Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-26
HIS
OCCUPATION
By ALBERT KENYON

down WnltenalI street ana entered
Green park at the horse guards Pass.
ing on through the park to Queen Vic
toria's statue opposite Buckingham
palace, | stopped to look at It no
tced a man standing before the statue
admiring it and asked him II he could
tell any interesting facts concerning
its construction He replied very civ
lily and proved quite an admiral bile
guide. He was evidently not polish
ed gentleman. for he was plainly dress
ed and misapplied his his.
"'Er majesty" he said. was one OF
the finest sovereigns that hever lived.
Hi was In the public service under er
for many years, durin' which er peo-
pie was 'appier than at hany other
reign, though that 'appiness was con
tinued under the reign of 'er gracious
son King Hedward,"
Did your office bring you in con
tact at all with the queen?"
Hi. In contact with 'er majesty!
Not Hi. sir Hi never sor er except
when she was bout hairing. But Hi
was hoften at court. sir"
Had you duties there?'
mo, sir Hi 'ad no duties at court;
Hi went there to see the notables.
sir"
IL presume you could give bits Of in
formation about many royal and emf
nent people
Yes. sir Hive seen Justice B. often
and Justice w occasionally and many
of the most heminent barristers in
England
Army magnatesT'
mo. sir Hi never met any army
officer. But FIJI once met Il parSon Hi
'ad official connection with him, sir .
I'm what way?"
He was doin' TOO much talkin' Very
windy, sir Hi shut it off.
was puzzled to make the fellow
out AT this bit Of informa ton fan
cied he might be ii sergeant-at-arms or
something Of the kind attached to the
residence Of some one of the royalties
employed to see that no inadmissibe
person forced his way into the palace.
or if such succeeded in getting there
1t was his duty TO put him out. Hav
ing been brought up to consider queS
tons as to peoples business i'll bred. |
refrained from asking him what his
office was. let him go on talking, ex-
pecting that In time he would state it
of his own accord.
ut must have taken fine lot O.
To hot hlooL ~ rh a
into position. SIR" said my companion
II don't think they used much cord
age for the purpose" | replied, 1T
would only be needed to guide the
mass as it was swung on to It's pedes
tai They doubtless used chains 70
lift It,"
"Now. really, Hi wouldn't "a thought
that Hi should think ropes would ba
better. Chains might break the marble.
sir They couldn't ave swung 1t by
the neck. could they. sir7"
looked at the man surprised. He
appeared to be sufficiently intelligent
/ to know that a statue would not be
lifted on to it's pedestal by the neck
What made you think they would
do 1t In that wayT' asked.
well. sir. 1t seems to me the nat
ural way to lift a person"
with rope? You would break a
living persons neck by lifting him
that way"
but you wouldn't break a marble
persons neck"
~ think you would in this case. The
figure Is solid and must weigh great
many tons"
"And 1t wouldn't do. sir-not in this
case-to swing 'er most gracious males
| ty even I'm marble by the neck Eaven
forbid that hany of 'er loyal subjects
should think O. such a thing! Hits
| rank treason. sir
He seemed terribly shocked.
was not especially edited by this
latter part of his chat. though before
he got on to it he talked senSibly
enough. so | thanked him for the in
formation he had given me and start
ed away, saying:
II expect to go to court soon. Per
haps shall have some attention from
you there in your official capacity"
Hi shall try to make 1t as easy as
possible for you. sir, If you do"
This added so largely to my curios
ity that | was sorry | had not asked
him the nature of the position he held
He was not a gentleman and likely
would not have taken it amiss. How.
ever. IT was now too late,
Some time after this was walking
on Oxford street with my friend Har
grave. Londoner. when | saw ap-
preaching the man had met at the
statue. 1t did not occur to me to ask
Hargrave who he was. for | had no
idea he would know
DO you see this man comingY' ask
ed Hargrave.
YES"
He's Calcraft. the hangman."
Then | understood the mans refer
ences to court-that he meant a Legal
court instead of q royal court sp
nroeioted his horror no a IovaI suhiact