, 1896-05-06

position in 1857, he published London
Lyrics" which received the apprC baton of
Thackeray, the editor Of CornhW. The re-
suit was an Invitation to write for that
Magazine. Seven years before the young poet
cleik had maryied adaughter Of Lord Elgin.
A ROMANCE IN HYDE PARK.
This lady is the heroine of the following
delightful little love incident:-'Early in
March 1850, when Lady Charlotte came back
to London, We took a walk together in Hyde
tank. 1t was a short walk, but it was one Of
the happiest [ have ever taken, for it was
then that ] proposed to her, and, III spite of
the warning Of tie Sage Of Bolt Court and
all 1 could say, she accepted me. This is how
it came about. We had teated ourselves On
bench, and neither spoke. l took her hand
This is tho p~rettiest hand in all the world"
said I. Il happen to know one that's quite
as pretty said she. Another silence. Per
haps was ircredulouS, but when she put
the other pretty hand into mine | knew that
we both were very happy.
ROYAL FRIENDS.
During these years, continues Mr.. Locker
Lampson. | met many distinguished people.
We used to stay at Frogmore with the
Duchess of Kent. She liked whist; she
would play a card, and take o transitory nap,
and we were quite happy to wait till she
MOhC any IJNAON ~ tAO U'4A|A RNO NN
with dignity and very deity. She was very
kind. She used to pity NE for having to in
hale the ''fogues'' ,iogs) of London. [ have
a grateful RENE mbrance of this exalted and
beneN client lady. While at Frogmole | very
occasionally saw the Queens children, and
Her Majesty once or twice. The Queen had
q warm regard for Charlotte; rejoiced in her
humour, honoured her by giving her her
books and commanded us to those select
Courts which she decreed in the earlier
years Of her widovhood. [ never felt
much at my ease with Royalty, and | never
shall, Int | will tell you a funny little
story Of the Court. Sir George Copper, an
excellent administrator but an elderly vslstu-
d~inarian, had charge Of the Duchess Of Kents
purse and the management and control Of
her household, One day little Prince Arthur
qestioned him.: ''Sir George are you the Sir
George who k the drogon?" We we're
hidden to Windsor. Lord Palmerston was
there, and he PrinceConsort told that
striking aneclote of the sleeping Windsor
sentry and St. Pauls clock striking thirteen.
This is ali | can call to mind OF that enter.
tainment.
THE HUMoURs OF a DIRECrGRSHIP.
In 1865 Mr.. Locker was appointed Director
of an Insurance Company There are
twelve Of us; we meet every Tuesday at one
o'clock. The fye is three pounds, and if q
Director is not in the room-jf the whole OF
his body is not in the room-When the clock
strikes one he loses his fee You may be
quite sure that very few of the Directors arrive
after that hour. We are perhaps the most
punctual twelve men IN all England. .......
~ ought to say hat at the end OF the year
the fees Of the absentee Directors are divided
among the entire body. One would tn %,refole
suppose that those who are least regular
would be most popular, and doubtless they
really are so yet there is y formulated opini-
on kept mp as to the great virtue of Directors
who are tho most regular attendants. AS
proof of this we used to have a certain old
Mr.. G--P--,who had attended fifty three
Tuesdays in one particular twelvemonth. I
do not know how he managed it. He was a
very opulent person, and it was whispered,
now and then when he got home at night he
would lie down On his drawing-room carpet
and roll in his accumulated fees. He del
years ago, but he is still spoken of in our
board-room as the most valuable and single
minded servant and friend that the society
has ever had"
PROFITABLE IGNORANCE.
Locker LampsOn was connected by mar.
riage with Dean Stanley, and enjoyed his
intimacy. An anecdote is given to illustrate
his often mentioned incapacity for fgures-a
defect which Dean Brady says has been
n,uoh oxorrarofod at w. tIj-. l.I