THE ROMANCE OF BOVRH

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 29

THE ROMANCE OF BOVRH

The death took place at Cannes on f- (if** day from syncope of Mr John Lawson Johnston, the founder of "Bovril," and chairman and originator of the company bearing that name. He was born at Roslin in 1839, and after spending his early years in Edinburgh, where he had a small business, went to Canada as dietetic expert in connection with the French Government. He made a speciality of dietetics and their importance from a medical, military, and climatic point of view. Mr Johnston is paid to ha\e advised and supervised all the modern expeditions, and was consulted by foreign Governments. Mr Johnston remained in Canada 'or some years, and then went to London, P'liere he set up the Bovril business, having invented that extract while resident in Canada. The concern, although a small one at the outset, gradually assumed large dimensions, and Mr Johnston floated a company The company purchased extensive properties in the Argentu.e Republic and Queensland, where large herds of cattle aie raised and converted into beef extract.

The history of the transfer of the old undertaking to the present company forms one of the romances of company promotion Mr Hooley was then in the heydey of his succes; — it was a short time after his great

" deal " m Dunlop tyres, and it occurred to a shrewd Scotsman not unknown m Edinburgh, but now resident in London, that Mr Hooley might be indticed to purchase the old Boiril (Limited) as he had done Dunlorjs He brought the suggestion before an official of Bovril, who submitted it to Mr Lawvn Johnston. The latter was at first incline.:" to laugh at it, but he ultimately said: "Lk Hooley make us an offer." This was coc veyed to Mr Hooley. who proposed a dircicj in order that the subject might be discussed. Mi Johnston was not much given to dining out. and the second in command was not available at the time. Tn these circumstances a junior member of the staff, also an Edinburgh man, was deputed to represent thfe company at the dinner. He went to the Midland Hotel with a cab piled up with ledgers and other account books, which were carried into the hotel, and laid along the corridor of the suite of rooms then rented by Mr Hoolev at £250 a week. "What's all this?" said Hooley, when he saw the great tomes ranged in front of him. " Oh, it's a lot of book 3of reference showing; the condition of the company." "Oh, ho!" said Hooley, "that's riot thp way we do business here ; come, let's dine."

There were present Mr Hooley, the gobetween referred to. the youthful representative of Bovril, a solicitor, and a stockbroker — five in all. We should say parenthetically that when the^ Bovril gentleman asked instructions from his chief, h© was laughingly requested to ask a million or a million and ahalf, or so — or " some prohibitive price." The dinner was a good one, and many thingu were discussed — anything but Bovril. After dinner, " Let's to business," said Hooley. "What d'ye want?" The Bovril' gentleman wanted to begin by submitting the accounts and list of customers, properties abroad, and so on |or Mr Hooley's satisfaction. "Look here," said Hooley, '"we're men of honour here. We'll take your word for it, youngster. Just tell up in a few words how the company stands." The young gentleman, who was familiar with all the facts, rattled them off slick, and before he had finished Hooley interposed abruptly with :

"Well, look here; I'll give you a million and a-half." " H'm, that s not enough," said the young man, secretly delighted. A good deal of banter followed, and after a little discussion — Mr Hooley upbraiding mankind for its cupidity and want of heart — ho suddenly interposed again with : " Say. I'll give a million and three-Quarter?." '' That's a little better," replied the unimpressionable young man, to whom occurred the prospect of running him a little longer, " but it's not enough." And he improved the shining- hour br dwelling eloquently on the possibilities which would be opened up by inducing everybody to buy Bovril and live on Bovril. Pshaw ! I see it's no good doing business with you fellows," said Hooley at last; " pas 9 the bottle, and let's change the subject. It's all off." And then they talked of racing and racehorses for an hour. Suddenly, and without any other preliminary remark about Bovril, Mr Hooley said: "Look here, I' ] l tell you what I'll do — I'll give you two million and not another cent ; take it or lump it" "That seems fair," said the agreeable young man. " Let's to work then." said Hooley ; and very soon the solicitor had a short provifional agreement drawn up and signed. " You'll be going on to the Stock Exchange to-morrow, you fellows,*' then said Hooley ; " Come, let's play fair and good. Lst each 0118 buy all the shares he can and divide." Which they did, and the profits <jf .each from the Stock Exchange amounted to between £35.000 and £40,000, for it may be remembered the \alue of the shares went up over £2 each. As mig-ht be expected, Mr Johnston also profited immensely from tht transaction.

The Emperor of Germany nevpr adopt' an incognito, preferring to be William the Emperor wherever he go&i. A little girl named Madeline Butler, three year 3of age, overturned a pot of boiling tar on hprself at Seymour (Vie.) on Maich 30, and her mother was severely burned in trying to save her. Both were taken the Mp!bourne Hospital, but succumbed to their irjuries. Queen Alexandra's greatest personal fnen 1 is Misp Charlotte Knollys, who has been a - tached to her Majesty's household for mai >■ years, and it is stated in " Black and White" that it was thought she would be the fir3t peeress created by King Edward VII. Misi Knollys is devoted to her royal mistress, and together they nursed the late Duke ot Clarence, and in every recent event cor. nected with Queen Alexandra's private and public life her lady-in-waiting has borne her due part. When the half-caste Lock, who abducted the little girl named Myra Woods at Riverstone (N.S.W.) a few weeks ago surrendered to the Ryde police, he was asked what he had done with his firearms, and replied that Jut left them with his mother, because he could not get away from the police while he carried them. On the night before his surrender he camped with some navvies neaiThornleigh, who gave him something to ea» without knowing who he was. On the fo - lowing day he stopped a driver of a baker' -^ cart and bought a. loaf of bread, but he; must have been living on very short rationprior to that, as the- first words uttered t<j Constable Howard were — "For God's sake t give me something to eat." His clothes wenmuch torn and very dirty, and he presented a disreputable appearance. Asked if he srtil i wanted to be a second Jimmy Governor, br\ i said, " No, I don't want to be like then •. fallows any more."