Odd Stories

Southland Times, Issue 19499, 31 December 1904, Page 6 (Supplement)

Odd Stories

There is a rich budget of good stories in the newly published recollections of the late Sir John Robinson, who was manager and for a timo also editor of the Daily News when it was a power in English politics. Queen . Victoria figures comically in one incident.. A Swazi deputation waited upou hor at Buckingham Palace. One of their number began to speak, and an interpreter followed him phrase by phrase. "We come, O great - mother," he said, " to bring you qui- babe. Take him, O mother, to thy kneea ; fold bim to thy breast." Here tbe Queen, half-frightened, exclaimed, "But whore is the child 1 ? l don't see him. Where is he ?" " Here, O mother," said the Swazi gravely, at the same, 'time bringing forward a big black, about 6ft high and weighing 16 stone, "he is here. Needless to say the Queen denied herself the pleasure of embracing him. There is another story, not new, but worth retelling of how a political candidate evaded the law us to bribery. "I have to inform you, gentlemen," he said, to a. .meeting Of his constituents, " that there is to be no bribery on tour side in "this election. For ray part, I do not intend to 'givo away one penny piece." (Awful silence and consternation ; this was beyond a joke.) " However," he added,. I am sadly afraid that there are_ some d-— -d rascals in the room and that presently they will put me on tbe table and take 500 sovereigns out of my pocket. )The speaker was immediately seized and thrown on the table and Ms pockets were relieved, as he had feared they would be.