A PREMIER'S CABMAN.

Mataura Ensign, 25 March 1914, Page 4

A PREMIER'S CABMAN.

ANECDOTE OF LORD PALMERSTON A crowd of white-haired; old meiir—• romantio ttgures of old London—stood talking m the vestibule of the King's Hal! Holborn, tho other afternoon, after tho dinner given to the annuitants of the Cabdrivers' Benevolent Association by Miss Stormont Murphy. They were talking of "growlers" and hansoms and "fares" they had driven. Bill Kesterton, aged 87, the oldest of ™eja all, who first- .took out hie cab in 1860, was addressing a little circle of his own.

"I remember," ho said, "takin' Lord Palnierstoti from tho 'ouse of Commons to Piccadilly at three o'clock in the morning, ia,n' 'o only paid me a shillin'. I got double the fare from Lord Beaconsfield when I drove 'im from the 'ouse to Park Lane. Lord Randolph's Shilling.

"I onoe summoned lord Randolph Churchill for a shillin' for callin' my keb and not takin' it," said a little man named Pell. "It wos like this. Wo 'ad a stand in St. James' Square. I was leanin' against theieb sort of 'arfdosm' one night, when Lord Randolph's footman waved 'is 'and to me. "Just as I waa driving up another keb come by, and I 'heard 'is lordship say he didn't like the look of my 'oes—which wos funny, seein' it was a trotter that onoe belonged to Jem Mace, while tho other roan's moke looked as if it 'adn't 'ad a eight of 'ay for donkey s yearns.

I objected, but Lord Randolph took the other chap's. He came to tie court and pleaded some ole ohiarter which didn't allow kelwstandß in the square. And is footman said 'e didn't call me ait all. I lost the case, and 'ns lordship came up to me very friendly like and offered a shillin', s>ut I wouldn't take it. Then 'e sent hirfootman with it. and I didn't mind taking it then." Each of the guests at the dinner was P r «»eirted V Mr Alfred de Rothschild with half a bottle of champagne, dears and fruit.