A COOL SOLDIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9040, 19 November 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A COOL SOLDIER.

A correspondent, writing of the late Lord Strathnairn, says be was the most indolent, lackadaisical, languid person who ever dawdled along Piccadilly. When he was devastating Central India, and winning the splendid victories that immortalised bis name, he was so lazy that he could not be got to dictate the despatches recording his own triumphs. Months elapsed before these documents could be extracted from him, and then they were brief and meagre to the last degree. One day, when Sir Hugh Rose, he was entertaining a gallant company to dinner during the crisis of the mutiny. With the utmost sangfroid he was delighting those near him with one of his best anecdotes.

In the middle of it his orderly entered, and after saluting, exclaimed, " We have captured 200 rebels, sir." To him the General turned, and with that elegant courtesy of manner on which he prided himself, serenely replied, " Thank you, sergeant." But the man still remained.

Again interrupting his chief, he said, " But what are we to do with them, sir ?" '•Oh," replied Sir Hugh, with a soft smile, " hang them, of course," and ho resumed his anecdote.

In a little while Sir Hugh was again interrupted in the middle of another story by the sergeant, who came in and stud, "Please, sir, we've hung the lot, sir." The General turned, bowed slightly, and in the sweetest manner lisped, " Thanks, sergeant very many thanks," and then went on with his anecdote as if nothing had happened. This story came to the ears of the Queen, and she was so angry that ib nearly cost Sir Hugh his peerage.—The Million.