Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-05
ANECDOTES OF CHURCHILL.
Lord Randolph Was Queer Char
meter. According to All Accounts.

(New York TimesD
Anecdotes OF Lord Randolph Churcnlll
will be as plentiful for n time as were
stories about BILLY" Travers. Lord Ran
dolph was n queer character In his way
For one thing, he never was ashamed to
admit his poverty. lie liked to entertain
American friends of his wife who nap
poned to be visiting London when ne
could afford Ii, but he could not OFTEN
afford IL. His main source OF revenue
was the annual rental that Lady Ran
dolph derives from the University Club'
I'm this city. Part Of her dowry was Sc
cured by that, and she still owns IL.
About four years ago. just before Lord
Randolph went Ia South Africa, ne
splurged a little In the way of entertain
ing. lie expected great results from MS
visits TO the gold-nelds. and there Is no
doubt that his failure to reap the pecu-
MARY benefits expected materially affected
his health. Just before he went away
Lord Randolph rented an olf-iashioneh,
ramshackIe house, about an hour out OF
London. 1t was n quaint, odu-Ioohlhs
affair Of the Elizabethan period, ana
probably had never been altered or re-
paired after that period. 1t was to this
sort OF place that Lord Randolph invited
his guests. Chauncey NJ. Depew happened
to be I'm London at the time, and he ana
Mrs. Depew were invited to join the
housc-party. They went. Lord Randolph
always had n liking for Mr.. Depew. ana
greeted him at the door with the utmost
cOrdiality.
"Depew." he said, "let me welcome
you 10 the home Of my ancestors. winch
| have hired for six weeks
Henry Irving tells Il story about Lore
Randolph which probably has never be-
fore appeared in print Irving was play
ing Hamlet in Edinburgh. He was
just coming into fame then. and every
body In town who could find room In the
house went TO see him. There was one
notable exception that nearly drove the
local manager Of the theatre crazy.
Lord Beauclcrc's box was empty Such
a thing had not happened before for years
on so momentous an occasion. No mat
ter how brilliant the rest Of the audi
ence. SO long as his lordshlp's box wa'
empty. Irving suggested 10 the manager
that perhaps he attached too much I'M
portance To the matter, but he was not
10 he consolod. The next night there was
a young man in the royal box, as Il
was called. sitting in solitary grandeuF
and paving the striCtest attention To IN"
play. After the second act Mr.. Irving re-
cFlN'N "A message lNti ls'i'i iNft4'''''f''
Churchill wished TO come behind the
scene TO speak with him. In those days
Lord Randolph was Il good ideal ~ n
"inasher." and Irving thought il was
merely "a pretence to come behind ana
have a chat with the ladies' Of the com
pany. But Lord Randolph walked right
into Irving's dressing-room and made
himself thoroughly AT home.
This is one OF Shakespearcs plays
isn't it, h. asked.
YES" replied Irving, looking al MS
visitor I'm astonishment. Lord Randolph
was fresh from college. and at that time
the curriculum was closely confined "a
the classics and mathematics. No atten-
ton at all was paid 10 literature.
What becomes Of Hamlet was Lord
Randolph's next question. = can't stop
yknow: got an engagement
Mr.. Irving told him. and then he in
CURED. what becomes Of Ophelia?' This
question was also answered. Then Lord
Randolph prepared - take his leave. re-
marking that the plot was very inter
esting" In shaking hands and bidding
good-by he said: Il think. Mr.. Irving
that suggestions that have occurred to
me during this play tonight have laid
the foundation for my whole future ca
reer." At dinner in London few years
ago. where Mr. Irving and Lord Randolph
were both present. Lord Randolph TOLD
this story on himself