New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-21
THE PASSING THRONG.

when H. Rider Haggard. the novelist en-
joying his first great success" said Walton Snow
yesterday, che visited this country.
THE CLUB At that time his works were read
WIT and scussed by every one. and
OUTWITTED his latest novel Of the
current topics for conversation in
clubland A friend of his day brought him to
a certain club and introduced him to constantly
growing circle of friends. for as after another
the members introduced to him they joined
and stayed with the party anxious to hear what
their famous guest might say. To this club be-
lOnged thoroughly good fellow. who tad achieved
the reputation Of being the club wit. After the
room we'll filled up the club wit entered. and
was promptly introduced as Mr.. John Smith, the
wit of the Abnaki Club. to Mr.. II. Rider Haggard;
the novelist. Smith started around the outside OF
whispered to a friend it's gag isn't III? 1T Is
pnkindy replied the friend Smith bided his time
but when II came. and there was lull In the con-
versauon. ne fixed Haggard with glittertng eye
with pleasure and delight but there is a scene in
one of them which l do not think could possibly
the host looked puzzled and Mr.. Iaggard queried.
'Haow% II Is the place where you make a boat
load OF adventurers float on stream OF boiling
water water through a cavern Haow?' protested MI
boiled. retolned Smith while protest and explana-
ton from the other members flew thick around
more deeply Into the matter. and 10 an accom-
paniment Of Haows contributed by Haggard tore
merrily on to his doom. At length when it was
finally forced upon him that it was the simon pure
against. and not the spurious article he had been
led 10 believe. he made the amende honorable and
wound up by asking Haggard and the rest of the
party to drown remembrance Of the episode in
bowl of wassan. Mr. Haggard agreed and the in
cident was closed, but the members of the Abnaki
lived in glover for six months thereafter, for
query of Smith TO whether he had met Haggard
or knew anything about boiling water was in
yaria5ly productive of free drinks, while threat
ner."
"One of the most interesting characters in Lon
don." said F. P. Osgood OF Philadelphia. yester-
day at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
LABOUCHERE is Labouchere OF Iabby,' as
AS friend and enemy alike delight to
DIPLOMAT. call him. The editor and pro-
prietor OF Truth and Member of
Parliament comes of a noble family and his uncle,
from whom he inherited fortune was. 1 think,
an Irish earl. but while the title for some reason
did not descend to Labouchere, the estates did.
Labby' originally in the diplomatic service,
receiving his early training there and innumerabe
anecdotes of his doings and sayings when in this
time when Labby' attached to the legation
at Was hington. impOrtunate and important in
the Minister, and on being informed that he had
just gone out, pompously announced that he would
wait for him half hour elapsed and then the
important parsonage asked Of Iabouchere when
he expected the Minister back. He left for Mon
treal half an hour ago., was the response and in
tends returning next Saturday. Later in his career
he assigned to an obscure Russian post. with
which the Foreign Office had no business whatso-
ever, and ordinarily but little communication. Some
that required the attention and action of Labou-
chere in his official capacity. and the Foreign ONCE
by setting inquiry foot finally located him in
Berlin. Thither was forwarded an inquiry. couched
wherefore of his being at his post and TO this
Iabby' replied that, he not allowed to have
expected TO arrive there in about four months
time"