster General ut the
time was Lord Stanley, of Alderley. an
elderly man of rude manners and arbi-
trary disposition, much disliked by the
post-oflice officials.
Armed with a letter of introduction
from Sir Rowland. the young clerk pre-
sented himself at the abode of his lord
ship, whom he found in his library
standing before the fire. Yates on
entering made his best bow to- the head
of the PoSt-oflice Department
Lord Stanley neither returned the
salutation nor asked the young man to
be seated. So he remained standing
near the door. much surprised at his re-
ceptiOn and not in the best temper.
What do you WANT" asked his lord
ship.
81 thought" replied Mr. Yates. that
Sir Rowland Hill had explained it i'll his
letter. IL is necessary that your lord
ships signature"
Here the great man broke i'll with:
s'YeS. yes, know all about that. | have
signed the thing. 1t is here somewhere"
- rummaging in leather poSt-ofiice
bag. Il can't find it, hut | know I've
signed it Look here, have You got 4
cab outsider"
"Yes. my lord"
Then take these pouches back to the
office. You'll find it when you gel
there"
Upon this the young man. who had
been much pettcd in the pOst-ofiice and
in society. both on his own and his par
ents' account, quite lost his temper.
What he cried. do YOU expect me
to carry those bags To the cab If you
want that done ring the bell and tell
YOUR servant to- do il. / am not your
servant, and won't carry bags for YOU
or any man in London
His lordShip seemed petritied. Never
thelpSS he rauT the bell
What is your name, sir?" asked
Lord Stanley.
MY name Is Yates. my LORD"
81 don't like your manner. sir"
And don't like yours. my lord! L
came here properly introduced by the
Secretary. made YOU Salutation
which YOU hal not the pOliteneSS To re-
turn. You have never asked me to take
4 seat.
Wasn't / standing MYSELF"
That is no affair of mine. Your
business as 4 gentleman was to ask me
to toe seated. And now You think am
going to do your servants work"
Here the servant entered. and his
master told him to carry the bags TO the
cab. The clerk was following him.
when Lord Stanley said: You shall
hear more of this, sir.
Whenever you please. my lord, |
shall be- quite ready
Yates returned to the po>t-oilice. still
trembling with the excitement of the
scene. Sir Rowland HE was very SYM
pathetic and rcaSsur;ng. When he had
heard the story, he lad his hand on the
CLERKS shoulder in a fatherly way, and
said:
I'm very sorry you VI bcen exposed
TO this. Yates; but YOU mustn't mind.
He's a rude fellow. Don't YOU be-
afraid of his threats. / will take care
of that. and he will think better of what
h. has said when he's a little cooler.
Depend upon it. you'll near no more OF
it,"
Sir Rowland was right. Nothing was
heard from the Poltmas;cr-General,a and
the report rau over the office that the
next mo messenger was sent to Lord
Sianlcy'S house, his lorl>hip shook
hands with him warmly and asked him
tn stop TO Youths COmpGH-
ION.