KING EDWARD AND "LABBY."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 13

KING EDWARD AND "LABBY."

In discussing tho career of the late Henry Lnbouchere, a contributor to the London World .relates a story which illustrates afresh tho breeziness and tolerance of King Edward's disposition : — "It was well known that Labouchero, in spite of the — at one time — rather Republican tinge of his Radicalism, was persona grata with the late King Edward, who was broad-minded enough to find no personal offence in the political opinions of Bradlaugh's brilliant colleague in the representation of Northampton, and who delighted in 'LabbyV caustic wit and inexhaustible fund of amusing anecdote. One etory of this quaint friendship, for the accuracy of which 1 am in a position to vouch, in worth recalling here, as it has not hitherto found its way Into .print. 4t a period when a grant to a member of Queen Victoria's Family was under discussion in Parliament, and Labouchere had made himself prominent m opposition to the Government motion, he was sitting onemlght with the Lhen Prince of Wales in a well-known club, not & hundred miles fi'om Long Acre, when a certain Scottish Duke, since dead, passed them, bowing exclusively to tho Heir-Apparent as ho did so. The Prtnco thereupon called back, exclaiming, "You know Mr. Labouchere?" "I do not, sir, ' »vaa the cold reply, "nor do I wish to know a nian who traduces your mother, your «ister, and all your family every week; and, sir, I must be allowed to express my surprise that you should permit him the 'honour of association with yourself." To which the only reply vouchsafed by the Prince was a genially reproving, "Go to bedGo to bed !"