The Newtown bee., 1891-12-18
Labouchere.


is one of the most interesting in English
journalism, was born in London in 1881
and was educated at Elton and Cam
bridge. We say he was educated at Cam
bridge, although it would be much more
correct to say that he was for two years
at Trinity College, for he was nearly al
ways in rows with the dons-a fact
which gave him little time for the less
enjoyable pastime of acquiring a little
Latin and less Greek. He left Cambridge
without Distinguishing himself in any
way and, after time, found himself in
Mexico. He travelled with a circus, in
various capacities, but with most credit
to himself as doorkeeper, receiving mon
ey, oranges, maize or whatever he could
get as entrance fees. He returned to the
United States and, when at st. Paul, he
fell across party of Chippewa Indians
going home. He went with them and
stopped six months. He again returned
to the States and, possessing some infiu-
ence, went into the diplomatic service.
He was appointed attache at Washing
ton, but for a long time could not be
found. During the Crimean war, he aid
ed the crimping of American citizens for
the English army and was kicked out of
the legation.
Not only in America but also in Rus
STA, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Tur-
key, LabOuchere was a constant source
of annoyance and trouble to ambassadors
and foreign office authorities. He con-
tended that gaming tables and other
pleasure resorts occupied him too much
for any time to be left for his official
duties. On one occasion, he was ordered
to Russia; six months afterward, he was
heard of at Homburg. Lord Russell
was Indignant; Labouchere replied that
his means were small, but his zeal great
and that, as neither his purse nor the
government liberality ran to the cost
of trains, he was walking to Russia and
hoped to reach st Petersburg in the
course of year, Although whilst in
the diplomatic service he made no enc
mics, the authorities were doubtless
much relieved when this rather too
smart young man resigned.
Labouchere was next heard as pub
lie individual when, in 1864, he was
elected member for the royal borough
of Windsor in the Radical interest, but
was unseated for hiring too many COM
mittee rooms-which was just like La
bouchere. He was elected member for
Middlesex in 1867 and, after unsuccess-
fully contesting Nottingham in 1874,
was returned for Northampton in 1880,
which lie still continues to represent.
He is conspicuous figure in Parliament,
full of wit at the expense of the Tories
and of the party which calls itself
Liberal Unionists, whose members sit on
the Liberal side of the house and vote
consistently with the Conservatives.
Mr. LabOuchere's humor is irrepressible
and his sarcasm keen and telling. He is
not Il man who does things by halves
and the one great ambition of his life is
the total abolition of the House of Lords.
Apart from his connection with Truth,
he became and has since remained part
proprietor of the Daily News, when it
was started as a penny daily in 1868.
Two years later, he was contributing to
its columns the celebrated Letters of
Besieged Resident in Paris,'' during the
war and the siege of
Paris. These letters created great SEN
sation at the time of their appearance
and are said to have been the making of
the Daily News.
Mr. Labouchere has a very able and
efficient lieutenant in the editing of
Truth in Horace Voules, who is gener-
ally considered as one of the smartest
journalists in London. Indeed, there
can be no doubt the success of Truth is
due in very considerable measure to
Mr. Voules, for it is upon the discretion
and wisdom of an assistant editor that a
paper is generally made or married.
Dealing as society papers do, nearly ex-
clusively, with matters of personal inter-
est, no small amount of taste is requir-
ed; for it is a very prevalent human
weakness, especially among women, to
have "a ''fling' at rival or an enemy
when it can be obtained by some one
else bearing the responsibility. Truth
has, of course, been involved in several
lawsuits, but it has been threatened with
hundreds of others, the real object of
most of which has been blacknlail. The
editor of Truth. being extremely
wealthy, finds much fun in contesting
libel suits and history tells US that he is
by no means backwards when it comes
to arguing the point without gloves.
Personally, Mr. Labouchere is very in
teresting and delightful man, full of wit,
anecdote and Renaissance. With the
democracy of England there is, except
Mr. Gladstone, no one so popular as the
editor of Truth, who, in addition to
charming and cultivated wife, has
country residence of historic renown,
Pope's Villa at Paper
and Press.
Liberal salary and expenses paid. See adj
vertisement in another column headed Good
Salary by Sears, Henry & Co., Geneva. N 7.
They are q reliable firm,