Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-07
"LABBY" AT HOME.
AN HOUR WITH THE EDITOR OF
LONDON'S FAMOUS WEEKLY.

IONDONS FAMOUo WccNII'
A Visit to Mr.. Henry Labouchere-Pen
Pictures of the Noted Journalist-Daily
Papers of London-The Marvellous Sue
cess of Truth"
Mr.. Henry Labouchere is one Of the most
interesting characters of our time A scion
of good family and independent means, he
started out on a diplomatic career, and very
early in life got behind the scenes and Learned
how the nations of the earth are misgov-
erned Then be went here, there and thither
until he brought up in Paris, where no vol
unfairly remained through the famous siege
Of that city, during which time he contrib
uted to The Daily News those famous letters
setting forth the experiences Of tho "Besieged
Resident"
It is understood that Mr. Labouchere holds
a controlling interest in this paper, which Is
tho leading Liberal organ, but OF course he is
more widely known as the man who made
Truth, that famous periodical which initiated
personal journalism and put the great II" IN
place of the editorial "we" Mr. Labouchere
is in parliament for Northampton, having
for his colleague Bradlaugh, the atheist. MI.
Labouchere has given and taken plenty OF
hard hitting in his time. He is radical in the
extreme, and yet for Ill he is one OF the
Prince of Wales set, that coterie Of good fel
lows who serve to amuse the fat man who
possibly may succeed to the present queen
and empress who has Just held her jubilee.
Mr.. Labouchere's country house is built on
the site of Pope's villa, at Twickenham, and
the grounds front on the silver Thames for
some 800 feet. There are terraces, rookcries
and a grotto or tunnel decked with some
rather inferior statuary, which is a relic of
the original villa once occupied by the author
of SDunciad," and now the abode of his
natural successor, pursuant to the fashion of
the day.
PEN PICTURE OF "LABBF."
I sent my card up in the afternoon, but
Mr.. Labouchere was out, so my punt was
moored in front Of his water wall until a
trim maid notified me that her master was at
home and At lsisure. Then 1 landed at the
boat house, climbed some old wooden steps,
at the top Of which was greeted by big
black retriever and pretty little child, who
directed me up divers terraces to where DIR.
Labouchere awaited me on the gallery.
This veranda is very pretty; it is about
by 10 feet, completely arched in by foliage,
while through three large logic Of alcoves
you look over the river and the low country
on the other side. Three or four wicker
chairs and footstools lay around. In one of
these sat a somewhat understood man with
cropped beard Just beginning to grille He
was dressed in a rough suit Of tweed, and the
disposition Of plain gold chain showed that
be carried his watch in an outside pocket.
He was putting a cigarette held in plain
wooden holder, worth perhaps four cents,
and it may be interesting for some to know
that he wore pair of elastic side boots very
much the worss for wear. he is a quiet
looking little man, with q come what-willI
an-content air about him, freedom of
thought and language very uncommon in the
Old World, and withal one could perceive
under the quiet ease Of his manner the spirit
of one who could hold fast and hit hard.
Most men have their counterpart in the ami
NAL world, and Henry Labouchere strikinsly
reminds me Of chunky, we'll bred fox ter
rier that looks too lazy for anything as he
lies in the sun, but can show lots Of character
whenever any of his natural foes chance in
his way. He has the same sideways set Of
the head that Valet or Raby Mixer show
when interested.
We got chatting about one thing and an
other until the stated objects Of our interview
were touched upon. Mr.. Labouchere was of
opinion that q civil servant should be allowed
all fair political rights, provided the exercise
thereof did not interfere with the discharge
of his official duties, but where or how to
draw the line, he declared, was difficult
matter SIN theory with US every civil ser
want is free to act as he chooses" said he, ana
then, with exquisite simplicity, added: But
somehow or other if a man works hard for
his party and doesn't win he doesn't get On
very WE'LL in fact not at all"
JOURNALISM IN GENERAL
We got talking about journalism in gen.
eral. He said
1.-THE one great difficulty Of the daily
papers in London i. the absence Of any sys-
tenn of distribution outside that of the Smith
monopoly. So long as Sunday is strictly OBJ
served there will be no Sunday edition of the
great dailies. because they could not get rid
Of them when they werc printed"
I touched on signed journalism when a
man gets the credit Of his work, and Hr. La
bouchere, as newspaper proprietor, said he
didn't want to make q man and then have
that man own his maker.
He further said: THE run Of journalists in
London have pretty hard time; there are so
many amateurs Of good education and half
leisure who are willing to do special work
and articles for the mere pleasure OF seeing
their copy in type, while on the other hand
there is an eminent superabundance of the
ordinary reporter, who, by the way, is a very
inferior animal to hts American coUlrade."
BE told me how Truth had been q success
and paid from the first number. Henry La
bouchere, Esq, was pretty well known among
the literary fraternity before it Was pub
hshed, and when II was announced that he,
who stood somewhere between Bob Inzuson.
Dave Hill and Tom Ochiltree, intended not
70 tell lies any moro, there was a unanimous
and tremendous howl Of derisiou over the
length and breadth Of the land Sothey made
Jokes about him and his truthful organ, all
Of which duly advertised the paper, 70 e1at
folks bought it out Of curiosity, and for a
long time decent Philiseine studied it, pages,
but only behind locked doors Even today
there are plenty Of Pharisees and Sadducees
who wouldn't touch the paper with a pair Of
tones or say SO until their dearest foe gets q
sla.hing.
Mr. LAbouchere Is pretty much Of alaw to
hir,self As such he has managed 70 make
good deal Of moving Ia the ways OF the
world: he has meaded many ANAL uischiets
in social life; be has been . grand guerrilla
In advance Of Gen Gladstone; be has created
a new school Of Journalism, and his influence
viii be more lasting than even his most ar
dent admirers can c00celve-Lcnoon Cor.
Mem York Mad and ExnreA