The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-11

1ONDON, July IL. (By Mail to the
United Press).--A lad of 10 years !
short pugnacious, persuasive, Horatio
Bottomley presented himself 50 years
ago for his first days work with a
Partisan manufacturers agent in a
narrow street off Cheapside.
In later years, Botomley was to give
"Mason's College" Birmingham" as
his alma mater, when he furnished
bis autobiography to who's Who"
1t is probable, however, that other re-
ports that he graduated from sort
of semi-orphanage founded by al
wealthy philanthropist named Mason
were more correct, as from his tenth
year he was self-educated.
Bottomley soon showed his indie
pendence Of convention. His duty in
his first job. was to take samples of
fringes and such about to the smart
West-end shops. He was asked one
day. to move his employers office fur
niture IN hand cart, bit by bit, to
new premises. He took aboard the
first load, pushed it up the street
short-distance, abandoned it and went
to look for more congenial employ
ment. The cart was found later, and
Bottomley we find already starting to
work in lawyers office.
Here 1t was that the germ of real
ambition was born, and Bottomley be-
gan boyish browsing through the
dusty books in the musty office. He
had hardly started when his employer
died fro mdelirium tremens and his
chief clerk was sent to the peniten-
tiary for having collected taxes un-
officially from people of the district.
Obtains Real Post.
His Job having died natural, under
the circumstances, death. Bottomley
obtained a new post-his first real
one-with solid, unimpeachable firm
OF lawyers off the Strand. They were
Bottomley's solicitors at his recent
trial and helped him with his defense.
He had become their chief client, and
paid them a fortune during a career
whose years-almost weeks-were
marked with lawsuits; lawsuits for
libel, fraud, Misrepresentation debts,
in which he was sometimes defendant,
sometimes complainant, but always
the dominant figure.
Il was while Bottom1ey was with
these solicitors that he prepared to
launch himself properly on England
and make 1t his oyster.
Whenever he could, Botomley stud
led law, and with It studied stenog-
raphy so we'll that throughout his
later life he was able to make his
notes in almost perfect shorthand.
At IL Bottomley had learned short
hand sufficiently to become court
reporter. Here he added to his legal
knowledge. At the end Of five years
he was a finished. though uncalled
nnd unbriefed lawyer. Incidentally,
he had as he afterward frequently
said, formed contempt for the stod-
riness, complication and red-tape-
sometimes injusdce-of the law.
Married at 20.
BottomIey married at 20-happily
and permanently. His wife, still as
devoted to him as bride. went out
to the prison hospital the other day
the only personal visitor he will be
permitted for four months; and they
inside love together as they did when
as a youth and girl they went to q
cottage near Chaplain Common, ano
in the evening she chatted and mend
ed his clothes while he studied ano
MANNED his-and their future.
They were very happy together al
WAYS. and the young wife would nave
heen contented to continue as theJ
did the first three years of their mar
riape-he as a shorthand reporter anC
she a very proud young housewife
To Bottomley, this was only step
with England at war, its nights
hidcous with the roars OF aerla
bombs. its days grey with fasting an'
casualty lists and the steady march 0
only sons and last sons to the 1ront
Horatio Bottomley melted into tn
role he really Hked-Horatio Bottom
ley, patriot.
Helped In War.
When more men were wanted !
was Bottomley the government %
tanned to tour the country and pIea'
for recruits.
Bottomley, in John Bull, was looke'
to each week for another poWer1u
article as they were advertised o.
walls and signboards all over Englan'
in 10-foot letters.
His voice retained its silver, ana nj
pen all its eloquence. There were icy
men, in army, navy or government
who did more to win the war.
"no Won believe, mothers" he aske
in one of the articles, that thing a
beautiful as was your son, with sou
SO pure. a heart so good, courage S
great. can die?
At the recruiting meetings he wa
superb. His little figure, his pugnac
Gus face would be seen as he rose I
speak, not pugnaciously or pompousl!
but quietly, almost without gesture
in a rich, persuasive voice, his hoI
like head with its silvery, silky hal
shaking to emphasize his climaxe'
He would move his audience to tear
laughter, enthusiasm, hate, as n
wished.
Five minutes later, backstage, b
would be laughing cynically at tn
credulity of his hearers with a 1ocula
"that's the stuff to give EN-"