THE LATE MR ODELL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20181, 25 June 1928, Page 8

THE LATE MR ODELL

A FAMOUS MAN PICTURESQUE LONDON FIGURE. Many memories of Mr E. J. Odell, “King of the Savages,” who died last week, are given in lt ßecollections of a Savage,” by Mr Edwin A. Ward (says the Australasian). Mr Ward mentions as significant the fact that Mr Odell was always addressed and alluded to by fellow-clubmen as Mr Odell,” and never as f 1 Odell.”

In reckless mood (Mr Ward writes), I once had the temerity to inquire of him what Christian names his initials stood for. He promptly enlightened me, “Ebenezer Jehoshaphat” . . . The “E” was really a name which I have the honour to share—Edwin —but T must leave to others the task of extracting from him what “J” stands for. . . . For many years Mr Odell’s place of abode was shrouded in deepest mystery. I spent the whole of one night in his company. We left the club as it was closing, long after midnight, and made for the Charing Cross Hotel, where a small and select party of “late birds” was usually to be found.

Having exhausted the entertainment at that establishment we wandered forth in the direction of Fleet street, visiting several licensed houses where members of the Press were free to refresh themselves at any time of the night. From there I was conducted to a “Lockhart’s,” where a light repast was indulged in washed down with a cup of cocoa. By that time the “early houses” were opening. After sampling several of these on the way to Covent Garden, all alive with market folk, we returned to the Charing Cross Hotel and partook of their excellent “7 o’clock boat breakfast.” Just as I was wondering when Odell would consider the “evening” finished and disclose the direction of his habitation, he excused himself for a moment, and, after a long wait, I found that he had vanished and that the evening was over.

Odell became an incarnation of the spirit of the chib. Mr Ward writes: “Wherever I found myself, the first question put to me by people who knew I belonged to the Savage Club, was ‘How is Odell?’ Most of them had never been inside the club. How on earth this man’s name had become a household word puzzled me, yet ho was often the only member of the famous club with whose name people appeared to be familiar. He had not, like so many of his fellow-members, been a great traveller, and although as an actor he. had never failed to fill his part with distinction, he was not usually associated with the worldfamous productions . . King Edward showed his appreciation of Odell’s claim to recognition by nominating him as one of the brethren of the Charterhouse—where his picturesque figure is in complete harmony with a place hallowed by memories of Colonel Newcome. ”