Imagination's Powers.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 46

Imagination's Powers.

Before Lord Melville bad obtained the patronage of Scotland, he was, as Mr Duudas, by no means popular in that country. On the contrary, he was more than once in danger of his life from mobs in Edinburgh. On a certain occasion, after being concerned in some obnoxious public measure, he ventured to visit the capital, and in the morning sent for a barber to shave him at his hotel. The barber happened to be a bit of a wag, and on entering the room he, with much solemnity, saluted Mr Dundas, and welcomed him to Edinburgh. Then having decorated him with an apron, he began to apply the lather, during which operation he cast upon him sundry scowling and penetrating glances, the meaning of which the visitor could not well understand. At length, flourishing his razor, the barber said in a sharp, stern voice :

"We are much ollu/ed to you, Mr Dundas, for the part you lately took in .London." " What ! " replied Mr Dundas, " You are a politician, I find ! I sent for a barber." " Oh, yes," returned the barber. " I'll shave you directly." The operation proceeded until half of the beard was clearly off, when, coming to the throat, the barber drew the back of the razor sharply across it, exclaiming : " Take that, ye traitor ! " and ran off down the stairs aud into the street.

Mr Dundas had been ill at ease from the moment the barber made his appearance, and this last expression, accompanied as it was by such a suitable action, induced him instantly to apply the apron to his throat, and to make a curious gurgling noise, which, being heard by some of the people in the house, they immediately ran to his assistance. It was some time before they could discover from his pantomimic gestures what had occurred, and then it was a considerable time before Mr Dundas could De prevailed upon t* remove the apron and expose his throat. At length, however, he did so with much caution, and then it was found that his throat was perfectly whole, without even as much as a scratch upon it. In the meantime the room had become filled with lawyers, physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, and though Mr Dundas had much reason to be delighted at having escaped unhurt, ho was greatly mortified at the laugh this adventure caused ; and his chagrin was still further increased when he found that he had to pay for the attendance of the medical gentlemen.