Two Stories of Mr Chamberlain.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XII, 20 September 1902, Page 706

Two Stories of Mr Chamberlain.

Seeing’ that Mr. Joseph Cha-mber-lain has the reputation of never walking a yard if he can find the means 'of driving, it is scarcely surprising that he should, for once, have met with a cab accident. the Colonial Secretary, who recently celebrated the sixty-sixth anniversary of his birth, is, of course, the subject of many amusing stories. It is related that he was one day engaged in conversation with a friend in a well-known Condon hotel, when a young man approached him. "May i speak with you a moment, Mr. Chamberlain?” he asked. “Certainly,” was the ready reply, as the politician rose from his seat. “1 cannot say it here,” said the young man, glancing nervously round.

Mr. Chamberlain looked sharply at him and then, his severity softening into pity for the man’s simplicity, said, “Follow me!” Safely arrived in a dark and curtained corner of the hotel, the Colonial Secretary asked what his interviewer wanted.

“I am on the staff of the newspaper,*” was the reply. “Can you tell me what you think of the South African situation?”

After a hurried glance round to make sure there were no eavesdroppers Mr Chamberlain whispered into the young man’s ear: “My friend, I really don’t know anything about it.”

From his boyhood upwards, whether in pastimes or in politics, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain has never willingly submitted to defeat. A story is told that he was playing with his sister once at a game of battles, each having a regiment of toy soldiers and a popgun. The gallant Joseph won easily. But he won without honours, for his sister found that he had glued his men to the floor! o o o o o