New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
HIS GREAT AMBITION.

To become known IN the university
was my ambition--my short cuts TO fame
had failed-it never entered my head 10
apply myself really to study, so, in de-
fault of a better method. | resolved to
distinguish myself by my bets on horse
races. / diligently attended every meet
ing at Newmarket, and spent the even
inps i'm a tavern. where the sporting stu
dents and sporting tradesmen assembled
to gamble. At the end of two years
had lost about $500 and / owed TO most
Of my sporting friends. Upon
dispute with the college authorities my
degree was deferred for two years, and
] left the university"
After leaving college where his father
paid his debts for him, the student
wished to become the man about town,
and. finding his fathers home dull and
his father religious, he lived In tavern
al Covent Garden. There was a great
deal going on i'm the tavern, which was
a favorite place for the artists and
authors Of London to make their gather
ings. Thackeray has often described it,
and, i'm fact. often went there, while
among its other patrons were Douglas
Jerrold. Lione Lawson, Edmund Yates,
Augustus saa, SERGEANT Ballantine and
many others. Labouchere. in spite of his
own statement that he did not know how
TO converse but only to argue, was one
Of the chosen spirits at this rendezvous.
HIS MANNERS.
Conversation" ne writes, 81 had
none. My manners were boorish-I had
never learnt TO dance, so | seldom en-
tered a ballroom, or If there, 1 pretend
Ell TO despise the amusement, as | never
owned myself incapable of anything. If
l entered a drawing room, | either held
myself aloof from the company or
argued some subject by the hour with
my neighbor. In fact in manners
was an outre specimen of an unculti-
waited English young mantle most de-
testable yahoo in creation"
His father rescued him from his
tavern and sent him abroad with a
tutor. The tutor hied to the Carpathian
Mountains while Labouchere remained
at Wiesbaden. Trente ct quarante and
roulette were the attractions there lie
picked up his tutor at Paris and re-
turned TO England. II was then de-
cided 10 send him or ship him 10 South
America, where the Labouchere family
had important financial interests.
lie set sail in a steam packet on No
vember 2 1852, and after recovering
from seasickness took part in a lively
evening with some of the other pas
sengers. "One German he writes.
went round and informed the English
they were going to drink to die King
OF England and amid immense applause
they bawled out Colt save die Queen
AS the punch got TO their heads the
songs became more sentimental. A
Bonn student seized the bowl and
wished to drink il to the Fatherland'
when another. who saw no reason why
the Bonn gentleman should consecrate
the whole to his patriotism. knocked
him down This was the signal for
general row Some were sick. some
sang, while a little jew. who. before,
had considered a steward. enlivened the
scene by dancing about In his night
shirt"
The good ship landed at Vera Cruz.
where LabCuchere found himself in the
midst OF swashbuckling Mexicans. In
two months ne lost ali his money at
cards and was 81 200 in debt lie wrote
10 his tutor. informing him Of this
with the comment. ~ had intended not
10 gamble i'm America because OF hav-
ing to pay n double intercst-but man
proposes and God disposes. l have