The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-17

northampton lOr many years IN tdI'
lament died at midnight on Monday
at his residence, the villa Cristina
Florence, in his eighty-frst year.
He had been declining in health
since his wifes death, and a few days
ago bronchitis supervened on inlu.
enza On Sunday he was very i'll and
seemed to be sinking. On Monday he
rallied somewhat, but as night fell he
became weaker and passed away at
midnight His daughter, the March,
oness di Rudini was present at the
bedside. MI Labouchere was buried
on Wednesday beside his wife in the
cemetery of San Miniato.
Gifted with indefatigable industry,
MIR. Labouchere had been able to work
and to receive his friends up to a few
days ago. His death has caused deep
regret not only in Florence, but in
other parts Of Italy.
Arch Enemy Of Sham.
Mr. Labouchere was a wit, jour
nalist politician. He dabbled in the
deep waters Of finance and the shall
low brooks of theatricalism He knew
everybody, and, although he wes one
OF the best-abused men of his time,
everybody was glad to know him. He
was behind all the scenes, familiar
with all the hidden springs He had
| been everywhere, done everything. He
touched life at so many points, and
yet he failed at none of them. He
seemed to be able to do whatever he
attempted both easily and well.
In his violently Radical days it was
hard to make his Northampton con-
stituents believe that he came of an
old and wealthy family. He was the
least assuming of men. That he was
well born, that Lord Taunton was his
uncle, that he inherited fortune of
2OO,OOO-these things were the
merest trines to him.
He was no respecter of persons. He
had no two sets of manners. He had
as kind a heart as any man who ever
lived, but he could not bear preten-
tiousness, snobbery, or sham.
He hated humbug so profoundly
that, in his fear of seeming not to be
entirely sincere himself he sometimes
gave people a wrong impression of his
character, He would even pretend
not to be generous and sympathetic.
But a test always proved him the most
| loyal of friends, the most ready help
er with purse or pen of all who could
convince him that they had suffered
injustice or injury
Early Life As Diplomat
His habit of taking everything as
it came, and paying no attention. to
appearances, was formed very early
in life. After Elton and Cambridge he
entered the diplomatic service, For
ten years he spent his time in British
Embassies at Washington, St. Peters
burg, Constantinople, and elsewhere.
The stories told of him at this period
are endless. There Is the one which
relates how, after being appointed TO
certain post, he was not heard Of
for six weeks When at last he could
be written to, he explained that. as
no expenses for the journey had been
provided by the Foreign Office, he
was walking to his destination, and
hoped to reach there in about six
weeks time
There is the other-equally true, so
he admitted-of the distinguished for
eigner who called to see the Ambassa-
dor and was received by the Young
and humorous attache, who explained
that the Ambassador was not there.
The distinguished foreigner declined
to tell his business, treated the at
tache with hauteur and said he would
wait, After about half an hour he
inquired testify when the Ambassador
was expected, Not for two months"
was the answer. "He left for Eng
land this morning"
Start of Truth"
After ten years of diplomacy he de-
cided that the higher ranks of the
profession did not attract him. He
resigned, came home, stood for Wind
sor, and was elected to Parliament.
Both this time and the next, however,
he had the ill-fortune to be unseated
on petition through the corrupt prac-
tees of some of his friends 1t was
not until 1880 that he found a place
in the House of Commons as member
for Northampton. BY that time many
/ things had happened. He had always
had a fancy for writing, and in 1870
went to Paris as special correspon-
dent of the Daily News, of which, by
the way, he was for a good many
years one of the proprietors. He was
in Paris throughout the siege, and
wrote a most amusing book about it
called the Letters of a Besieged Res
ident."
| When LII Edmund Yates founded
the World Mr.. Labouchere joined him