THREE STORIES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 13, Issue 48, 24 June 1902, Page 2

THREE STORIES.

PAINTER, POLITICIAN, AND POET. Many interesting anecdotes are related by Mr. Augustas Hare in his “ Story of My Life,’ which Mr. George Allen has published. As te tho stories of aitists, that of Sir Thomas Lawrence is perhaps the best. He “ was an endless time over his pictures.” .BABY WANTED FINISHING. “ That was the case with his portrait of Lady Mexborough and her child. Lord Mexborough asked to have it home again and again, but it was no use. At last ho said he must have the picture. ‘ Well,’ said Sir Thomas, ‘ I’ve bren a long time, I allow, but I’ve got well forward with Lady Mexborough; it's the baby wants finishing. Now if Lady Mexborough would kindly bring the baby and give me another sitting, I really will finish.’ ‘Well, Sir Thomas,’said Lord Mexborough, ‘My wife will be happy to give you another sitting whenever you like, but the baby’s in the Guards,’ ” DISRAELI'S "THREE THINGS." Statesmen and other distinguished people, living and dead, appear in these pages. A lady who had noted some of Lord Beaconsfield’s peculiarities, told the author that—- “ One day at luncheon she offered him the mustard. ‘ I never take mustard,’ ho replied in his sepulchral voice. 1 Oh, don't you ?’ she said, airily. ‘ No,’ he continued in ■olemnest tones. ‘ There are three things I never used. I have never touched mustard. I have never had a watchr, and I have never made use of an umbrella.’ ‘Well,’ said Augusta, ‘1 can understand the mustard—that is a mere matter of taste; but surely gaing without the other things must have been rather inconvenient.' ‘ And why should I want them ? ’ continued Disiaeli mors sepulchrally than ever. ‘ I live under the shadow of Big Ben, and there is a clock in every room of the House of Commons, so that I cannot possibly icquiro a watch; and as I always go about in a close carriage 1 can never want an urn hrella.’ ” "IN MEMORIAM Among several stories about poets, the following may be noted: “ The existence of 1 In Memoriam ’ may bo said to be due to Patmore. When young he and Tennyson lodged together at some house in London, when they had a violent quarrel with their landlady and left suddenly in a huff. Once well a way they recollected that MSS. of “ In Memoriam ” was left in the cupboard ef their foora with the unfinished ham and half-e»pty jam-pot. The timid Alfred would not face the wuith of the landlady, but Patmoie went back to get it. He found the woman cleaning the doorst.ep, and told her ho was come to get something he had left behind. ‘ No,' said she, ‘ there was nothing, and she had seen quite enough of him, ho should not go upstairs.’ But the slim Patmore took her by surprise, slipped past her, rushed up to the room, and from the jam cupboard extracted the MS., and made off with it in spite of her imprecations.”