A "Bob Lowe" Story.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3099, 15 September 1899, Page 6

A "Bob Lowe" Story.

An interesting lx>ok might be compiled if it were possible to obtain from Ministers ar -account of rheir feeling's, reflections, and experiences on the first occasion they 'are privileged to take tbeir seat on the Treasury Bench. It i.s an enormous stride (generally, by the way, taken across the gangway) when a nva'n gui us the benches where private niembers sit and fl,ndss him»*<ilf enrolled as one of her Majesty's Ministers. Once launched on those waters he may jateer .his course Ln various directions, and sometimes hits upon enrrenfts that carry him into The office of Prime Minister. Talking with a member of the late Ministry on the epoch as it affected him. the conversation took an unexpected turn. " I don't remember anything about the first night." he said, "except that after 1 had been sitting on the Treasury Bench a quarter of an hour Bob Ix>we dropped in. and gave me enough to think of for the reart of rhe night. It was early in tthe session — a nasty, wet evening, the pavements thick with mnd. l-rowe had evidently walked, at leas; part of the way. for his boots were al! liMiddy As he crossed one leg over the other I became painfully conscious of a piece of once white tape ha.ng.ng out from the troueer by the heel, evidently connected with some undec-gar ment. He wore a curious coat, with hig pockets outside, below the hips, suoh as in quiet, oountry places one associates with the working poanher I should not have been at all surprised if he had brought out one of thes» huge receptacles a fine hare, and out of rhe other a brace of phea-sants. There wi_s evidently some thins there I gu(«s<Hi thar by a certain bulkiness. In fact, as the bench filled up I was conscious of pressing against it. " With the ardour of a novice. 1 sat in my new place rill close upon the dinner hour. So did Lowe. Just befcre 8 o'clock I mid I would go and get some dinner. Lowe snid he thought he wouldn't trouble. Then he dived into the recesses of the pocket next to me. dragged out a chunk of bread, and ate it on tihe Treasury Bench. That. I fancy, was his dinner." — H. W. Lucy, In the " Strand Magazine."