LORD ROSEBERY AND THE BAGMAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3025, 7 March 1881, Page 4

LORD ROSEBERY AND THE BAGMAN.

In a sketch of the racing career of the Lord of Dalmeny a sporting contemporary tells the following anecdote:—His lordship was on a journey to a raco meeting at Ayr, aud for his companion in the railway carriage had a remarkably pushing species of commercial traveller, who attempted to force a speaking acquaintance. Seeing his lordship perusing tho Racing Calendar he " broke earth" with the remark —" Racing is a great institution. Suppose your going to Ayr Meeting ?" " I am going as far as Ayr," replied his lordship. "Pity young swells get fleeced by blacklegs. Some noblemen, I hear drop fortunes on"the Turf. " Indeed !" "I do a bit myself sometimes —a tenner or a pony's about my cut. Know anything good for to-day worth my while toxiching ?" " I am not a tipster." " Beg pardon ; saw you reading the Racing Calendar, thought you might know." " Well," replied his lordship, with a quiet smile, "if I give you the " straight tip," will it be of service to you ? " Depends if I fancy it.'' " Put your tenner or pony on Lord Rosebery's Cherronel for the Welter Cup." "Not for Joseph! I never back Lord Rosebery's horses. They say he's a regular chumpkim." " Indeed ! Perhaps they're right. However, you asked mo. I can only add that I heard Lord Rosebery himself tell what you term a chumpkim to back his horse. ' " Depend upon it, if it was all right, he would not let you overhear his conservation. Mum "would then be his game. Why, there's a lot in that race! I'll bet you a pony Lord Rosebery don't win it." " Really, lam not accustomed to bet in railway carriages with strangers." " There's my card —Mr Robert Pushabout, representative of Messrs Fleecy, Wool and Shoddy, Wool-street, Cheapside. Pact is, you ain't game to bet." ' I think you'll lose your money ; but, as you challenge me, let it be a bet.'' You'll see me in the steward's enclosure at the course. I have no cards with me." "Agreed; it's a bet. I bet you an even pony against Chevronel for the Welter Cup. But what's your name, young fellow ? " " Primrose. Sometimes lam otherwise addressed." _ "All right, young Primose ; pay and receive after the race." The companions separated at the station. Chevronel won in a canter, and the commercial received the following morning a short note by a messenger from the stewards' stand:—' Mr Primrose (Lord Rosebery) would feel obliged by Mr Pushabout handing to his servant £25, which his lordship will have much pleasure in forwarding as a donation to the Commercial Travellers' Orphan Asylum." The " bagman ,' paid his money, looking very creastfalien, and was heard to ejaculate, " Done ; who on earth would have dreamt that the good-looking affable young fellow, who I imagined was a chumkiri, was in fact none other than the Earl of Rosebery, giving me a d good honest tip about his own horse by which I was fool enough to lose £25 ? Anyway he's a regular trump and he's right—l'm the chumpkim after all."