Lablache.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6228, 10 April 1895, Page 1

Lablache.

>» (Cornhill Magazine.) His servant took about a chair and bedding for his especial use ; no ordinary carriage door would admit him; no ordinary vehicle was safe to hold him. On one occasion, his brougham not having arrived at the theatre in time, he ordered a street cab. The Jehu looked alarmed when he set eyes on his fare. "He'll never get in, sir," said he to the impressario, who happened to be with Lablache. However, a trial was made—sideways; frontways, headways, backways all in vain. Then two men went to the opposite side and dragged with all their might, while other two did their utmost to push in the basso. "It's no go," cried the cabby, " he'll ruin the cab." One more effort—a long, long pull and a strong, strong push, and Lablache was upon the seat, puffing and blowing. But the difficulties were only begun. Lablache wanted to change to the other side from that on which he had sat down. He rose—the whole of his prodigious weight was thrown upon the few slender boards forming the bottom of the cab. A moment more, and Lablache's ieet and legs were seen standing in the, street. The cabman swore, the basso grinned, and a crowd which had meanwhile gathered roared. It was as good as a pantomime, and especially as the process of getting Lablache into the cab had now to be repeated, in order to get him out. When at last the singer had regained bis liberty/the vehicle was found to be a total wreck, and cabby's curses could only be stopped by an assurance that the damage should be made good.