New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
LONDON NOTES.
YERs AND CARICATURISTS IN PAR
LAMENT SPENDTHRIFTS
AND MONEY-LENDERS.


AND MONEY-LENDERS.
London, December 90.
Sir Frank Lockwood's reputation for wit is
not fully sustained by the anecdotes published
since his unt.mey death His quickness in
repartes is happily illustrated by his remark TO
his Parliamentary antagonist. whose coachman
had run into Lacy Lockwoods carriage: "Oh.
really. Butcher You have nearly thrown me out
al York but you need not upset the whole fam
fly" Most Of the stories. Of which many COL
umns are published in London and Yorkshire.
seem cold and pointless IN print and lacking in
the bonhomie which was characteristic Of the
mos; !ocose and popular member Of the English
bar This IS because his Wit and pleasantly
depended in large measure upon his nonchalance
Of manner and captivating personality.
The best Joke which l heard from his lips
was al pubirc dinner held not Ions after the
downfall Of the Rosehery Ministry. He had
been or-General, and as it was difficult
and embarrassing FOR the Un.onists TO distribute
the law Offices Of the Grown among their most
eminent tarristers he had been left for brief
space in splendid isolation among Conservative
colleagues My lords and gentlemen" he said
with mock gravity. after describing humorously
the melancholy plight Of a progressive Liberal
IN finding himself in an environment OF Tory
Ism. Il shared their emouments. but not their
confidence" His audience was convulsed with
laughter by this unexpected sally. with It's
quaint phrasing but II IS doubtful whether
equal merrment would have been caused II
Sir Robert Reid or Mr. Asquith had used the
Same words. S.r Frank Lockwood was big,
brawny broad-shouldered man, standing six
feet two inches in his shoes and with hand
Itch
health vigor and good humor Ills face alone
suficed to put an after-dinner audience in high
spirits. and every sentence falling from his lips
was punctuated with laughter. whether it was
oomical or not.
Having a commanding presence and clear
voice, Sir Frank Lockwood naturally was a sue
cessful barrister but his greatest talent was
that Of forcing every one in court to like him.
The witness whom he was cross-examining
found It impossible 70 resist the fascinations Of
his genial manner. and even when taken off his
guard and forced % convict himself admired
him and bore him no ill-wlI. With the judges he
was favorite and licensed Jester. being al
lowed larger privileges and more Indulgence than
any other Queens Counsel. There was 50 much
that was engaging iu his bright and breezy per-
fonality that jury was strongly prejudiced in
lis favor, ana disposed % find a verdict for his
client before the case was summed up.
Throughout his public and professional life he
was pctted and hat'ered because he had an in
comparable talent for pleasantly and a rollick-
Ing love ~ gayety. His political opponents at
York. when lie was hesitating over accepting
the Office % SoNCltor-Gencral offered to facili-
tate his reelection by declining to contest a
close borough. Keen rs was his wit. he proba-
BY ia not have enemy in all England HIS
entrance al q theatre. where he was one Of the
most conspicuous figures Of q hrst-night audi
ence. was almost always greeted with applause
lie was a fayor,o in society, but not spoiled
child. for no remained TO the end modest unaf-
fected IN manner. generous IN impulses and
slngulariy simple minded
II is barely year since Sir Frank Lockwood
was one Of the conspicuous humorists in a holt
Cay masquo before Mr. Justice Hawkins That
was the trial q Brooks versus Labouchere
when the begging lotter-wrlter undertook to
p'ead his own case. and was laughed out OF
curt The lawyers exposure on cross-exarnina-
TO" OF the plaintiffs canting hypocrisy was
Hefciless and complete but his face was
"'ea'hea In smiles. and his manner was courte-
Jus Inc height of joiity was reached when
MI bio'ks undertook 10 make out his case by
Gaming AT. Iaoouchore as a witness. and when
every saIdOnic answer excited hysterical merri-
mint Inc hncst touch Of buresque was re-
Se''eu ior Sir Frank Lockwood himself 1t was
"Nen Alr- Labouchere admitted that his law
n"'S 'or exposing impostors exceeded 100000
me DurTisters face wore an expression OF un-
'-ouoea Denevolcnce when, in the name OF the
PROFESSION. he bestowed upon his client the az
e0'''i'a'e benedicuon. go on and prosperr
ARTIST AND LAWYER
equation for wit may be "A source OF serious
embarrassment. as Sir Frank Lockwood coon
earned "hen he entered Parliament He was
'00Aed upon as q racy humorist whose duty IT
was 10 De as amusing Mr.. Labouchere and
whenever he was serious his audience was dis
appointed. He seldom spoke in the Commons
aho' Ike other eminent barrsters, was re-
preached by candid friends for neglectlng to sus-
tain IN public debate the reputation which he
had made as an advocate at the bar. He car
fled into Parliament. however. the talent for
caricature which he had cultivated In the courts
during dull half-hours: and any scrap OF paper
served his purpose for rapid sketching when
those around him on the benches were yawnng
over q dry debate Suddenly 4 litter would be
heard in that quarter Of the House. and every
body IN the group would smile when a comlcal
drawing was passed about for general apprecla-
ton
Other members had the same comic talent
notably Colonel Gaunderson. the aggressive