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diff --git a/old/63218-0.txt b/old/63218-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f7a6c92..0000000 --- a/old/63218-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11666 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lord William Beresford, V. C., Some -Memories of a Famous Sportsman, Sol, by Mrs. Stuart Menzies - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Lord William Beresford, V. C., Some Memories of a Famous Sportsman, Soldier and Wit - -Author: Mrs. Stuart Menzies - -Release Date: September 17, 2020 [EBook #63218] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD, V. *** - - - - -Produced by Sonya Schermann, John Campbell and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. - - - - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD, V.C. - - SOME MEMORIES OF A FAMOUS - SPORTSMAN, SOLDIER - AND WIT - - -[Illustration: “FIGHTING BILL” - -_Reproduced by permission from “Vanity Fair”_] - - - - - LORD WILLIAM - BERESFORD, V.C. - - SOME MEMORIES OF A FAMOUS - SPORTSMAN, SOLDIER AND WIT - - BY - MRS. STUART MENZIES - - WITH APPRECIATIONS BY - THE EARL OF CROMER & - ADMIRAL LORD BERESFORD - 38 ILLUSTRATIONS, ALSO REPRODUCTIONS - OF THE SIGNATURES OF THOSE - PRESENT AT THE FAMOUS FAREWELL - DINNER AT CALCUTTA - - - HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED - ARUNDEL PLACE HAYMARKET - LONDON S.W. ✤ ✤ ✤ MCMXVII - - - - -PRINTED BY WM. BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -There are days when we are under the spell of the past, when lovely -times, lovely things, and delightful people that have lapsed into -“have beens” are again with us, in a mist of memories and dreams, but -memories and dreams that have been true and real--to be treasured -always. - -In my memory there are silhouetted against the horizon of the past a -few figures (amongst the many kind friends who have journeyed with -me) who stand alone, whose greatness of character singled them from -their fellows, others whose splendid works for state or humanity -have marked them, but I pause before a figure that would have told -us he was nothing in particular, yet few men have been so loved, so -universally popular as the late Lord William Beresford, V.C., one of -the most charming characters and greatest personalities of the age, a -brave and gallant soldier, a loyal and faithful friend, possessing an -extraordinarily generous nature. A man has not lived for nothing, and -must be something in particular, when his friends can truly say that -of him. - -I have waited a long time before undertaking this work, hoping some -more able pen than mine would give to his old friends and future -generations some record of Lord William’s eventful life, a few -memories of his many kindnesses and unostentatious charities, his -pluck, deeds of daring and unfailing cheeriness. - -No such scribe appearing, I have taken my courage in both hands -and endeavoured to pay a small tribute to the memory of an old and -valued friend, being encouraged by the letter I received (January -16th, 1916) from Lord Beresford, better known and loved by the great -British public as Lord Charles Beresford, in which he wrote: - - - 1, GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, - LONDON, W., - _19th January, 1916_. - - “DEAR MRS. STUART MENZIES, - - “Thank you for your letter. I am so delighted to hear that you are - going to write the life of my dear brother Bill; he had the most - lovable nature, the most charming character, the pluckiest spirit - and most generous mind that I have ever met. He was always thinking - of others and never of himself. I shall be delighted to help you in - any way that I can. - - “May all good luck attend you. The whole family will be most - interested in your life of perhaps one of the most gallant - officers, noble gentlemen, and charming comrades that ever existed. - - “Yours very sincerely, - “CHARLES BERESFORD.” - - -Lord Cromer also, who was for some years associated with Lord William -in India, wrote to me saying: - - - “DEAR MRS. STUART MENZIES, - - “As I understand that you are engaged in writing the life of - my old and very dear friend, Bill Beresford, I hope you will - allow me to bear testimony to his great charm of character, his - characteristically national sense of humour, and his staunch - loyalty to both his country and his friends. I knew Bill Beresford - very well and had a great liking for him. He was a fine gallant - fellow with all the pluck and dash of his race and family, - and moreover had a keen sense of humour. I was for some years - associated with him when he was on the staffs of Lord Northbrook - and Lord Ripon when Viceroys of India. He was the cheeriest of - companions and the most gallant of soldiers--in a word, one of the - best fellows I have ever come across during a long life. - - “Very sincerely yours, - “(Signed) CROMER.” - -I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the many friends of his -and mine who have been so good as to assist me, without whose help I -could not have hoped to do justice, even in this small measure, to a -life so full of incident, and kindness for all who were associated -with him. More especially are my thanks due to his brother, Lord -Beresford, Lady Waterford, Edith Lady Lytton, Lord Ripon, Lord -Rossmore, Sir Claude de Crespigny, his brother officers in the past, -and his contemporaries on the various staffs, to Mr. Arthur Meyrick, -also to his old and faithful friend, Mr. Charles Moore. - -I have used one or two cuttings from old newspapers, but having no -idea what they appeared in, I have been unable to ask permission to -reproduce them, therefore ask forgiveness from all on whose grounds I -may have trespassed. - -I must also ask the indulgence of my readers in the matter of dates, -having had to rely on memory to a great extent, aided by a few -letters, papers, race cards, photos, etc., being handicapped by there -being no mother or wife living into whose store-house of precious -letters, and documents, it might be possible to dip, also by so many -of Lord William’s intimate friends having left us and passed into the -great Silence. - - A. C. STUART MENZIES. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I - - EARLY DAYS - PAGE - Early Childhood--Eton Days--Mischief and Whackings--Companions - at Work and Play--Sporting Contemporaries of Note--The So-styled - “Mad Marquis”--His Bride--Carriage Accident--Ride in Grand - National--House of Commons Acknowledgment of Lady Waterford’s - Goodness to the Irish during the Famine--Joins the 9th Lancers in - Dublin--A Few Sporting Mishaps--Why he Spent his Life in India 1 - - - CHAPTER II - - GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND - - Coach-driving Exploit--The Badger Bet and How It was Won--The - Raleigh Club and the Garçon Glacé Episode--Some Merry Frequenters - of the Club--Regimental Racing--The Tenth Hussars’ Steeplechases, - Exciting Race Between H.R.H.’s Horse and Lord Valentia’s--Aldershot - Coaching Accident--Polo at Woolwich--Sale of 10th Hussars’ - ponies--Friendly Altercations at York--The Three Brothers’ Race--Au - Revoir to Merry England 24 - - - CHAPTER III - - JOINS VICEROY’S STAFF - - What he Might Have Been--A Happy Exile--Lumtiddy Hall--Unsuccessful - Journey to Pay Calls--Appointed to Staff of Retiring Viceroy--First - Summer at Simla--Appointed A.D.C. to Lord Lytton--Annandale - Racecourse--Birth of _The Asian_--Dinner to Its Sporting - Owner--Winner of Viceroy’s Cup--Delhi Durbar, 1887--Mighty - Preparations--A Terrible Accident 46 - - - CHAPTER IV - - HE WINS THE V.C. - - Hero of Khartoum’s Fame and Tragedy, as Private Secretary--Indian - Famine--Lord William and the Jowakis--A Month’s Holiday - in Afghanistan--Back in Calcutta--Barrackpore Monument - to Lady Canning--Lady Waterford as Artist--Cawnpore - Memorial--Racing--Trouble in South Africa--A Favour Granted--Off - to the War--A Friend Left in Charge of Affairs--Some Fights for - Queen and Country--Some Fights for Private Reasons--Exciting - Moments--Irish Bravery of Man and Beast--Two V.C.’s at - Dinner--Receives Reward at Hands of the Queen-Empress--A Shower - Bath in Dublin--Some Racing and a Row--A Thrice-run Race--Miller - Addresses Lord William 65 - - - CHAPTER V - - THE VICEROY RETIRES - - Change of Government and What it Meant--Why it Took Place - at Simla--The Ceremony--An Anxious Moment--A General - Stampede--Retirement of Lord Lytton--Work of Which Viceroy?--Lord - William’s Services Valued--A Bet Between Him and the Author--Lord - William’s 10 to 1 96 - - - CHAPTER VI - - AN IDEAL MILITARY SECRETARY - - Dignity and Humour--Some Tests of Both--Affection of the Natives - for Lord William--How They Tried to Please him--What Happened - on a Slippery Floor--Some Tableaux--A Supper and a Race--What - the Jockey Club Would Have Said--Lord Ripon’s Message to the - Amir of Afghanistan--The Amir’s Reply--The Work of the Military - Secretary--Swelled Heads and Outgrown Shoes--How Lord William Dealt - with Them--Pay of Military Secretary--Compensation for Diminishing - Rupee--No Fish to Fry 112 - - - CHAPTER VII - - SOME RACING EXPERIENCES - - First Racing Partnership--Some Successful Horses--The “White - Mutiny”--Military Secretaries Come and Go--Fleur-de-Lys’ - Affection--Racing--Paperchasing--An Exciting Drive--Ponto’s - Admiration for the Fair Sex--Inverarm--How a Sick Soldier - Fared--Love of Children--A Children’s Party and How it Ended--The - Home for Lost Dogs--Simla Gymkhanas--A Sore Head--A Change of - Mounts--Sipi Fair and Marriage Market--What Some of Lord William’s - Friends Said--Why he was like King Solomon 132 - - - CHAPTER VIII - - LORD RIPON LEAVES INDIA - - Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors--Lord de Grey’s Shooting--A - Good-looking Staff--A Fancy Ball--The Baby cries--Lord William - Feeds the Infant--Singing Quadrilles--Pig-sticking--The Tent Club - and Its Members--A Case of Mistaken Identity--The Reputation - Match--Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing--Lord Ripon’s - Farewell 153 - - - CHAPTER IX - - LORD DUFFERIN’S VICEROYALTY - - Lord Dufferin succeeds Lord Ripon as Viceroy--Durbar at Rawal - Pindi to Meet the Amir of Afghanistan--A Few Annoyances--How - it All Ended--Some Presents--Outline of a Viceroy’s Tour--A - Nasty Fall--Sale of Confederacy Horses--“Father Time”--Parlour - Fireworks--A Ride to the Pyramids--Unostentatious Charity--Some - Impositions 177 - - - CHAPTER X - - DEAR LONDON AGAIN - - The Man Who Thought He Was King--A Dance After Dinner--How It - Ended--Corney Grain in Disgrace on the Door-mat--Racing--Trouble - in Burmah--Lord Dufferin and Lord William Go There--Collecting the - Offertory in Church--Some Schemes of Interest 196 - - - CHAPTER XI - - SOME SPORTING MEMORIES - - Lord William’s Driving--One or Two Experiences--A Sermon in the - Smoking-room--Useful Shirt Cuffs--Convenient Handwriting--New - Year’s Parade--A Waiting Race--A Spoilt Meeting--Purchase of Myall - King--Dufferins Leave India--Rules Issued by Lord William for Their - Departure 214 - - - CHAPTER XII - - A WINNING YEAR - - On Leave--At the Derby Once More--Lord Lansdowne Takes - Office--Conjurer’s Discomfort--A Gentle Reproach--Irishmen - in India--Another Racing Partnership--A Turf Club - Inquiry--Paperchasers--A Telegram from Lucknow--Lord William’s - Health--Jockey in Trouble Again 233 - - - CHAPTER XIII - - THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER - - Why the Maharajah of Durbangah Gave up Racing--The Maharajah of - Patiala Joins the Stable--The Indian Lotteries--Some Successful - Racing--Lord Bill Pays Up--Simla Feeling Sad--Death of Myall - King--Some of His Chief Races--Farewell Dinner--List of - Guests--Speeches 250 - - - CHAPTER XIV - - HIS MARRIAGE - - First Visit to the Deepdene--Finds a Relation in His - Bedroom--Engagement to be Married Announced--School Treats--One New - Year’s Morning--King Edward VII Visits the Deepdene When Prince of - Wales--A Narrow Escape--“Tommy, Where Are You?”--Why Lord William - wore a Turban--Fast Trotters and Their Doings--Mishap on the Way - to the Derby--Racing in England--Racing Geography--Another Racing - Partnership--Accident While Hunting--Mr. Palmer to the Rescue--Lord - William Tells a Story Against Himself--A Son Born 283 - - - CHAPTER XV - - BRINGS TOD SLOAN TO ENGLAND - - Engagement of Tod Sloan as Jockey--Beresford Family - Affection--Caiman Wins Classic Race--Democrat and His Races--A - Tip for the “Blues”--Accident to Sloan--His Downfall--Five Years’ - Racing and Winnings in Stakes Alone--Volodyovski Bought--At - Liverpool When Ambush II Won the Grand National 299 - - - CHAPTER XVI - - LAST YEARS - - “1900 ... and Feels It”--Affection for the 9th Lancers--Help for - a Brother Mason--Those Who Loved Him--Friends, not Sight-Seers--A - Treasured Gift--Sale of Horses at Newmarket--Purchasers and - Prices--Fate of Democrat--Volodyovski Wins the Derby--Too - Late--Fierce Ownership Dispute--The Law Settles It--Broken Head of - a small Beresford 315 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD (from _Vanity Fair_) _Frontispiece_ - TO FACE PAGE - LORD WILLIAM AT ETON. AGED 11 4 - - CURRAGHMORE 16 - - 9TH LANCERS IN DUBLIN, 1867 18 - - 9TH LANCERS’ POLO GROUP AT WOOLWICH 38 - - THE FAMOUS BERESFORD BROTHERS’ RACE 42 - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD AND CAPTAIN CLAYTON 48 - - “LUMTIDDY HALL” 50 - - 9TH LANCERS’ MESS, SIALKÔTE, 1876 52 - - THE DELHI DURBAR, 1877 60 - - XMAS CARD TO THE AUTHOR 72 - - CAPTAIN CHARLES MUIR (NOW COLONEL), A.D.C. TO VICEROY AND - COMMANDING HIS EXCELLENCY’S BODY GUARD 80 - - LORD WILLIAM AND PONTO 80 - - LORD LYTTON, FAMILY, AND STAFF, 1877 104 - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD’S HORSE DEMOCRAT 132 - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD LEADING KATE COVENTRY, RIDDEN BY - DEWING. CALCUTTA, 1881 132 - - GROUP AT BARRACKPORE ON THE LAWN 154 - - STAFF AND GUESTS AT VICEREGAL LODGE, SIMLA 156 - - SOME NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE CALCUTTA TENT CLUB 160 - - LORD RIPON, LADY RIPON, AND STAFF 166 - - THE LATE MARQUESS OF RIPON, VICEROY OF INDIA 172 - - LORD DUFFERIN, FAMILY, AND STAFF 182 - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD IN 1886 218 - - THE VICEROY’S STAFF IN LIGHTER MOMENTS 232 - - THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE 234 - - BEAUTIFUL BLITZ 242 - - PILOTEER WINNING A TROTTING PRIZE 242 - - H.H. THE MAHARAJAH OF PATIALA 252 - - NEW PAVILION AT ANNANDALE 256 - - MYALL KING’S GRAVE 262 - - REPRODUCTION OF SIGNATURES OF THOSE PRESENT AT THE CALCUTTA - BANQUET, DECEMBER 30, 1893 272 - - LILY, DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH 284 - - THE DEEPDENE, DORKING 286 - - FRONT HALL AT THE DEEPDENE 286 - - LORD WILLIAM, IN OFFICIAL CAPACITY 298 - - LORD WILLIAM AND HIS SON BILLY 298 - - TOD SLOAN IN LORD WILLIAM’S COLOURS 304 - - CAIMAN AT THE POST FOR THE MIDDLE PARK PLATE THE DAY HE - BEAT FLYING FOX. TOD SLOAN IN LORD WILLIAM’S COLOURS 304 - - LORD WILLIAM AND LORD MARCUS BERESFORD 314 - - - - - COLONEL LORD WILLIAM LESLIE - DE LA POER BERESFORD, V.C., K.C.I.E. - 1846-1900 - - - - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD, V.C. - - - - - CHAPTER I - - EARLY DAYS - - Early Childhood--Eton Days--Mischief and Whackings--Companions - at Work and Play--Sporting Contemporaries of Note--The So-styled - “Mad Marquis”--His Bride--Carriage Accident--Ride in Grand - National--House of Commons Acknowledgment of Lady Waterford’s - Goodness to the Irish during the Famine--Joins the 9th Lancers in - Dublin--A Few Sporting Mishaps--Why he Spent his Life in India - - -The subject of these memories was the third son of the fourth Marquis -of Waterford, who married the third daughter of Mr. Charles Powell -Leslie of Glaslaugh, M.P. for Monaghan. - -The children of this union were five sons:-- - - 1. John Henry de la Poer. - 2. Charles William de la Poer. - 3. William Leslie de la Poer. - 4. Marcus Talbot de la Poer. - 5. Delaval James de la Poer. - -In 1866 the fourth Marquis died, and was succeeded by John Henry, -the first of the five sons mentioned already, and elder brother -of the Lord William of whom I write. One of the most delightful -characteristics of this family has always been its unity; the -brothers were devoted to one another, their home and their parents. -To the end of his days Lord William spoke of Curraghmore as “Home,” -and of his devotion to his beautiful mother. She must have been -a proud woman, having brought into the world five such splendid -specimens of humanity, all handsome, having inherited the Beresford -good looks, high spirits, and pluck, whilst happily imbued with the -pride of race which is the making of great men. - -There is nothing snobbish or vulgar in being proud of our ancestry, -though it may seem so to those who are unacquainted with their own. -Even savages have pride of race, and it has been so since the days -of Virgil, and before that. Let us hope it will always be so. It is -our birthright, which is well, for it helps men and women to keep -straight, sorry to be the first to lower the standard or bring it -into disrepute. - -Look at the pride of race among the different tribes in the East how -strong it is, their castes are profound and deep religions to them, -their inherited pride of race, for which they willingly die, rather -than suffer any real or imaginary indignity. - -This instinct is still strongly marked in our present-day Gypsies, -who are exceedingly exclusive and proud of their race, and they will -tell with pride, if you know them well enough, that the reason they -are, and will be ever more, accursed and hunted from place to place, -is because a Gypsy forged the nails used in the Crucifixion. - -The Lithuanian Gypsies say stealing has been permitted in their -families by the crucified Jesus, because they, being present at the -Crucifixion, stole one of the nails from the Cross, after which -stealing was no longer a sin. This sounds irreverent, but they do not -treat it lightly. The belief has been handed down to them, grown with -them, and they seem sadly proud of their history, legend, or whatever -it may be. - -From an early age Lord William seems to have realised what was due to -his family and his race, for with all his high spirits, even in the -effervescence of youth, never once has anybody been able to say he -brought discredit on his family. - -The Beresfords have for generations been keen sportsmen, -high-spirited, unspoilt, straightforward gentlemen; using the word in -its old-fashioned full significance. Lord William was no exception -to this rule, and it has not been given to many to be so universally -popular. His worst enemy was himself, inasmuch as he habitually put -more work into twenty-four hours than most people would consider -a fair week’s allowance. From an early age he loved excitement, -courting danger and adventure, resulting in most of the bones in his -body having at one time or another some experiences, and I shall -always think that but for the juggling tricks he played with his -life he might still be with us, and the world the better for his -cheeriness, generosity, and loyal friendship. - -This is not a proper biography in the everyday acceptance of the -term, it aspires to nothing so great. I have neither the competency -to entitle me, nor the ambition to urge me to write a formal and -stereotyped account of Lord William’s life, but only some memories, -full of the little things that matter, small details that bring us -closer to the character and introduce us to the personality of the -man. - -It is not as a soldier, it is not as a statesman that I claim -applause for Lord William, though both may be owed, but for his -thoroughness in whatever he undertook, his unfailing cheerfulness, -his loyalty, energy, and marvellous pluck. - -In his early days the principle of--“Whatsoever thy hand findeth -to do, do it with all thy might,” must have been driven home, for -whatever he undertook, that he certainly did with all his might; but -his generosity and his kindliness of nature and his tact must have -been born with him on July 20th, 1847, in the quaint little village -of Mullaghbrach, in the north of Ireland, where his father was rector -until he succeeded his brother, the third Marquess, in 1859. The -early days of Lord William’s childhood were spent in this peaceful -home with the usual accompaniment of nurses, followed by a German -governess until he was considered old enough for further instruction, -when the Rev. Dr. Renau’s Preparatory School at Bayford was chosen, -the present Lord Methuen being there at the same time. After which, -when eleven years old, that is in the year 1858, he was sent to Eton, -first to the house of Mr. Hawtry, and then into Dr. Warre’s. - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM AT ETON, AGED 11] - -It is interesting to note that the present-day actor is a relation of -Mr. Hawtry of Eton fame. It was through the Eton Hawtry’s persuasions -that the Prince Consort founded a prize for modern languages at -the College. - -Lord Cheylesmore, Sir Simon Lockhart, and Lord Langford were at Dr. -Warre’s house with Lord William, the two latter being among the -Doctor’s earliest pupils. Lord Langford says, “Bill was never out of -rows of different sorts.” While Lord Methuen tells me he remembers -seconding a boy named Allen at his tutor’s in a fight with Lord -William, adding, “And it was a very hard fight,” but being senior to -Lord Bill he saw very little of him while there. Dr. Warre-Cornish, -Vice-Provost of Eton, said, “I always liked him. His Eton record is -chiefly connected with schoolboy sports and skirmishes with masters -at Windsor Fairs, and other places. He kept many bulldogs and was of -a turbulent disposition.” - -The gas works were close to Dr. Warre’s house, and behind them was -the rendezvous of those who had any differences to settle. Lord -Langford says, “I think Lord Bill often paid a visit there!” and -adds, “On one occasion he captured a polecat and tied it to the leg -of a chair in Dr. Warre’s house.” We can well imagine the breathless -moments in store for the household. Various surreptitious journeys -were taken to feed it and make sure of its safety. Then there was the -exciting time of changing the animal’s quarters and attaching it, in -spite of protestations, to a certain chair! - -History does not relate what happened, but something entertaining, no -doubt. After being a year at Eton, Lord Bill heard of the death of -his uncle, and that henceforth his home would be at Curraghmore. - -While at Eton he seems to have been chiefly conspicuous for his love -of sport and fighting, his high spirits, ready wit, and popularity -with all. He worked as much as was necessary and no more, for he -loved the river, running after beagles, paper, or any other form of -sport, more especially a fight. Happily in his time the battles were -not so serious as they were in 1825 when Lord Shaftesbury’s brother, -Francis Ashley, was carried home to die after fighting for two hours -with a boy named Wood. - -Like a few other men one could name who have been educated at public -schools, and later held important and responsible posts, he could -not always depend on his pen carrying out his wishes and spelling -properly. Long after having arrived at years of discretion, shall I -say? he constantly wrote to an old friend as “My dear Jhon,” meaning -John. One day we were talking about certain clever people being -unable to spell properly and chaffing him about it; nobody enjoyed a -joke against himself better than he did. Somebody asked him, “Bill, -why don’t you write the word you are uncertain of down on a piece of -paper with all the variations as they occur to you? The look of the -word would tell you which was right?” He replied, “I always do write -it down on a piece of paper and never doubt its being right.” After -which there was nothing more to be said, and we decided it would all -be the same a hundred years hence, therefore it did not matter; and -at any rate he had my sympathy. He agreed with Yeats, the Dublin -poet, who sang: - - “Accursed he who brings to light of day - The writings I have cast away; - But blessed he who stirs them not, - But lets the kind worms eat the lot.” - -Certainly Lord William’s letters were short and sweet; he did not -commit more to writing than he could help, thereby proving that he -was a wise man. - -Five years were spent at Eton, and they were spoken of as happy ones. -Even at that early age his passion for racing betrayed itself and -led to trouble, for on one occasion the attractions of Ascot became -too much for him. Knowing that if he asked for leave to go it would -be denied him, he took French leave, and received a whacking on his -return, which reminds me that before Lord William’s time a certain -flogging block belonging to the College disappeared one day, having -been kidnapped by one of the Beresfords, the third Marquess, I think, -when he was at Eton, and is now in evidence at Curraghmore, or was a -few years ago. As far as I can gather there was no hue and cry after -that interesting piece of furniture, and the next time there was any -whacking to be done another block was found to be reigning in its -stead; so presumably there was a supply kept in the store-room among -the pickles and the jam. - -Lord William’s contemporaries, besides those already mentioned, were -the present Sir Hugh McCalmont, afterwards a brother officer and -life-long friend, the late Lord Jersey, and the present Lord Minto. -Lord William was fag to both the latter in succession, Mr. Charles -Moore, another life-long friend, and, I believe, Lord Rossmore. - -At the age of sixteen, Lord William left Eton and went to Bonn -to study French and German under a tutor named Dr. Perry, others -studying there at the same time being the Hon. Elliot and Alec Yorke, -and the Hon. Eric Barrington, who tells me he was also with him at -Eton, where “his principal reputation was that he and a friend of his -had been subjected to more floggings within a certain time than had -previously been recorded by anyone else.” Sir Eric says when he found -Lord William at Bonn: “I was both surprised and delighted to find -Bill Beresford there, not having hitherto associated him with foreign -languages.” Some amusing accounts are given to me also of the Bonn -days, where he says: “Our tutor had a peculiar way of accustoming us -to the use of the German tongue, as, though we had a resident German -tutor in the house, we were strictly forbidden to make any German -acquaintances in the town, and were enjoined on our word of honour -to talk German to each other during certain hours every day. A worse -practice could hardly be imagined. Nevertheless, Bill undoubtedly -acquired a certain facility in chattering, which he afterwards told -me was most useful to him with the Dutch during the South African -campaign.” Again speaking of Lord William he says: “His nature was -exceedingly lovable, and he was very popular with his fellow pupils -and tutors, whom, however, he took no pains to conciliate. During -one altercation with his German tutor, the latter was heard to say, -‘Beresford, I loved you once, but I despise you now!’ which diverted -us greatly at the time.” - -From accounts of those times it appears that it was the habit of -Dr. Perry to give a gala supper the night before breaking up for the -holidays, at which all the instructors were present. On one of these -occasions a certain student at the University who had been giving -Lord William lessons in Latin, and who was much attached to him, made -the following speech in English with a very strong German accent: “I -have heard of Merry old England, but I have never heard of the Merry -old Ireland. I wish to propose the toast of the Merry old Ireland and -the Merry old Beresford.” - -To amuse himself at Bonn, Lord William used to boat with his -companions on the Rhine, and took special delight in the company of -an English livery-stable keeper, who kept a certain number of riding -horses of inferior calibre, with which he was intimately acquainted, -riding being his favourite recreation. - -I am afraid Lord William constantly broke Dr. Perry’s rules, and -was frequently being sent away in consequence; but his mother, Lady -Waterford, said she took no notice of the letters telling her of her -son’s dismissal, as they were invariably followed by others recalling -the sentence. Dr. Perry was really much attached to his unruly pupil, -and his pupil had a very loyal feeling towards him, and was the means -once of saving his life. Sir Eric Barrington tells me the story, and -I feel I cannot do better than repeat it in his own words. - -“Our Easter holidays were short and spent in expeditions to -Switzerland or the Tyrol. In the spring of 1866 Dr. Perry took six -of us to the latter. We were to walk across a pass with two guides, -carrying our knapsacks. We walked for ten hours with very little -food; the guides became exhausted and refused to go any further, but -Dr. Perry was determined to reach the village we were making for. -He misunderstood the directions of the guides and lost his way. We -boys were exhausted also by this time, so stopped at a small hay-hut, -where we resolved to stay the night. Dr. Perry went on in the dark, -and attempted to descend the mountain-side alone. Beresford became -uneasy about his safety, and went off to look for him. The rest of -us settled down and went to sleep, when we heard Beresford shouting -he had found Dr. Perry, but could not persuade him to return, as he -had sighted the lights of the village in the distance. Still uneasy, -Beresford started off again with a friend in the early hours of the -morning to look for Dr. Perry and see if all was well. After some -time he thought he heard a faint cry, and looking over the side of -the mountain descried the object of his search some way down sitting -astride an old tree stump, which had mercifully broken his fall, but -still in a most perilous position, and trying to keep himself awake -by digging his fingers into the decayed wood. From a cottage nearby, -Beresford managed to get a rope, but it proved too short, so he set -off for the village, where he found his companions and the guides had -arrived. Though feeling thoroughly tired out and done up, he insisted -on returning with the guides to show them where to find Dr. Perry, -and to help in the rescue. He was released with difficulty and after -some hard work. - -“Dr. Perry always felt he owed his life to Beresford’s perseverance, -and on that account was disposed to show leniency when his high -spirits led him into mischief on future occasions.” - -Bill’s main characteristics were courage and loyalty; it was -impossible not to be warmly attached to him. - -It having been decided that the Army was to be the profession of -Lord Waterford’s third son, after leaving Dr. Perry, several other -tutors were requisitioned to put the necessary finishing touches to -his military education, after which he passed very creditably into -the Army at the age of twenty, joining that popular regiment, the 9th -Lancers, as a cornet in 1867. - -They were a merry crowd in those days. Among Lord William’s boon -companions in the regiment were the present Lord Rossmore, otherwise -known as “Derry,” Captain Candy, “Sugar Candy,” Captain Clayton, -“Dick,” the present Colonel Stewart Mackenzie, “The Smiler,” General -Sir Hugh McCalmont, and the Hon. Charley Lascelles, who could do -such wonderful things with horses owing to his good hands and sweet -temper; and many more too numerous to mention, not a few of whom, -like Captain Candy, Captain Clayton, and Mr. Lascelles, have moved on -into another room, where their friends can no longer see them. - -It is an interesting fact that all good sorts and popular men get -nicknames attached to them, it being a sign of their value and the -affection borne them by their comrades. Not often are selfish prigs -called by nicknames, possibly they may be known behind their backs -as “The Swine” or “The Prig,” or some other uncomplimentary epithet -which can only be used sub-rosa, for who could so address them to -their faces? - -Among his friends, who were legion, Lord William was known as “Bill.” -His brother, Lord Charles Beresford, is always called “Charlie” in -the most affectionate way by even the crowd in the streets, who all -love him and look upon him as their own. - -Those were grand happy days when Lord William first joined the 9th. -He and his young friends had the whole world before them, life and -health then being a matter of no consequence, no consideration, for -in the arrogance of youth who takes thought of the morrow? If only -when people are young they could be persuaded to take a practical -view of life and map out their days, not spending strength too -freely, or trying nerves too highly, but keeping a little in reserve, -something to draw upon. Uncontrolled spirits often lead to disaster -early in life. The Irish are especially buoyant and their mad spirits -infectious and lovable. - -In later years Lord William often spoke of those early days, -referring in affection or admiration to many of his sporting -contemporaries, among whom were Mr. Garret Moore, who between ’67 -and ’69 rode many winners in Ireland and elsewhere. (He died in -1908.) Roddy Owen, a great winner of races, especially in India and -Canada up to 1885, after which he surprised people at home a little -by winning the Grand National on Father O’Flynn in 1892, Sandown -Grand Prize two years running and, if I remember rightly, the Grand -Military on St. Cross. Poor “Roddy,” as everybody called him, died -in Egypt on active service in 1896, mourned and regretted by everyone -who knew him. - -Colonel Meysey Thompson, who had known Captain Owen all his life, -wrote some charming lines “In Memoriam” when he died. I do not -remember them all, at any rate not correctly, but one verse I know -ran: - - “May the date palm’s stately branches - Above thee gently wave; - May the mimosa’s scented wattles - Bedeck with gold thy grave.” - -But as I am not writing Roddy Owen’s life I must hurry on, especially -as poking into the pigeon-holes of the past is apt to bring on fits -of the blues. - -Captain Bay Middleton, another great friend, however, must not be -forgotten. He was fond of cricket as well as hunting and horses. A -member of the Zingari, Captained by Sir Gerard Leigh, and while in -Ireland they played the 9th Lancers. I do not remember who won, but -when the game was over Lord William, to amuse his friends, suggested -a run with the drag hounds, managing to find mounts for all; they -rode just as they were, in flannels. Needless to say the fun and -enjoyment were great. - -It was delightful to hear these boon companions living over -again some of these times amidst happy laughter and friendly -recriminations, though perhaps sometimes tinged with regrets for the -days that were gone. Captain Middleton died in 1892, so another old -friend passed out of Lord William’s life. It was in April, I think, -when Captain Middleton was riding at quite a small fence (as is so -often the case), that his horse pecked, throwing its rider forward, -and, as almost invariably occurs when a horse is in trouble, threw -up its head, trying to recover itself, and in so doing broke Captain -Middleton’s neck. He was no doubt a great man on a horse, and as a -rule they went kindly with him, but I have seen him at times by no -means gentle with them, I am sorry to say, and not always when the -horse was to blame. - -Another great friend I must not pass over was Captain Beasley, called -“Tommy” by Lord William, who rode in twelve Grand Nationals. I have -only mentioned a few of the names that recur to me; it would take -many volumes if I were to enumerate all his great friends, for few -men had so many. - -At any rate the fun in those days was certainly fast and furious, -some of the practical jokes being distinctly drastic though -considered very amusing at the time. I doubt if in these days they -would be considered jokes at all. It does not follow that what was -considered funny and witty by one generation will be considered the -least amusing by the next, any more than what was true yesterday need -be true to-day, and often is not. - -On one occasion when his friend, Captain McCalmont, was driving him -from Cahir Barracks to Clonmel, while passing through the town of -Cahir, Lord William asked if he would mind pulling up for him to do -some shopping. When he returned with his purchases they consisted -of a sack of potatoes; this was planted at his feet, and as they -continued their drive he amused himself by throwing potatoes at -everyone they met. Some smiled and seemed pleased with the delicate -attention and gift of potatoes, others, however, were not, therefore -a crowd soon gathered and embarked on reprisals. The potatoes were -coming to an end, but his blood being up, he purchased more and -continued the battle. As they proceeded along the ten miles to -Clonmel, news of the battle had evidently travelled ahead of them, -for in places they found people waiting for them armed with missiles, -including brickbats. It now became a question how they were to get -away themselves. However, the Irish understand one another, and all -the country was fond of the Beresfords, from whom they had received -many considerations and benefits. At that time, in the eyes of the -people, the Beresfords could do no wrong, so it ended, I am told, -quite happily. In the autumn of our days it seems a very long time -since we were so full of beans that we could do such mad things, the -result of animal spirits. - -Lord William’s uncle, the third Marquis, has been called the “Mad -Marquis” owing to the extraordinary things he did, probably from -the same overflow of spirits from which Lord William suffered when -throwing potatoes at peaceful pedestrians on the road. - -The so-called “Mad” Marquis certainly did some very astonishing -things, but purely, in my opinion, from devil-me-care fun and -spirits, for when married to the beautiful Louisa, daughter of Lord -Stuart de Rothsey, whom he passionately loved, he settled down after -sowing his wild oats, and became a model husband and landlord, -beloved by the whole countryside. - -It appears to be rather fashionable to think everyone is mad whom -we do not understand, or even perhaps when they are superior to -ourselves in courage or intellect. - -I leave it to my readers to decide if he earned the sobriquet, if -they think a man who was so exceedingly devoted and tender to his -wife, and so full of consideration for his countrymen, could be -rightly termed the “Mad Marquis.” - -When he brought home his bride to Curraghmore, seeing a crowd of -country folk and tenants collected to greet them, he leaned over his -wife and lifted her veil so that all might admire, so great was his -pride in her. - -Soon after their marriage, when driving his wife, one of the horses -became restive while descending a steep hill. The only thing to be -done to avoid a bad accident was to turn the horses into a hedge at -the side of the road. Lady Waterford tried to get out, and in so -doing fell, hurting her head, causing concussion of the brain. Her -devoted and alarmed husband carried his unconscious wife in his arms -down the hill, through the River Clode, back to the house, that being -the shortest way, so that she could be properly attended to more -quickly. For several days and nights he scarcely left her; it was -hardly possible to persuade him to come away even for food; and when -the doctor said all her beautiful hair, that he admired so much, must -be cut off, he would allow no hands to do it but his own. - -[Illustration: CURRAGHMORE] - -Like all the Beresfords, the third Marquis was handsome and -loved sport in every form, especially fox-hunting; he hunted the -Curraghmore entirely at his own expense. It was a sad day when his -mount, May-boy, made a mistake over a rotten wall, which put an end -to all his hunting. - -It must have been from this uncle that Lord William inherited his -love for steeplechasing, for we hear of the Marquis in 1840, when -it was first becoming the fashion for gentlemen to ride in chases, -riding in the Grand National. He died in 1859 without any children, -and was succeeded by his brother, Lord William’s father, as fourth -Marquis. - -In 1847 (the year Lord William was born) Lord and Lady Waterford -devoted most of their time and much money in endeavouring to relieve -the distress in Ireland caused by the famine. The Marquis imported -shiploads of wheat for the people, and Lady Waterford’s goodness was -so great that the House of Commons felt constrained to acknowledge it. - -In return for this, these excitable people in the following year, -under the influence of agitators, became so rebellious to law, and -order and to their best friends, that Curraghmore had to be fortified -against them. The Fenians declared they would capture Lady Waterford -and carry her away to the hills. - -This alarmed her husband so greatly that he took her to her mother, -in England, for safety, returning himself to Ireland to protect -the home he loved so dearly, and if possible save the people from -themselves. - -To return to Lord William. The 9th Lancers were stationed at Island -Bridge Barracks, Dublin, when first he joined, which for an Irishman -was all that could be desired. Then on from Dublin to Cahir, which is -not very far from Waterford and Curraghmore; a troop of the 9th were -quartered at Waterford and half a troop at Carrick-on-Suir, close to -Curraghmore. For a time Lord William was with the Waterford troop, -and it was a curious turn of fortune’s wheel that brought H.M.S. -_Research_ to Waterford harbour at this time with Lord Charles as a -middy, or at any rate a very junior officer. Lord Marcus, in the 7th -Hussars, was also at home on leave, so the brothers were together and -there was a very happy gathering. - -All the officers of the 9th and the _Research_ were constantly at -Curraghmore, where they were always sure of a welcome, many carrying -away with them into foreign lands an affectionate gratitude for Lady -Waterford, who had made a home for them all when in the neighbourhood. - -[Illustration: 9TH LANCERS IN DUBLIN, 1867 - -_Back row, from left to right_: Lieut.-Surg. Longman, Riding Master -Crowdy, Capt. F. Gregory (A.D.C. to Lord Lieut. of Ireland), Capt. -Cave, Capt. Hardy, Lieut. Gaskell, Cornet Stewart-Mackenzie. - -_Second row_: Cornet Willoughby, Cornet Lord Wm. Beresford, Paymaster -Mahon, Lieut.-Col. Johnson, Capt. Erskine, Lieut. Palairet, Lieut. -Green, Cornet Percy, Adj.; Quarter-Master Seggie, Major Rich in plain -clothes.] - -The 9th Lancers had a pack of harriers when at Cahir, Lord William -acting as one of the whips. He had begun riding as a very small boy, -on a pony called The Mouse, which was shared by the three brothers, -each taking it in turn to ride. From this humble little mount he -was promoted to other ponies, on which he soon began to execute -little jumps, and ride about the country during the holidays. Before -many years had passed over his head he became a follower of the -Curraghmore hounds and other surrounding packs, often seeing more -of the fun on his pony than some of the field on famous horses, -partly owing to the plucky way he “shoved along” and to knowing the -country well, also partly to the happy way ponies have of turning -up unexpectedly and accomplishing wonderful feats by scrambling and -crawling along places where bigger horses cannot find foothold. The -old Curraghmore, now the Waterford, hunted a country of about -thirty miles from east to west, and twenty miles from north to south, -its boundaries being Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Wexford, and the sea -on the south. Having thus graduated in horsemanship, by the time he -joined the 9th he was known as a good man on a horse. - -He naturally loved horses and dogs, and had many, being a good judge -of both. In consequence of the number of the latter he usually had -about him, Captain Fife, of the same regiment, when compiling an -alphabetical list of rhymes in connection with his brother officers, -on coming to the letter B, wrote:-- - - “‘B’ stands for Bill, - Many cur dogs are his, - Good-tempered but hasty, - And easily ris’”; - -which, must be admitted, is a magnificent effort, even if it does not -scan very well. - -Witnesses of the fun in those days say they can never forget the -delightful time when all the brothers were at home together. Each -a sportsman, each a wit, full of merriment and pranks, and all -especially delighted when Lord Charles danced a hornpipe for their -amusement. How Curraghmore must have ached for their voices when they -had, as the old song says, “all dispersed and wandered far away.” - -It was when stationed at Cahir that Lord William began crumpling up -his bones owing to various tosses of sorts. At this time he owned -a very fast trotter, which could do sixteen miles an hour when -requested. He started one night with this fast trotter in a dogcart -to cover the three miles from the barracks to the station, taking an -English guest with him to catch the 10.30 train for Dublin. The road -was very dark and overshadowed by the trees of Cahir Abbey Park. Sir -Hugh McCalmont (then Captain McCalmont), a brother officer already -mentioned, was likewise performing the same journey bound for Dublin; -both started at the same time. Lord William set the pace, and was -soon out of sight and hearing. Added to the darkness, it was pouring -with rain. After journeying some little way Captain McCalmont was -held up by cries issuing from the gloom. Someone was shouting. He -pulled up in time to find his friend with his guest, his fast trotter -and some dogcart about the road. Lord William in his haste, combined -with the darkness, had driven at top speed into a cart, somewhat -to the surprise of the driver. The cart also looked as if taken by -surprise, in places. Having satisfied himself that no one was killed, -though all were more or less damaged, Captain McCalmont continued -with his “crawler,” as he called it, to the station and caught his -train, which is more than the fast trotting party did. - -Trifles of this kind, however, never worried Lord William, for his -spirits were unquenchable. - -One of the fastest runs with hounds he could remember, in those days -of scanty judgment, was when out with the Curraghmore hounds in the -northern part of the country. The fences were not very big, but the -pace was great. Lord William and Captain McCalmont were riding a -bit jealous, I think; after racing for about twenty minutes, they -both tried to fly a bank, with the natural result when jumping blown -horses. Captain McCalmont’s gallant little mare did not get up for -some time; she wisely lay still to recover her wind, but Lord William -had been so struck by her performance that he shouted, “I will buy -her”--and he did. But horses when asked to do too much, sometimes -break their hearts, and the mare was never quite the same again. - -Whenever sport was to be knocked out of anyone or anything Lord -William was sure to be there. Nothing came amiss to him, fisticuffs, -American cock-fighting, hunting, racing, polo, the latter only just -becoming popular in England. - -It was about this time that he came into his share of the family -fortune. He considered it so inadequate to his needs, that he decided -to spend the capital as interest. This is how he described it to me -one evening, years later, in the grounds of the Taj at Agra. - -“So inadequate to my needs was the interest on my share, that I -decided to use my capital as income so long as it would last, and -rearrange my life again when it came to an end. I started a coach, a -stud of hunters, some racehorses, and laid myself out for a real good -time. I managed to hold on until just before the regiment was ordered -to India. Then, as the fateful day drew near, I thought I would have -one final flutter at the Raleigh Club. A turn up of three cards at -£1000 a card! I won the lot, was able to pay up all I owed and clear -out to India, cleaned out, but a free man as to debt.” - -I do not feel I am betraying any confidence, as he told the story -to several people, and really it is an amazing example of what -pluck and daring, combined with determination, can do. A lesson in -resource and audacity that a young subaltern should arrive in India -a penniless soldier, and yet reach the height of social and official -fame combined with pecuniary comfort, as he did, in a few years. To -sit down with premeditation and map out such a wild scheme, and then -be able to bring it off and win the odd trick, was rather wonderful. - -Possibly what he suffered during those years when he was riding for -a fall made him reckless, risking his life more frequently than he -otherwise would have done, thinking it was bound to be a short and -merry one, so what matter? Or, like others I have known when riding -for a fall, would not give himself time to think. - -Some of the extraordinarily kind things I have known him do for young -men when in financial difficulties, though not overburdened with -cash himself at the time, leads me to the belief that he remembered -his feelings when the crash of his own arranging was drawing near, -assisted perhaps by a little luck, which saved him. - -Considering that he was not a rich man, it was wonderful how lavish -was his unselfish and large-hearted generosity. I verily believe no -living soul ever went to him in trouble and was sent “empty away.” -Yet he could never bear his left hand to know what his right hand -was doing. It really ruffled him if he ever heard of it again. -Nevertheless, some of those near his left hand did know what his -right was doing, more often perhaps than he guessed. - -Having explained the rather important financial position at this -time, we can return to the daily happenings, able to see some reason -in much that would otherwise seem of little consequence, but which -meant a good deal to Lord William, we can also admire more sincerely -the brain that evolved the scheme and carried it out. - -Some will no doubt think, and possibly say, that the affection we all -had for Lord William has made me picture a faultless man; this is, of -course, not so, and it is not difficult to recognise his failings, -which he shared in common with the rest of mankind, but I do claim -for him that they were none of them mean, little, or contemptible, -and we do not always like people less on account of their faults. -Generosity may be called foolishness: pluck, foolhardiness: morals, -not such as would be considered a proper rudimentary system for -teaching in elementary schools: but if, after all that has been said, -a man can count hundreds of deeply attached friends, and not one can -say he ever did a dishonourable action, or willingly hurt another’s -feelings, I claim that man is great. - -Lord William was an admirer of beauty and good taste; add to this, as -the cookery books say, his particularly charming manner, that would -woo the birds off the trees, and his good looks, it is small wonder -he was much loved by the fair sex. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND - - Coach driving Exploit--The Badger Bet and How It was Won--The - Raleigh Club and the Garçon Glacé Episode--Some Merry Frequenters - of the Club--Regimental Racing--The Tenth Hussars’ Steeplechases, - Exciting Race Between H.R.H.’s Horse and Lord Valentia’s--Aldershot - Coaching Accident--Polo at Woolwich--Sale of 10th Hussars’ - ponies--Friendly Altercations at York--The Three Brothers’ Race--Au - Revoir to Merry England - - -In addition to being a consummate horseman, Lord William was an -accomplished whip. When in Cork some foolish person made him a bet -that he could not, at any rate, drive his coach down the steep and -precipitous steps leading from the barracks, thinking they had at -last found something he could not possibly do. He, however, closed -with the bet at once, saying that he would bet them even money he -would. What sum was offered and taken I do not remember hearing, but -have been given to understand it was fairly heavy, as the feat was -considered impossible and really offered mostly in jest. Imagine -everybody’s feelings when next day the coach, with the wheels inside, -Lord William strapped to the box, and the four horses well in hand, -were seen tobogganing down the steps, and what is more, accomplished -it in safety, winning the bet. - -Making bets was always a weakness of Lord William’s. He acknowledged -it was a fool’s argument, but loved the excitement, moreover -generally won, which was an assistance to the exchequer--a matter of -some consideration. - -It would fill volumes to give accounts of all the mad exploits -of those times. Captain Candy was a constant companion of Lord -William’s, and many of the thrilling adventures of those early years -were shared between them. They appealed to one another, being equally -generous and open-handed. Many still living can remember the lavish -hospitality dispensed by Captain Candy, though it is the fashion with -some to forget the hand that helped them. No one wanting a mount went -without, so long as Lord William or Captain Candy had one standing -in their stables. Both were riding for a fall, but wished all within -reach to share their joys while they lasted. - -Hunting from Cork one day these two were riding close together when -Captain Candy, in taking a fence, found to his dismay that he was -jumping down a quarry, where he landed through the roof of an old -woman’s cabin, causing some splutter and consternation among the -inhabitants, who thought it must be the Fenians! One side of the -cabin had to be pulled down by Lord William before horse and rider -could be extricated. Strange to relate, no one was much the worse. -I think it would be a toss up which broke most bones during their -sporting careers. I myself saw Lord William break his collar-bone -twice and dislocate his shoulder three times on separate occasions. -Indeed, such small affairs became scarcely matters worthy of comment -with him. - -From Ireland the 9th Lancers went, in 1868, to Newbridge, then -on in ’69--Hounslow; ’70--Aldershot; ’72--Woolwich; ’72--York; -’74--Colchester; ’75--out to India, and stationed at Sialkôte, after -which a new leaf was turned over in Lord William’s life, and the -writing on the page took another form. - -He had a very uneventful time while the regiment was at Newbridge, -but while at Hounslow he was a good deal in Town, where his clubs -saw him fairly often. At Pratt’s one night he was talking to some -friends about a pet badger he had that could hold its own against -any dog. Someone, I think it was Captain “Chicken” Hartopp of the -10th Hussars, said they would like to see the animal, to which the -owner replied, “So you shall. What do you bet I will not walk down -to Hounslow and bring it back here by ----?” naming some incredibly -short time in which to accomplish the mission. Considering it almost -out of the question that this could be done in the time, a very -respectable sum was bet, and off started the badger owner to fetch -him, the bargain being that he must walk both ways. It was therefore -necessary to do some smart heel and toe work, which he carried out -faithfully, keeping a watch on the time as he went along. The badger, -as far as history relates, does not seem to have shown the least -surprise at his master turning up in the middle of the night in once -immaculate, but now very dusty, evening dress, and hurrying off with -him in his arms through the lamp-lit West End, to the amazement of -policemen and a few belated wayfarers. They both arrived within the -stated time, the bet being won, though the badger lost a beauty sleep. - -The old Raleigh Club was a great institution in those days, much -frequented by the frisky men of the time, and all young officers -quartered within possible reach. It was quite _the_ thing in night -clubs. Its doors opened at dusk; when they closed, I do not know, -probably shortly before business people in the suburbs were eating -their early breakfasts. At any rate, nobody was anybody, who did not -belong to this club, which was approached by a tunnel, adding mystery -and charm. Within these portals huge sums of money changed hands, -highly flavoured stories circulated, and cards figured largely; -so did swearing, if I may believe what I am told. In fact it was -considered a sign of military efficiency. - -One of the great surprises of my life was finding out, after I -married, that some of the most sedate-looking and highly proper -people I had been brought up amongst, who looked as if they would -faint if anyone said “Damn!” in their presence, were, in reality, -constant visitors at this club, and other popular rendezvous of fame -at that time, while their wives imagined they were seeing the boys -off to school, or some other highly domestic duty. As it was put to -me, some of these elderly friends of my early youth were among those -who “kicked up the most row.” - -There was that great fine Irishman, the late Colonel King-Harman, -most majestic of men and model parent, who came to children’s parties -and danced with poor awestricken me, my feet seldom touching the -ground, but my heart full of admiration for so king-like a being. The -Raleigh knew him as one of the merriest, always ready for a rag. - -Lord Alfred Paget, equerry to Queen Victoria, whom I used to admire -so much when I was a child, sat in front of us in church one winter -in the Isle of Wight. His commanding carriage, handsome dark eyes, -and beetroot complexion fascinated me; and he was so decorous -and good in church, with a pew full of daughters all apparently -reverencing him as I did, for he spent such a long time bending -over the pew and gazing into his hat when he came into church. And -the gallant way in which, without a smile, smallest hesitation, or -fluster, he disentangled the bonnets of two ladies who got mixed -up in front of him one Sunday. It came about through the lady in -the front pew getting up from her knees before the lady in the seat -behind her had completed her devotions. Consequently, when she did -get up the spangled aigrette in her bonnet mixed itself up hopelessly -in the veil and sweeping plume of the head-dress in front of her. -Both tugged and pulled, growing redder in the face and angrier each -moment. My eyes were riveted on the couple, appalled, wondering whose -headgear would be pulled off first, when the gallant equerry, without -moving a muscle of his face, reached over with his long arm and gave -one healthy tweak which separated the two bonnets, while a shower of -tinkling bugles fell from the aigrette to the floor, but still no -sign of mirth on the deliverer’s face. While walking home after the -service my father congratulated him on the speedy way he had freed -the ladies, but Lord Alfred was not unduly mirthful even then, when -out of church and all was over. Yet he too was no stranger at the -Raleigh. - -Oh, yes, and there were many more who took part in those festive -evenings of long ago. Lord Hastings, a friend of Lord William’s, -and like him most generous, in his case too generous to last, -unfortunately; Colonel Valentine Baker, afterwards Baker Pasha, with -his gentle voice and tragic history; Colonel Shaw of the London Fire -Brigade and patron of the Gaiety Theatre: all of whom I had regarded -with youthful awe and reverence. - -It was in the Raleigh that Lord William and one of his brothers, Lord -Marcus, I believe, or both of them, for some reason, or perhaps for -no reason, put the hall porter into the refrigerator. The heat of -the man’s body, or his language, caused the ice to melt, so one of -them drew from the tap some water into a tumbler and sent it with -his compliments to a friend in the smoking-room, describing it as -“Garçon Glacé.” The porter was left in a little too long, and there -was some trouble afterwards. This became known as the “Garçon Glacé” -incident. Everyone thought it funny except the waiter, and he had to -be pacified. Derby week was the time when the Raleigh excelled itself. - -Cards never really fascinated Lord William as racing did, and in -later years he seldom touched them, but in the ’sixties and early -’seventies there was an epidemic of high play which nothing seemed -able to restrain. If cards were forbidden for high stakes at clubs -the members used to hire houses and play, or go to hotels, even play -in their bedrooms if nowhere else was available. Sharp practice, -however, was not in vogue at that time; it followed later, many -stately homes being broken up in consequence. - -Poor old Raleigh! I wonder if to-day any of the ghosts of the past -re-visit it and look on in wonderment at the changed conditions. Now, -it is a club for overseas soldiers, who seem to have caught a little -of the infection, for during the heavy snow-storms of the early part -of this winter (1916) the present club men gathered on the roof and -hurled snowballs at the passing taxi and ’bus men, while a crowd -gathered to watch the fun. The cabmen and other recipients of the -missiles seemed to enjoy the joke, glad to see the soldiers amusing -themselves after their strenuous time at the front. Truly change is -the order of the universe, one of its most unalterable laws, and we -must march with the times, in step to its music. Much as we may look -back on the golden “have been” days, we must not allow ourselves to -become old derelicts, towed along in the wake of progress, but adapt -ourselves to the many changes, though never ceasing to regret the -loss of friends and playfellows of the olden days. - -Early in ’69 Lord William began taking an active part in regimental -races, also in any others where he saw a chance for any of his -stud. On April 1st that year he ran a horse in the Queen’s County -Steeplechases, the Scurry Stakes, 1 sovereign each with 20 added. -Distance 2½ miles. - -Four horses ran:-- - - Lord Wm. Beresford’s Fenian Captain Candy. - Mr. Crosby’s Joe Miller Mr. Onion. - Mr. Mole’s Bashful Captain Morgan. - Mr. Corcoranthe’s The Isle Mr. Burnett. - -The Fenian won in a canter, Joe Miller second, and The Isle fell. - -I have an idea that the Captain Morgan riding Bashful was none other -than the well-known Captain Freddy Morgan, brother of the Lord -Tredegar of Balaclava fame, who, in the great charge, rode a horse -called Mr. Briggs, on which he won a steeplechase before going out -and another on his return, both being among the lucky ones. - -I think this was the first year Lord William appeared as a winning -owner. This success was followed very quickly by another on April -27th in the Subalterns’ Cup, presented by Mr. Palairet of the 9th -Lancers, added to a sweepstake of two sovereigns each. Distance two -miles. - - Lord Wm. Beresford’s Fenian Captain Candy. - Mr. Herbert’s Mephistopheles Owner. - Mr. Mackenzie’s Black Bess Captain McCalmont. - Mr. Green’s Tommy Nodd Captain Clayton. - Mr. Wheeler’s The Nigger Owner. - -The Fenian won by a length, Mr. Herbert’s Mephistopheles second. -An Irish account of this race was very Irish. I give it verbatim: -“Betting 6 to 4 on Mephistopheles, 5 to 4 against Fenian, was a most -curious affair throughout. Mr. Herbert on Mephistopheles was winning -in a canter, but on the end of the enclosure (paddock presumably) -showed a great disposition to bolt, and a great desire to follow the -Nigger, who had been pulled up and was returning home by a short cut -to the enclosure gate. Mephistopheles suddenly stood still next -the palings to follow the Nigger in, and the Fenian came up in time -before Mr. Herbert could get his horse going again, and gained the -verdict, amid much excitement, by a length.” - -Judging by the rather curious account Mephistopheles ought to have -won, but refused to play the game, giving the Fenian an opportunity -his rider was not slow to take advantage of. But then it is just -those off-chances that constitute the excitement and uncertainty of -racing. - -Lord William did not have a mount at this meeting, and only won the -above race, although several of his horses were entered. - -Maid of the Mist carried his colours ridden by Captain Clayton, but -was nowhere in it. Captain Candy won riding his own mare Rosebud. -In another race Captain Clayton rode Lord William’s Cyclops, which -fell. This again was won by Captain Candy on his Park Mount. Maid -of the Mist had another try in the Four-Mile Handicap Steeplechase, -ridden this time by Captain Grissell, but the race was won by -Captain McCalmont on Bicycle. In the Flying Plate, Mr. Herbert rode -Mumbo for Lord William, but Captain Candy won on Strasburg. To put -the finishing touch to a most successful day’s racing for Captain -Candy, he secured under the circumstances the inappropriately named -Consolation Plate with Cracker. That was a “Sugar Candy” day with a -vengeance. Riding in six races he won five, and was second in the -sixth. A record for professional or amateur. - -No one was more pleased with his friend’s successes than Lord -William, for they were fast friends, and when Captain Candy married -the sister of his likewise friend and brother officer, Lord Rossmore, -he acted as best man. - -It was generally known about this time that the then Prince of Wales -was interested in racing, and had been for some time, but owing -to Queen Victoria’s objection to the Royal colours appearing on a -racecourse, His Royal Highness had been running his horses under -other people’s names. In fact, in 1876 Royal won him the Grand -National in Captain Machell’s name, long before Ambush II was thought -of. His Royal Highness also had a share in Lord “Joe” Aylesford’s -horses. Therefore, when the Prince’s racing colours appeared at the -10th Hussars’ Steeplechases, while they were stationed at Hounslow in -1871, I think, it was a day of great excitement, the Prince being in -the regiment at the time. - -There was no public announcement of the meeting, it being a -semi-secret affair held at Down Barn near Southall, within easy reach -of their quarters at Hounslow. Consequently there was no big crowd. -Nevertheless, it was quite an historic meeting; the rows of drags -that lined the course reminded those present of Ascot. The judges -were Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Lord William Beresford, and Lord -Rosebery. The card of the day’s racing contained only five events. - -Everyone was anxious to see the Royal colours win the Challenge Cup -for bona-fide hunters; distance about three miles. - -The entries for this race were:-- - - H.R.H. the Prince of Wales’s Champion, b.g. Captain Rivers - Bulkeley. - Lord Valentia’s Wellington, ch.g. Captain Wood. - Hon. P. W. FitzWilliam’s Punkah, b.g. Owner. - Lord Valentia’s Vent Piece, bn.m. Mr. Woods. - Mr. Smith-Dorrien’s Marquis, ro.g. Owner. - Major St. Quinten’s Crusader, b.g. Owner. - -The Prince drove down from town with Colonel Kingscote in attendance. -Captain Rivers Bulkeley and that popular old sportsman, Major Chaine, -were the stewards, while Mr. Smith-Dorrien, whose name as a general -is so intimately connected with the War, was the most courteous of -secretaries. The idol of the hour after the Prince was Captain Rivers -Bulkeley, as being the first to wear the famous Royal purple and gold -braided jacket with gold and black cap. He must have felt a very -proud man, but unfortunately like Humpty Dumpty he had a great fall. -At the brook Champion, the Prince’s horse, came to grief, he and the -favourite Vent Piece fell together, the riders remounting, and in at -the finish. Champion managed to regain so much ground that hopes were -raised once more of a Royal victory, but in the last half-mile he -showed distinct signs of having taken too much out of himself at the -brook, so was overtaken by Wellington, who won for Lord Valentia by -ten lengths. Champion second, Punkah third. - -It was a great day. I wonder how many good men and true who were -there would be able to answer the roll-call to-day? - -There were a number of well-known people there besides the Prince of -Wales: Lord Westmorland (the handsome Frank) and Lady Westmorland, -the Earl of Cork, the Earl of Rosebery, Lord Fitzgerald, Lord -Carrington, Lord Clonmell, Lord Charles Ker, Sir George Wombwell, -Colonel and Mrs. Owen Williams, and many others. - -When the 9th Lancers were at Aldershot, a good deal of mild racing -was the order of the day. On one occasion, when Lord William was -tooling his coach on to the course, in his endeavours to avoid -a runaway carriage and pair, behind which sat a screaming and -frightened lady, he managed to upset the coach without seriously -damaging any of the occupants. The late Lord Kinnoull, who was on the -coach, described it to me. He said he never saw anything so splendid -as the way Lord William handled the ribbons. The road was narrow, -on the left was a bank with roughly put up rails on top, while -speeding towards them on the right-hand side of the road was the -runaway carriage. The coachman had lost all control, yet my informant -declared if the clatter of the galloping hoofs and the screaming -lady had not frightened the horses in the coach, all might have been -well. As it was, there was an alarming cracking noise from the wooden -railings on the left, a great lurch, and the coach turned over. After -this it was difficult to say exactly what did happen, except that -there was a general mix up, and the poor lady in her runaway carriage -continued her career down the road. It was characteristic of Lord -William that he was more concerned about the fate of the screaming -lady than with his own predicament. - -So far Lord William had only been a winning owner. His first -appearance as a winning rider was across the Long Valley at -Aldershot. I give the race card. - - 9th LANCERS’ STEEPLECHASE - - ALDERSHOT, _April 27th, 1872_ - - The Subalterns’ Cup, added to a sweepstake of 2 sovereigns - each with 10 added. _Three miles._ - - Lord Wm. Beresford’s Star-gazer, b.g., 10st. Owner. - Mr. Wheeler’s Frolic, ch.m., 11st. Captain Williams. - Mr. Moore (St. Leger) Portfire, 11st. Owner. - Mr. Butson’s The Finnigan, 11st. Captain Grissell. - Hon. E. P. Willoughby’s Lowthorpe, br.g., 12st. Owner. - Hon. E. P. Willoughby’s Irish Kate, 11st. 7lb. Captain Palairet. - -Star-gazer won, which was a creditable performance, being his second -race that day, and taking into consideration that he fell in the -first. The earlier race he had taken part in was the Regimental -Cup, which was won by Captain Willoughby on his good horse Langar. -He won many races for his owner, who always rode him, including a -great point-to-point at York, when the Duke of Clarence was present. -Captain Willoughby was of great repute in the 9th on account of his -performances in the pig-skin as a steeplechase rider and polo player; -also Major McCalmont, a great judge of a horse. He once bought what -he thought a likely looking animal out of a thrashing-machine for -£45, which turned out a brilliant and valuable steeplechaser. The -present-day General, D. M. G. Campbell, was also in the regiment at -that time; he has been wounded twice in the present war, and is still -out there at the time of writing, with what remains of those who were -present at Mons. - -It may interest present-day race-goers to know that in ’72 the -“chases” were run at Aldershot the reverse way of the course, though -on the same land as at the present time, finishing at the bottom, -instead of the top of the hill. There was then no Terraced Mount for -the officers and their wives. - -Lord William worked hard at this meeting, having seven mounts, -winning one race, and being second in another. Star-gazer does not -sound like a very comfortable mount for “chasing.” - -From Aldershot the regiment went to Woolwich, but I know very little -of that time. Polo was in vogue, and some good games were played, -it being then in its youth as far as England was concerned, though -it had been played for centuries in Persia. The Manipuries first -introduced it to the British in 1862, on the Calcutta racecourse. -After this it was taken up by the 11th Bengal Lancers, but it was not -played seriously in England until 1874, when the 5th Lancers became -enthusiastic, after which it became fashionable. - -The Manipuries, who love the game, play it in the streets of Upper -Bengal, on scraps of ponies about twelve hands high, playing just -as they feel inclined, with both hands and short mallets. At first -when the game was played by the English, the rules were somewhat -slack; everybody played on what size pony they pleased, crossed and -recrossed each other, besides other curious things. - -Now the rules bid for greater safety and greater enjoyment, though I -remember as late as 1883, or thereabouts, at Lucknow, where the 10th -Hussars were then playing, they habitually sent down to the ground a -doolie or two for the removal of the sick and wounded after a game. A -doolie is a sort of hand ambulance, carried by natives. In India the -ground is so hard that if anyone gets a fall it is like coming down -on pavement. It is a mystery to me how the ponies’ legs stand it, and -the 10th played a fast game. - -They made a great name for themselves at polo, and when they left -the country their ponies were all put up for sale. People came to -the sale from far and wide, for the ponies naturally carried a -reflected glory from the prowess of their riders. I well remember -the sale. Of course there were some valuable ponies sold which had -made names for themselves, but there were not a few that had done -nothing very great, and their owners were staggered at the big prices -they fetched, simply because they belonged to the 10th, and people -therefore thought they must be good polo ponies. - -When one of the officers came to say good-bye to us, he gave a most -amusing account of the bidding and some of the bidders. Speaking of -one of his ponies that I knew very well and used to ride sometimes -in paper-chases, he said: “You know the poor old pony cannot gallop -faster than I can kick my hat.” This was embroidering a little. It -was a handy little beast and had played in many a game of polo, -helping out the stable on occasions though by no means one of the -owner’s best; nevertheless it realized a price that trebled what had -originally been paid for him, and after a couple of years’ work. - -[Illustration: 9TH LANCERS’ POLO GROUPS AT WOOLWICH - -_Left to right. Standing_: Capt. Clayton, Mr. Palairet, Capt. de la -Garde Grissell, Capt. Fife - -_On ground_: Lord William Beresford, Mr. Moore] - -During the early days of polo there used to be sad accidents, and -sad rows too sometimes; the amenities were not so refined as they -are to-day, though even at polo I have observed occasionally a soft -answer may turn away wrath. - -From Woolwich, Lord William went with his regiment to York, and -to this day the period the 9th Lancers were quartered there is -remembered as a red-letter time, for they were a great social -success. At that time the neighbouring country houses were more often -in the occupation of their owners than they are now, and Yorkshire -could boast of its old-fashioned hospitality and love of sport. I -have heard the north country accused of being boorish and stiff, -but this is a matter of opinion with which I, personally, do not -altogether agree. - -An amusing incident happened outside the solemn old club which stands -close to the Lendal Bridge at York. Lord Rossmore went into the club -one evening just in time to see one of the servant girls from the -kitchen regions make her escape from a young man who was evidently -annoying her. She fled down the area steps; Lord Rossmore collared -the youth, and began giving him a lecture of an improving nature. -At this moment, who should come out of the club but Lord William. -He at once scented battle; without having the slightest idea what -it was about, but longing to be in it, he cried, “Let me have him, -Derry. Oh, do let me have him.” “No,” replied the other, jealous of -his capture. “_I found him_; he is my man.” They became so absorbed -in the argument as to who should make the prisoner’s teeth chatter -that the man took the opportunity to make his escape. Looking round -and discovering his loss, Lord Rossmore indignantly reproached his -friend. “Now look what you have done!” he cried; “this is what comes -of trying to steal my man.” Then as the absurdity of the whole thing -struck them, they laughed until their sides ached. After which Lord -William apologised profusely for having spoilt “Derry’s” sport, and -losing his man. - -It was on that same Lendal Bridge, on another occasion, that Lord -William and the late Mr. Joseph Leeman, M.P., as a matter of detached -interest spent an hour one night, or rather early one morning, -struggling desperately to see which could put the other over the high -balustrade of the bridge into the river below. Each in turn would -get the other up to within an inch or two of the top preparatory to -a bath in the Ouse, which always looks particularly uninviting just -there. Lord William made one splendid effort regardless of popping -buttons and bursting braces to get Mr. Leeman up, and thought at last -he had accomplished it, but down he came with a rush. A wrestle then -ensued all across the road, each trying to get hold of the other in -just the right position; the game then began again, this time Lord -William being perilously near the top. At last, quite exhausted, they -adjourned to Mr. Leeman’s rooms at the Station Hotel, and finished -the night (?) there--of course, the best of friends the whole time. - -There is another York story, though I cannot vouch for its accuracy; -I only tell it as it was told to me. A certain youth joined the -regiment who, it was considered, wanted teaching a thing or two, -and who at that time they did not like. His clothes did not please -them, his face did not please them, in fact nothing about him pleased -them. So, while he was out of his room one evening, they, with much -difficulty and the help of many people, persuaded a lover of thistles -to walk upstairs into his bedroom, where it was put to bed. A large -cock with a strong voice was also thrust, protesting, into the -dirty-clothes-basket, where it presently fell into a brooding silence -of despair. When the unfortunate owner of the room returned he had -many exhausting moments with the donkey before he successfully turned -it out of the room and could go to bed. At dawn he was awakened from -a refreshing sleep by the clarion notes of the cock issuing from the -clothes-basket, and he began to wonder if the claret of the night -before had disagreed with him, or if it was all a horrid nightmare. -This story may, or may not be true, but I knew the youth in question, -and that he was not popular then. It is pleasant to be able to -remember that, some years later, when he died of consumption, his -sterling good qualities and unfeigned good nature had made him so -much liked that his loss aroused universal sorrow in the regiment. - -In ’74 the regiment moved from York to Colchester, where Lord William -seemed to get a great deal of leave, part of which he spent helping -his brother, Lord Charles, who was standing for Waterford in the -Conservative interest at the request of his eldest brother. They -had great fun together, but this has been described in Lord Charles -Beresford’s own book. - -It was in this same year that the memorable brothers’ race was run -at Curraghmore on the Williamstown course. The race is a matter of -history now, but I have seen quite lately a controversy about it in -the sporting Press, some declaring that Lord Waterford took part in -it, others that he did not. Only three took part in the race: Lord -Charles, Lord William, and Lord Marcus. Again, there are folk who -think it was all arranged beforehand who was to win. Wrong again. -Nothing was further from the minds of any of the trio; each meant to -win, and each thought he would. The race was run at the Curraghmore -Hunt meeting. Three miles. The brothers had a private sweep of 100 -sovereigns each. - -Anyone not knowing the sport-loving proclivities of the Irish cannot -picture the excitement there was in the country over this event. Even -the peasant women who knew nothing about racing but something about -men, bet on their fancy, some for the one with the curly hair, others -for the brave blue eyes, and so on. - -Each of the brothers had to ride 12 stone and be on his own horse. -The Beresford Blue was worn by them all. Lord Charles, being the -eldest, donned the black cap, which sounds rather as if he were -condemning someone to death; the others wore white and blue caps -respectively to distinguish between them. - -[Illustration: THE FAMOUS BERESFORD BROTHERS’ RACE - -(1) LORD WILLIAM; (2) LORD MARCUS; (3) LORD CHARLES] - -Lord Charles thought he had a winner in the black thoroughbred he -brought over from England for the race, named Night Walker, which had -been bred by a man named Power, the sporting tenant of the course. -Lord William rode his grey mare Woodlark, and Lord Marcus a bay -gelding, The Weasel. I like to picture these affectionate, sporting -brothers jogging off to the starting-post, all eager and happy. - -They got away well without delay, and at a cracking pace. Riding -boot to boot, charging each fence side by side until near the -winning-post, all riding straight and square like the sportsmen -they were. Soon the buzz of voices ceased, and a tense silence -made itself felt, for the last fence was being neared, and still -all were abreast, but now it became apparent that Night Walker had -done enough. The struggle then remained between the Weasel and the -Woodlark, the latter winning by a short head, so the crowd had some -excitement in return for their long journeys and, in many cases, the -night spent on the course to secure a good place. - -Lord Charles thought his horse got a chill coming over on the boat, -and was therefore not up to his best form. Lord Marcus remarked that -while each fancied himself enormously he enthusiastically eulogised -the other. The photograph of the race here reproduced is taken from -the picture hanging at Curraghmore, Lady Waterford kindly having had -it taken for me to use in this book. Other races were ridden in that -day by the brothers, but not as winners. The tall hat and pink coat -worn by Lord William in one of these races inaugurated, I believe, -the now common custom of riding in pink at hunt meetings. - -The Beresfords all seem to have the whisper understood by horses and -dogs, for they have been able to make them do some wonderful things. -Lord William’s uncle once jumped a hunter over a dining-room table -at Melton one night for a bet. Lord Charles, in his book, tells the -characteristic story of his having led a queer-tempered thoroughbred -from the road in Eaton Square into the house, along a passage, round -the dining-room table, and out again, without disaster. The only sign -of rebellion or annoyance on the part of the horse was to kick at the -fire in passing just by way of salutation, and to show there was no -ill feeling. This enterprise, of course, Beresford like, was for a -bet. - -At many gymkhanas I have seen Lord William do extraordinary tricks -and feats of horsemanship, but of that later. - -To return to Colchester, “the brothers’” race being over. On July -25th of that year, the 9th sent a polo team to Hurlingham, where they -played against the Blues. In the second contest, Lord William made -the first goal for the regiment, and again in the third. The Lancers -won. The Prince and Princess of Wales were present, and were much -interested in the game. - -On September 10th a “Horse Fête and Polo Match” took place between -the 9th Lancers and 7th Hussars. The 9th won, eight goals in -succession, the handsome cup presented by the Borough consequently -falling to them. One of the goals was won by Lord William. - -Monday, October 10th, saw the ponies at Tattersall’s, the regiment -being under orders for India. Among those of Lord William’s, Madge -fetched 62 guineas, Toothpick 36 guineas, The Wren 42 guineas, The -Gem 60 guineas, Little Wonder 50 guineas, Madame Angot 20 guineas. -Very different to the prices such ponies would command to-day. Before -leaving the old country a dinner was given to the regiment by its -former officers to wish them luck and au revoir. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - JOINS VICEROY’S STAFF - - What he Might Have Been--A Happy Exile--Lumtiddy Hall--Unsuccessful - Journey to Pay Calls--Appointed to Staff of Retiring Viceroy--First - Summer at Simla--Appointed A.D.C. to Lord Lytton--Annandale - Racecourse--Birth of _The Asian_--Dinner to Its Sporting - Owner--Winner of Viceroy’s Cup--Delhi Durbar, 1887--Mighty - Preparations--A Terrible Accident - - -It is easy to imagine with what mingled feelings Lord William left -England: relief at being freed from the money difficulties that -oppress a young man in a swagger regiment in this expensive old -country; affectionate regret for the splendid days that were done; -the happy family gatherings, before all were scattered; still -cherishing some of the ideals of youth to which there is always a -sacredness attached. Children usually build mental universes round -themselves, and at the age of twenty-eight hope has not died in the -heart; that child of happiness still keeps it warm. Lord William, -not being one of those who wear their heart on their sleeve, was of -the merriest on board ship, full of courage and good resolutions, -determined to map out his future on safer grounds than hitherto. - -I have often heard it remarked that Lord William might have gained -and filled almost any great position in life that he chose, owing to -his talents, perseverance, and charm of manner, if it had not been -that he was obsessed by his passion for racing and horse-flesh. It -is said “he might have been a great soldier”; my reply is, _he was_. -Again: “He might have been a great statesman.” I reply, that in a -measure he was. To be the right-hand man of and Military Secretary -to three successive Viceroys, and a capable A.D.C. to three, -speaks for itself. What more could he desire, unless it was to be -Viceroy? which would not have appealed to him in the least. Some -of his friends have said they regretted his not having entered the -Diplomatic Service, which shows how little they understood him, for -nothing could have been less attractive to him, or more foreign to -his nature, than a life of trying to make black look white; though an -adept at bamboozling people for their own advantage, and smoothing -rough corners for their happiness, to bamboozle them to their -detriment, and smile with the face of a truthful prophet while so -doing, would have been impossible to him; also he was much too loyal -for that profession, who proverbially, as a class, are not given to -standing by one another. Any question that he had to decide he would -gladly have done with his fists, or sword, but not by parliamentary -inexactitudes. Besides, who among those who knew him would have liked -to see him any different from what he was? - -India appealed to Lord William, he liked it from the first. Perhaps -he, more than some, felt the loneliness inseparable from landing -in a strange country for the first time, with a career to make out -of nothing; far from the help and glamour of home associations, -feeling rather like goods on a market stall, from which the ticket -describing their merit and value has fallen, leaving the said goods -to prove their own merit, and so create their own price. - -Starting a life in any new country, individuals are only a number -to begin with. Yet India is one of the kindest to strangers, there -is something in the atmosphere that melts the Northern “stand-off” -attitude. All are exiles, which forms a bond of sympathy, uniting -them into one big family, so to speak. It is good for all to -find their own level; travelling assists them, gives them a new -education. There is much to be learned in a large mixed cosmopolitan -concentration, where princes, rajahs, judges, generals, police, -subalterns who know everything, old men who believe nothing, -middle-aged men who suspect everything, all rub shoulders, look well -groomed and comfortable, yet all with the same longing for home in -their hearts. - -At Bombay, Lord William met his brother, Lord Charles, then in -attendance on the Prince of Wales; this meeting was a great pleasure -and took the chill off the landing. - -Sialkôte is a pleasant station, more shady than many, boasting fine -trees and a certain amount of vegetation. A charming bungalow was -secured and shared by Captain Clayton and Lord William. These stable -companions were greatly attached to one another; the former had a -good influence over his wild-spirited friend, who quite recognised -and appreciated the fact. - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD AND CAPTAIN CLAYTON] - -The bungalow was christened “Lumtiddy Hall.” In the photograph the -tenants are seen sitting in the verandah, the servants standing -outside. I do not know why people always collect their servants -and stand them round the front door in India when having photographs -taken. It is not the habit at home. I think it must be with a view -to introducing the drapery and surroundings of our new lives to our -relations elsewhere to whom we send the pictures, more than anything -else. At any rate everyone does it, and the native servants like it; -indeed now I come to think of it, I am not sure that it is not an -arrangement of their own. - -Some of the things I shall have to touch on will not be new, I dare -say, to readers familiar with India, but there are other friends -of Lord William’s to whom the customs and etiquettes are unknown; -they may like to have some idea of his life, duties, pleasures and -general surroundings, also the way he fulfilled his obligations. -Among the latter I must not forget to mention the dutiful way he and -his brother officer, Mr. Charles Lascelles, started paying calls -after the fashion of the country. Armed with an alarmingly long list, -they rode out determinedly from the mess on their ponies. The first -bungalow they came to, where they intended to pay their respects, -had straw laid down along the road and up to the door. Lord William -pulled up, frowning wisely: “We had better call here another day,” he -announced, after deep thought. “Why?” asked Mr. Lascelles innocently. -“My dear fellow! don’t you see all this straw down? Someone must be -ill; having a baby or something most likely,” replied the sage. - -Horrified at the thought, and impressed by his friend’s knowledge and -insight, Mr. Lascelles agreed fervently, and they rode on to the -next bungalow. Here again they found straw laid down. - -“Surely they can’t all be doing the same thing at once, can they?” -said the astonished Mr. Lascelles. - -“You can never be sure what they do out here,” replied the other. “In -any case you can’t be too careful.” So they rode on. - -To their amazement they found straw at each bungalow, so they -returned to the mess to announce the discreet reasons for their -failure. The mess was delighted, and it was not till some time after -that the two were informed that the straw was there to prevent the -prevailing dust from entering the bungalows. - -New-comers in India find the rules appertaining to paying calls -at times amusing. The first thing that appears strange is the -conventional calling hours, being among the hottest in the day, when -quite possibly the people being called on are trying to keep cool -by lying in baths or under punkahs. A clatter of hoofs is heard, -followed by a voice shouting, “Qui Hie!” which means “Somebody.” - -There ought to be a servant or two sitting on the verandah, but at -times they are not to be found, their beloved hubble-bubbles having -enticed them away. So the callers continue riding round the house -shouting for “Somebody” plaintively until “Somebody” is found, and -a few well-chosen words addressed to him in the visitor’s best -Hindustani. Calling out there is altogether an unconventional art. - -[Illustration: “LUMTIDDY HALL”] - -I remember once at Sitapur, where all the officers of a newly arrived -battery of artillery dutifully called on us, with exception of -a Mr. Ross, who happened to be a particular friend of my husband, -so that his non-appearance caused us some surprise. At last he came -and apologised for not having been before by saying that he had been -awaiting his turn for the calling suit of clothes. Being youngest, -his turn came last! Poor soul; he was afterwards frozen to death in -the Afghan War. Found dead, still sitting erect on his horse. - -To return to Lord William; India was not long in finding out that a -good sportsman and a judge of racing had arrived in its midst. Before -many weeks had passed he had made himself felt, and was to be seen -officiating as judge at some pony races. His first appearance in the -pig-skin was in October of the same year (1875), when he rode a raw, -hard-mouthed horse named Clarion for a friend in the Grand Military -Chase, having amongst his opponents that well-known splendid horseman -Frank Johnson, who won on a horse called Ring, Clarion being third. -After this he continued to ride a number of mounts for friends and -acquaintances. - -It was about this time that Lord William was appointed A.D.C. on -the staff of the retiring Viceroy, Lord Northbrook, who was being -succeeded by Lord Lytton, one of Disraeli’s appointments. While -learning his new duties at Calcutta, Lord William did a little -racing, winning the Corinthian Purse on a black Waler called -Dandynong, for his friend Captain Davidson, the Prince of Wales being -present at the time. It did not take him long to master the duties of -an A.D.C. or to become popular, for he really commenced a new era in -the social life of India. Things began to hum, and everyone began to -enjoy the races, dances, picnics and paper-chases he inaugurated. He -was soon surrounded with friends. - -When Lord Lytton took over the Viceroyalty he retained Lord William -as A.D.C. on his staff. In April of that year, Colonel Colley, who -was Military Secretary to the Viceroy, wrote, in a letter to Lady -Lytton: “Lord William Beresford is full of fun and go, and is being -placed in charge of the stables.” So he was already doing the work -and fitting into the corner for which he was so admirably suited. - -The summer of ’76 was spent at Simla, his first introduction to the -place where he was to spend so many summers of his life. - -In a letter written home at this time, he speaks of being happy with -the Lyttons, and pleasure at having the management of the horses. - -[Illustration: 9TH LANCERS’ MESS, SIALKÔTE, 1876] - -Lady Lytton, referring to this time, says: “I noted that Lord William -managed the stables admirably, and our coachman Wilson was very -happy under him”; from which it may be inferred that Wilson was a -good servant, or he would not have been happy under Lord William’s -eye, for he was very particular, and would not be content unless -everything was properly turned out and in perfect order. It may -not be generally known that only three people are allowed to have -carriages in Simla, namely, the Viceroy, the Commander-in-Chief -and the Chief Commissioner of the North-West Provinces. The -Viceregal party are often the only ones to avail themselves of this -privilege. The rule sounds a little selfish and high-handed, but -it is explained by the fact that there is only one road where -it is possible to drive, and that one is very circumscribed. The -inhabitants of the station live in houses dotted about the hillside, -approached in many cases by scrambling paths, up which people have -to be carried in janpans (a sort of chair slung on bamboo poles and -carried by four bearers), ride, or in a rickshaw, a sort of bath -chair pulled by native servants. - -Carriages are therefore white elephants in the hills; and even for -riding it is necessary to have sure-footed and quiet ponies. - -There are so many books dealing with Indian life I feel that it -is rather superfluous to explain that the official residence of -the Government is, during the summer, at Simla, and at Calcutta in -winter. Lord Lawrence, the Viceroy in 1863, first started Simla -as the official summer residence, taking all his assistants and -council with him, the reason that this particular station was chosen -being that it was the only place in the Himalayas, or indeed any -of the Indian mountains, where there was sufficient accommodation -for the followers in his train. It was also easy of access and had -a good road to it, compared with those of the other hill stations. -Of course, like most innovations, it met with a certain amount of -grumbling from those who considered they could have chosen a better -spot, and each successive administrator tried to go one better by -suggesting some other place. Up to now, no other place has been found -more suitable, so it may be taken for granted that Lord Lawrence -made a wise choice. Anything less like a government house, at that -time, than the Viceregal Lodge, rejoicing in the name of Peterhoff, -it would be difficult to imagine, being nothing more or less than a -glorified bungalow, standing on the edge of what in England we should -call a precipice, and in India a hillside or khud, and with very -little ground round it. - -Having heard that there was a racecourse, Lord William, in his -first spare moments, went to see it, finding this dignified title -applied to a small, more or less flat piece of ground lying between -two hills, the roads to it being zigzag paths, hollowed out by the -mountain torrents during the winter and monsoon, to which a little -assistance was given by the authorities to make them safe. No -carriage could get there, nevertheless this little spot was a source -of joy and health to many, for here every Saturday races were held, -occasional cricket matches, and other health and pleasure giving -exercises, to which all the inhabitants and visitors thronged. All -the world and his wife used to go, also other people’s wives, for -there are always any number of grace widows in the hill stations, -whose husbands are unable to get leave to accompany them, or at any -rate only for a short time. Annandale was the name of this little -basin where the races were run at that time. I was introduced to it -a few years later, and thought its primitiveness added to its charm. -There was no such a thing as a grand stand, or even an un-grand one. -People sat about on the hillside to watch the racing. There was a -small shed, if I remember rightly, where Reigning Royalty could -shelter, should the necessity arise, which formed a sort of holy of -holies where they could carry out the exclusiveness necessary to -their position, so odious and trying to many of them. - -Now there is a gorgeous thing in pavilions, as will be seen by the -photograph, but I do not feel any ambition to go there, liking the -memory of Annandale as it was in earlier times too well to have any -desires for buildings comfortable or otherwise, in that historic -little corner. After a race meeting there was a general scramble up -the hillside again to dress for dinner and the evening’s amusements, -of which there were plenty; Lord William took care of that; -theatricals, dances, concerts, Christy Minstrel performances, and at -times quite classic and dignified oratorios, besides endless private -parties and social gatherings. - -Government House has to fulfil its obligations, and give a certain -number of dances and parties, so has the Commander-in-Chief and the -Governor of the North-West Provinces, this being one of the things -they are out there for. Some live up to the letter of the law, so -to speak, others are full of hospitality and private enterprise, -especially those with young people of their own out there with them. - -On August 6th there were great rejoicings, a son being born to Lord -Lytton, who was away in the hills at the time in connection with -his work. Lady Lytton, in a letter speaking of the many kindnesses -of their A.D.C., says: “Lord William rode twenty-six miles to Fagoo -with letters (to Lord Lytton), and brought me back the answers -and congratulations the same evening,” which is just the kindly -sympathetic thing he would do. - -The work and responsibility attached to the life of a Viceroy -is great and anxious. It is well that he should have sympathetic -workers under him who will relieve him, as much as possible, of all -unnecessary worries and anxieties. Lord William felt this keenly, and -all the Viceroys he served under expressed their gratitude for his -never-failing thoughtfulness and unselfish devotion. - -When it is realised that this one man, with his handful of -councillors, keeps in touch with 207,000,000 Brahmins, 9,000,000 -Buddhists, 62,000,000 Mohammedans, 2,000,000 Sikhs, 1,300,000 -Janns, 94,000 Zoroastrians (Parsees) and 8,000 Jews, not counting -the 8,000,000 of the aboriginal tribes whose religion I do not -know, considers all their grievances, studies carefully all their -superstitions and traditional etiquettes, managing to keep all more -or less happy, it seems a superhuman task. - -That such comparative contentment reigns is eloquent of the amount of -thought and care devoted to the smallest detail of government. Lord -Lytton came to the country knowing little of it or its people, but -quickly made a study of both, and was deeply interested. - -It has always struck me that Lord Lytton’s way of expressing himself -was exceptionally charming. His letters home, and to the Queen during -anxious times, are delightful to read. Lord William described him as -a most considerate Chief, and regretted that he was not stronger, -as he was so keen, and worked so hard, that he exhausted himself. -The years of the Lytton administration were full of anxious and busy -times. - -In October, Lord William found time to ride a race or two at Dehra, -winning one, thanks to good judgment and riding, on Red Eagle for a -friend, also the Doon Chase on Commodore for Captain Maunsell. - -A little later, at Umballa, he rode for Mr. George Thomas, and won a -hurdle race on Fireman. On returning to Calcutta from Simla he was -elected a steward of the Calcutta races, having already joined the -Turf Club. Among the other stewards for the year were Lord Ulick -Browne, the Hon. W. F. McDonnell, and Captain Ben Roberts. - -It is a matter of regret that in the early years of Lord William’s -sojourn in India, there was practically no sporting paper to -chronicle his many endeavours and triumphs; the only thing of the -kind being a rather superannuated _Oriental Sporting Magazine_, -which was more or less in a moribund condition, although run by good -sportsmen, some of whom were, perhaps, growing a little out of touch -with the views of the rising generation. It was not until 1878 that -_The Asian_ was started as a sporting venture, by an energetic person -called Mr. William Targett, who, though he knew nothing about horses, -felt that he was filling a long-standing want, which the success of -his paper proved to have been a correct and business-like surmise. -The paper may still be doing useful work for all I know, although it -has lost its original and popular proprietor, whom Lord William liked -so well. While speaking of _The Asian_ and Mr. Targett I think the -following little story is interesting. - -Mr. Targett was at home in 1894 on one of the holidays he allowed -himself every three years. The time was drawing near for his return -to India, so some of his oldest friends in this country convened a -little “au revoir” banquet at the Victoria Club in Wellington Street. - -Fully a hundred sat down, all good sportsmen hail-fellow-well-met. -Mr. Targett was evidently much pleased at the kindly feeling that -had prompted his friends to give him this send-off. All were in -their places except the intended president. Suddenly the door flew -open and the voice of the arranger of this merry meeting announced: -“Gentlemen, allow me to introduce your chairman, Lord William -Beresford.” Many present knew he was in England, but few that he -was in London, therefore little did they expect his presence. This -surprise was arranged between Lord William and Mr. Meyrick (the -well-known writer of “Sporting Notes” in the _Sporting Times_) with a -view to giving the proprietor of _The Asian_ pleasure. - -Mr. William Targett was delighted, and grasped his lordship’s hand, -saying: “What, you here, Bill!” The quick reply came: “Yes, Bill; I’m -here and so pleased at the invitation!” Wherever Lord William was, -there it was lively, and this feast lasted three good hours, until he -was obliged to keep what he referred to as an “austere appointment,” -but at the end of his response to the toast of his health he took -the whole room into his confidence with the concluding sentence: -“Gentlemen, while you are thinking about your Christmas dinner, -Targett and myself, with good luck, hope to be on the Calcutta -racecourse; and I must tell you that this week I have, I think, -purchased the winner of the Viceroy Cup--Metallic--for my old friend -Orr-Ewing. Good night and good luck to you all.” - -One jubilant and well-known Umballian present shouted: “I am betting -on the Viceroy’s Cup. Who wants to back his lordship’s tip?” He -quickly found customers. The recounter of this story to me added that -he risked a little bit, and was pleased to find on the following -Christmas week that Metallic had won, and he therefore the better off -by a “tenner.” It was kind of Lord William to find time to give his -little Calcutta friend this pleasant surprise, considering that every -one of his own friends and relations were clamouring for his time. - -But to return to 1876 in the East. At the close of the year, all -official India, and a great deal of the unofficial, gathered at Delhi -for the Proclamation of the Queen as Empress of India on January 1st, -1877. This entailed unceasing work on the Vice-regal staff, and all -Government officials, both civil and military. The assemblage was to -last fourteen days, and the heads of every departmental government in -India were to be present, besides 14,000 troops, seventy-seven ruling -princes and chiefs, and 68,000 people were invited and actually -stayed in or around Delhi. - -Only those who have been in the vicinity of, or engaged in, the -preparations for any big gathering in India can imagine for a -moment the amount of galloping and fuss, the thraldom of official -red tape and etiquette to be punctiliously observed, the number of -contradictory orders, the hurt feelings and notes of explanation that -are flying about; most of this galloping, between head-quarters and -heads of departments, being carried out by the A.D.C.’s. - -At last everything was growing shipshape, and people left off saying, -“I told you so,” even began to smile furtively once more, for all -was in readiness. The Rajahs’ gardens were laid out elaborately -round their different tents and camps, each vying with the other -to have the best and most attractive display. The elephants had -arrived and were amiable and docile. The Rajahs’ horses in readiness, -with magenta tails and gorgeous trappings. The jewels laid out and -counted. Everything, in fact, ready for the great day. Therefore -a little relaxation was considered consistent with good form on -the part of the staff and officers in waiting for the great event, -consequently a game of polo was arranged for Christmas Day. - -This chance game, a thing born of a few spare hours in the midst of -the pomp and glitter of Eastern rejoicing, was destined to prove the -blackest sorrow of Lord William’s life. Captain Clayton had become -to Lord William, what is perhaps the most irreplaceable thing in the -world, his best friend, and during this game their ponies cannoned -into one another. Captain Clayton’s fell; its rider was picked up -unconscious, and died the same night. - -[Illustration: THE DELHI DURBAR, 1877] - -Poor Lord William was wild with grief, and Captain De la Garde -Grissell, an old friend and brother officer of his, who was in the -camp with the 11th Hussars, was sent for to the Viceroy’s camp to -stay with Lord William during the night. Captain Eustace Vesey and -Captain Charles Muir sat up with Captain Clayton until he died at -midnight. Captain Grissell tells me that they were so anxious -that none should do anything for their dear friend but those who -had known and cared for him, that he and Captain Vesey made all -the arrangements--in India everything has to be carried out so -swiftly. There was no undertaker, so a soldier made the coffin and -Captain Grissell himself screwed down the lid, both he and Captain -Vesey being greatly overcome. The funeral was next day, and a most -impressive sight, all the troops at the Durbar taking part. A -military funeral is at all times impressive, indeed harrowing, to -those who mourn the loss of one who has shared their lives, but it -becomes doubly so when the circumstances have been so tragic. He was -buried in the graveyard behind the ridge held so long by us during -the Mutiny, and he lies with the 9th Lancers who fell at that time -and are buried close by. - -All the rest of the time Lord William was in India he used to go away -by himself on the anniversary of that terrible accident and visit his -friend’s grave. So great had the grief been to him that he always -felt that he must be alone on that day; alone with his grief and the -spirit of his old friend. He did not want to speak; not because there -is anything in life too sacred to say or tell, but much too sacred to -parody. But the world and all its shows will not stand still for us -while we grieve, and Lord William with his good pluck struggled to -perform his duties at the Durbar, working so hard that he only had -time for a couple of hours’ sleep out of the twenty-four. The strain -was too much for him, and he fainted while sitting on his horse and -had to be carried away. - -His heart and courage were always too big for his body and strength. -Captain Clayton had been his life-long friend, and what made him feel -it even more, was the thought that through his pal’s death he had -gained his troop. - -The actual Durbar appears to have been a success, and the Maharajahs -and Princes were so pleased that they each wished to present a -bejewelled crown to the Empress Queen, but Lord Lytton, with some of -his well-chosen phrases, expressed appreciation, and explained that -it would not be expedient, for in the first place the Queen would -have a crown for nearly every day in the year, and secondly, it -might lead to jealousy and heart bitterness, better avoided, which -explanation appeared to be conclusive and void of offence. - -On Friday, January 6th, Lord Lytton held a review of all the troops, -preceded by a march past of those attached to the native Princes in -Delhi. - -At this time Lord William was still hard at work studying the -etiquettes, ritual, superstitions, religions, and dignified -ceremonials so dear to the heart of Orientals, who are all great -observers of ceremony. The study fascinated him, and proved of great -use later in assisting those he worked for; knowing what to avoid -and where to give pleasure. No one can hope to fill any responsible -position in India who has not studied and had long education in these -matters, and this was so quickly grasped by Lord William, that to the -end of his days the Rajahs were among his most faithful friends and -admirers. - -By January 15th the Viceroy was back in Calcutta, and Lord -William riding in races again. He had one of his bad falls in a -steeplechase, hurting his nose considerably, besides receiving other -injuries. As usual he tried to make light of them, but collapsed and -had to be carried home. - -Before closing this chapter it will be interesting both to Captain -Clayton’s and Lord William’s friends who may not already be -acquainted with the fact to know that there is a marble tablet in the -church at Curraghmore, placed there by the fifth Marquis of Waterford: - - In affectionate remembrance of - William Clayton Clayton, - Captain, 9th Lancers. - For many years the dearest friend of the House of - Curraghmore. - Born April 23rd, 1839. Killed while playing polo - at Delhi, Christmas Day, 1876. - -Another instance of the respect and affection with which Captain -Clayton was regarded at Harrow-on-the-Hill, where he was educated. -There is a white marble cross in the churchyard, the inscription on -the base being:-- - - In loving memory of - William Clayton Clayton, - Captain, 9th Queen’s Own Royal Lancers. - Born April 23rd, 1839. - Killed while playing polo at Delhi, India, Dec., 1876. - - Oh, the merry laughing comrade, - Oh, the true and kindly friend, - Growing hopes and lofty courage, - Love and life and this the end! - - He the young and strong who cherished - Noble longings for the strife, - By the roadside fell and perished, - Weary with the March of Life. - -So great was the feeling of loss at his death that old friends, -Harrovians, soldiers, and indeed those of all classes who knew him, -wished to do something to perpetuate his name, and decided to found -a scholarship. Subscriptions flowed in, and in 1881 the Clayton -Scholarship was founded, valued £40 a year, tenable for three years -at Harrow School. - -Lasting affection of this kind is not inspired by any but good men, -and speaks better for the character of the individual than any words -of mine, for words are poor impotent things. England, prolific though -she be in men of courage and manliness, can ill spare one of her sons -when of the nature of Captain Clayton, whose influence was everywhere -for good. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - HE WINS THE V.C. - - Hero of Khartoum’s Fame and Tragedy, as Private Secretary--Indian - Famine--Lord William and the Jowakis--A Month’s Holiday - in Afghanistan--Back in Calcutta--Barrackpore Monument - to Lady Canning--Lady Waterford as Artiste--Cawnpore - Memorial--Racing--Trouble in South Africa--A Favour Granted--Off - to the War--A Friend Left in Charge of Affairs--Some Fights for - Queen and Country--Some Fights for Private Reasons--Exciting - Moments--Irish Bravery of Man and Beast--Two V.C.’s at - Dinner--Receives Reward at Hands of the Queen-Empress--A Shower - Bath in Dublin--Some Racing and a Row--A Thrice-run Race--Miller - Addresses Lord William - - -It is not possible to give a correct idea of Lord William’s life in -India without briefly mentioning the chief measures proposed and -carried out during the different Viceroys’ administrations. - -He, of course, made it a point of honour never to criticise or -express any opinion on the policy or private lives of those he worked -for, but being so intimately connected with the Viceregal Court, -both in his official capacity and as a valued friend, all movements, -military or civil, naturally entailed work for him, and it must be -borne in mind that he not only did what his calling demanded, but -at all times laid himself out to be useful to his masters and their -belongings. - -It is worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the life of an Indian -Viceroy; we shall then be able to realise what it must have been to -them to have a man like Lord William, with his loyalty, ability, and -never-failing sympathy and cheerfulness always at their command. -No doubt it is a great honour to be asked to represent the King in -India, and a much coveted position, but when we look back at the men -who have held this high office, it seems that nothing but patriotism, -of the highest order, can have persuaded them to leave their own -beautiful and stately homes, where they were their own masters, could -live in peace with all they loved around them, and where they could -mix freely with their neighbours, for the splendid isolation of the -Viceregal throne; not having been trained, as Royalty are, to be -approached only through mediums, having to sit upon a pedestal from -which they must not descend, no matter what their inclinations, and -up which none may climb to greet them, is paying a huge price for the -honour. They must often feel very lonely, some I know do, and very -homesick. - -The choice of the staff is naturally a matter of great importance, -and a Viceroy usually selects people with whom he can unbend and -associate without infringing precedents and necessarily established -laws and customs. Not every man makes a good A.D.C.; it is of no use -their having views of their own; they are there to do as they are -told. Their duties are not very arduous, unless they like to make -them so by doing all sorts of kind and thoughtful things not marked -on the day’s programme. How unsuited some are for the appointments -they hold, was proved by Captain Gordon (later of Khartoum fame and -tragedy), who came out from home as Lord Ripon’s private secretary. -By the time he had been in the country a few weeks he resigned, as he -could not countenance His Excellency’s policy, and expressed his own -views somewhat bluntly, which was disconcerting to everybody in turn. - -After this little digression we must return to the time after the -Delhi Durbar, when famine was casting a heavy shadow over the land, -and Lord Lytton decided he would go and see for himself the extent of -the misery and distress; no light undertaking, as it entailed much -travelling to visit all the different parts, chiefly in the Madras -Presidency, the district that had suffered from the same cause in -1853 and 1854. The affected area covered 2,000,000 square miles, -where food was wanted for thirty-six million people. - -Unfortunately Lord William was not able to accompany His Excellency, -owing to his latest racing accident, from which he had not -sufficiently recovered. This was a great disappointment to him, for -he may have been happy-go-lucky and devil-me-care in his own private -life, but there was nothing approaching it in his official capacity, -where he was always keen and full of enthusiasm. - -Lord Lytton had arrived in India knowing nothing of it “except its -myths,” but was hard at work learning more, being somewhat puzzled -but greatly interested. Amongst other matters, such as famine -and irrigation, there was the ever-troublesome question of our -geographical boundaries amongst the Afghan mountains, requiring close -study and attention. It would be pleasant to follow the work done -on this tour and its far-reaching results, but it has no place here -except as far as Lord William was connected with it, so I pass on, -simply stating that after a long and careful study of the famine -question, Lord Lytton satisfied himself that periodical famines must -be expected, and provision must be made for such distressful times -during the country’s prosperity. He appointed a famine commission to -enquire into it and report thereon, as to means of irrigation and any -other measures possible to adopt. This report was issued in 1880, the -year of Lord Lytton’s return to England, and was the foundation of -the latter-day system of irrigation, developments of communication, -and famine insurance, the benefits of these measures to be reaped by -his successors. - -In September of the same year (1877) His Excellency returned to -Simla. In October Lord William had collected a few promising horses -and began entering them under his own name. His colours were carried -at the Dehra October Meeting by Oliver Twist, Lucifer, and Firetail. -Lucifer was a country-bred, on which Captain Chisholme of Lord -William’s regiment won two races for him. A little later, at Umballa, -he had a good time, Oliver Twist bringing in the shekels by winning -the Drawing-room Stakes, ridden by T. Tingey, the chief professional -jockey in India at that time. Lord William rode in all the “chases” -at the meeting, but scored no wins. He had a fall in the Grand Stand -Plate, but was not much the worse, so remounted and rode in another -race the same afternoon. The betting and plunging at this meeting -amounted to a scandal, especially as many of the losers were more or -less penniless. The settling naturally took a long time; indeed, I -have heard that some of the winners never got their money at all. -This meeting was the beginning of the break up of a very well-known -figure in those days, Captain Frank Johnson, one of the handsomest of -men, he being one of the heaviest losers. - -Lord William’s attention was now turned towards Jowaki, where the -Frontier tribes were growing aggressive, and it became necessary to -send troops to straighten matters out a little, and he had great -hopes of being allowed to accompany them. Lord Lytton complained to -the authorities at home that it was somewhat difficult for him, when -so little was known of what we called our frontier, as there were no -maps to show where our territory really began or ended. - -The hill tribes are always rather a problem. All are muscular -and warlike, but many of them acknowledge little tribal control -or responsibility, which makes it difficult to know whom to deal -with. Their chiefs have no control over them, even when they have -chiefs, on which point I am by no means clear. The incessant raids -on Peshawar and the district could not be tolerated, so Lord Lytton -sent troops with instructions to deliver a night surprise, which, -for some reason, did not come off until daylight, thereby losing its -effectiveness and warning the tribes of our intentions, which was -unfortunate. The first stage of this expedition was consequently a -failure. After this little miscarriage of justice and retribution, -General Keyes was sent with more troops to punish the raiders. This -was called the Jowaki Expedition. Lord William begged the Viceroy to -allow him to go with General Keyes. Permission being granted he was -happy, for this was after his own heart. The General’s instructions -were, to cut off the Jowakis from the other tribes, to prevent their -neighbours joining in with them. This was successfully accomplished, -and a good lesson taught, as the Jowakis’ losses were severe and ours -light. After this, there were only about 1500 rebel tribesmen left -to deal with. Finding their strongholds destroyed and most of their -land in our hands, they gave in, and sent to make terms. Lord William -enjoyed himself, as this was his first experience of active service, -for which he received the medal and clasp. After several months of -climbing mountains in pouring rain, and struggling across torrents, -he returned to Simla, where someone asked him the time-honoured -question, “What were your sensations when first under fire?” To which -he replied, “I don’t remember what I felt like under fire, but I do -remember what it felt like under water--dashed unpleasant!” - -Under Lord Lytton’s orders the tribal frontiers were thoroughly -surveyed and mapped out, also good roads made in every direction, -after which the Punjab frontier settled down to peace and quietude. - -So many years have elapsed since Lord William was in India, indeed -so many since he died, that I am somewhat handicapped by letters and -documents dealing with this, and many other parts of his life, having -been destroyed. So many of his contemporaries have passed away, also -no wife or mother living, with cherished letters and records to help -in these Memories. His brothers, though deeply attached to him, -were of necessity much apart, each following his own profession, and -therefore not in a position to help much about his foreign service. - -After the Jowaki Expedition Lord William returned to his duties on -the Viceregal staff, keeping one eye on the Russian influence in -Afghanistan, hoping he might have a chance of more fighting. He was -longing to be back with his regiment, as they were sure to go if -there was any serious trouble, and this there was before long. What -is now known as the second phase of the Afghan War came after the -hasty treaty of Gandamak. The Khyber Pass Force was withdrawn as far -as Lundi Kotal, and Sir Louis Cavagnari, a political officer of some -repute, was sent with an escort to Kabul as resident, Sir Donald -Stewart’s division remaining at Kandahar. As many people expected, -this arrangement did not last long, but they were not prepared for -the terrible thing that happened. - -While the whole country was waiting to hear of the safe arrival of -Sir Louis and his escort, news came that he and all with him had -been massacred. Thus began the second phase of the Afghan War. Sir -Frederick Roberts fought his way up to Kabul and remained there, -trying and hanging a number of people, some say wrong ones as well as -right, but it was impossible to help it, and no doubt they all richly -deserved what they got, so it was just as well. The 9th Lancers -were in the thick of the fighting and Colonel Cleland disabled, so -Lord William’s old friend, Colonel Stewart Mackenzie, took command. -They had great difficulty in saving the guns by getting them across -a twelve-foot ditch, the only possible crossing of which had been -blocked by a fallen wheeler and the gun stuck fast. Colonel Stewart -Mackenzie endeavoured to execute a charge, the second during the -day. Meanwhile the officer responsible for the gun gave orders to -unhook and spike it. Colonel Stewart Mackenzie’s horse was shot, and, -falling on him, he was rescued with the greatest difficulty. - -[Illustration: XMAS CARD TO AUTHOR] - -The accounts of all the deeds of bravery amongst his brother officers -made Lord William long to go and share their dangers and hardships, -for he loved the “Old 9th,” as he called them. At last, unable to -bear it any longer, he asked for a month’s leave. As usual on such -occasions, he was tortured by the fear that it would all be over -before he got there, so he made elaborate arrangements to do the -journey in record time the moment his leave was granted. Booted and -spurred, he paced up and down his rooms until the joyful news that -his leave was granted was brought to him. He jumped on to a waiting -horse and galloped away for Umballa. Fresh ponies were waiting for -him at different stages of the journey, which enabled him to catch -a train that took him to the rail head of the expeditionary force. -Without waiting for food or sleep, he began riding again; here fresh -ponies were in readiness for him, and he arrived among his war-worn -brother officers scarcely less travel-stained than themselves, after -riding day and night for five days, only broken by the train journey. -He was in time to accompany Sir Sam Browne, V.C., up the snow-covered -Khyber Pass, which he regarded as a refreshing holiday. I give a -little sketch sent to me at this time by another friend enjoying -the same holiday, which will give a little idea of its pleasures. The -Sir Sam Browne mentioned above was destined to be immortalised by the -now famous Sam Browne belt. It was the child of the gallant General’s -imagination, and first worn on active service during this campaign. -Whatever its merits have now been proved to be, it was greeted with -contumely and caustic comments by the army, as is customary with all -new inventions, but like the Brodrick cap, it has weathered countless -storms. I remember men used to speak of it with suppressed passion -as “the Christmas tree arrangement.” I do not know why, unless on -account of the things supposed to be hung on it. - -Soon after Lord William joined him, Sir Sam Browne decided to storm -the Citadel of Ali Musjid from the right-hand side of a rocky ridge -of some height. General Appleyard at the same time was to lead his -brigade up the left side, along a precipitous path, little more -than a goat track. Between these two brigades was a deep gorge with -rushing water at the bottom. The air was alive with bursting shells -fired from the Citadel. The Afghans were engaged in shelling the -ridge from end to end, which made it, according to Lord William, -“lively.” Shells were even bursting among the advancing columns. - -When nearing the Citadel, Sir Sam Browne wished to communicate with -General Appleyard on the opposite ridge. Here was Lord William’s -chance. He at once volunteered, and General Browne accepted his -offer, instructing him to reach General Appleyard as quickly as -possible, but to make a detour of the valley to lessen the risk. - -“All right, sir,” replied Lord William, who had no intention of -making a detour at all. Dismounting, he gave his horse to someone to -hold, scrambled down the precipice, and was out of sight in a moment, -hidden by the flying earth and smoke from the bursting shells. -Reaching the bottom safely, he sat down and took off his boots, -partly wading, partly jumping, from rock to rock, arriving safely at -the other side. Here he again sat down and lighted a cigarette before -putting on his boots and scrambling up the hill, where he delivered -his message. He was as calm and collected as when out partridge -shooting, in fact calmer than he was sometimes on those occasions, -but always with the same fire burning in his keen eyes. - -By the middle of December, 1878, General Sir Sam Browne’s column was -in occupation of the Musjid, after climbing that stern, sulky-looking -Khyber Pass. Lord William’s leave being up, and feeling how good it -had been of Lord Lytton to let him go, he hurriedly ate his Christmas -dinner with the Headquarters Staff and started on his way back, -meeting with some excitement on the way down, as the Afghan hillmen -potted at him most of the time from their hiding-places in the -mountains. - -A month was not long in which to journey to the Khyber Pass, take -part in the storming and capture of Ali Musjid, and then return to -Calcutta, but proves the old saying that “Where there is a will there -is a way.” - -Lord William received a medal and clasp and was mentioned in -despatches for his share in this campaign. - -I do not think a man less brave because he loves doing daring and -dangerous things. Certainly he appeals to the imagination no less, -though, I suppose, in the last analysis, it is the man who is afraid -in his heart, yet does a brave thing by force of will over body, who -is the most truly brave. - -On his return to Calcutta he took up the thread of life where he had -left it, and continued during his lighter moments, racing, dancing -and flirting; for he was a veritable butterfly, fluttering from -flower to flower and sipping honey in the sunshine. And why not? -A little gentle flirtation is good for everyone’s self-respect, -and keeps them young. After all, what are a few little silken -insincerities? What is flirtation? Simply a social accomplishment, a -little mutual sympathy beautifully expressed, and a little repartee. -There are not a few who think it is pleasanter to be in sympathy with -many than in bondage to one. - -When at Calcutta Lord William was fond of spending week-ends at -Barrackpore, which is a sort of country residence for the Viceregal -people, standing on the banks of the Hugli, and has lovely gardens -and grounds, with the advantage of being within a few miles of -Calcutta, therefore not much packing up and journeyings required. It -was a place much sought after by honeymoon couples. The Vice-reine -used to lend it to them, and Lord William had the privilege also of -using and lending it when not required by their Excellencies, to -those in search of quietness and peace. - -After the big official Government residence at Calcutta, this homy -countrified house was very restful. All felt the moment they arrived -that the official smile might be laid aside for a time and some of -the stiffness out of the spine. - -There is an interesting monument at Barrackpore erected to the -memory of Lady Canning, sister of Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, -wife of the third Marquis, and therefore aunt by marriage of Lord -William. Lady Canning was very beautiful, and like her sister very -good. Her husband, Viscount Canning, succeeded Lord Dalhousie as -Governor-General in 1856, and when she died in Calcutta, November -18th, 1856, from fever caught while sketching in the Terai, was -mourned most sincerely by the community at large, to whom she had -always been sympathetic and kind. At the time of her death Lord -William was fourteen years old. Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, -shared her sister’s love of art and painting, was indeed an artist -of merit. Mr. Watts considered her one of the greatest real artists -of that time. One of her celebrated pictures hangs at Ford Abbey, -a place which she inherited in Northumberland. The picture is -entitled “The Miracle of Healing the Two Blind Men.” Some of her book -illustrations were also considered by authorities on such matters -as excellent. It was Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, who designed -the beautiful monument of a guardian angel which stands to-day over -the fateful well at Cawnpore, where the unhappy English people were -thrown in alive during the Mutiny. Anyone visiting that station in -India cannot fail, when driving through that dusty, sun-dried place, -to be deeply impressed by this beautiful white, calm-looking figure, -spelling pity and peace. It is difficult to prevent bitter and -revengeful feelings taking possession of us as we remember all that -happened in that historic place, but after looking at that calm, -peaceful and dignified figure, a certain feeling of “Father, forgive -them, for they know not what they do,” takes the place of revenge. It -is seldom that a monument appeals to us in that way; many are grand, -great works of art and manipulation, but that white angel at Cawnpore -is something more. If my brain had conceived the idea and my hand -designed it, I should be a proud and soul-satisfied woman. - -The Beresford stable was now seldom idle even when the owner was -away. In 1879 his horse Telegram was figuring in Calcutta, winning -the Alipore Plate. The same horse got beaten a little later by quite -a slow mare called Blue Bonnet, belonging to Mr. E. T. Roberts, which -was a piece of bad luck, more especially as the cause was the poor -beast’s breaking a blood-vessel, which, however, did not prove a very -serious matter, as he was patched up and fulfilled his obligations -to his owner by winning the Calcutta Cup on the second day of the -meeting. - -At Dacca, which is about 150 miles from Calcutta, Lord William won -at this time a steeplechase with (I believe) Telegram, and it was -rumoured that for some unaccountable reason the Dacca steamer was -delayed for a day, instead of starting at the advertised time, which -was very convenient for Telegram, as it allowed him to be at Dacca -in time for the meeting, which would otherwise have been impossible. -Everybody wondered how such an unheard-of thing could have happened. -I wonder if Lord William could explain? - -It was in the January of 1879 that the Viceroy’s anxieties were -increased by war breaking out in South Africa. In case any of my -younger readers do not know, or have forgotten, about this war, I had -better recall the immediate cause leading up to it. - -In 1879 Sir Theophilus Shepstone had annexed the Transvaal. Sir -Bartle Frere, as High Commissioner, explained to the Zulu King, -Cetewayo, that there must be no more arguing about a certain strip -of land claimed both by him and the Transvaal Republic, and to avoid -further trouble he had better disband his army. This demand, stated -as bare, undiluted fact and shorn of parliamentary terminology, -sounds rather high-handed, but anybody interested in the history can -read the matter up and form his then more mature opinion, as there -were other matters of importance attached to the situation without -which it would not be possible to form a fair judgment. At any rate -Cetewayo, seeing “no sense in it,” as an old retainer of ours used to -say when requested to do anything he did not like, began the row by -totally defeating the British troops at Isandhlwana on January 22nd, -1879, which was not a good beginning for us, and we felt rather small. - -The horrors of that time must be still fresh in the memories of all -persons alive now, who were old enough to read and think in 1879. -Lord Chelmsford, who was in command, was greatly blamed for his plan -of campaign, but he afterwards retrieved his mistakes to some extent -by defeating the Zulus at the battle of Ulundi and taking Cetewayo -prisoner. That, however, was poor comfort to those whose dear ones -had been sacrificed to his mistakes, that is to say if the disaster -was attributable to his errors, which I am not competent to judge. - -It was at this battle of Ulundi that Lord William so distinguished -himself and won the name of “Fighting Bill,” appearing in _Vanity -Fair_ in September the same year under that title, though I cannot -congratulate “Spy” on the production, for he represents Lord Bill as -a “beery”-looking person, which is the last thing he ever looked in -life, but in the picture it will be noticed more than any other of -his pictures or photos the resemblance in the eyes and upper part of -his face to his uncle, the third Marquis. - -Hearing of the unfortunate reverse at Isandhlwana, Lord William was -“just mad,” to use his own words, to go and fight in South Africa, -and the kind, indulgent Lord Lytton again allowed him to go, this -making the third time he had been permitted to leave his work on -the staff to which he had been appointed. Doubtless His Excellency -admired the spirit which prompted Lord William to again ask the -favour, and six months’ leave was granted. - -Once more we see Lord William happy and “off to the war,” his soul -on fire. He succeeded in getting appointed to Sir Redvers Buller’s -staff, and left all his affairs in the hands of a brother A.D.C. -with whom he had been sharing a bungalow, and who was a great -friend, telling him to attend to all his business for him during -his absence, and to open all his letters, adding, “If you find any -of them beginning very affectionately you need not go on.” The -friend who received these instructions was Captain Charles Muir (now -Colonel), at that time not only A.D.C., but also commanding His -Excellency’s bodyguard. - -Lord William knew how to choose his friends, and felt he was leaving -everything in safe and adequate hands, that his interests would be -faithfully looked after, and all private affairs treated with tact -and delicacy. It was an anxious and responsible position for Captain -Muir. There were the private letters to be cared for, the official -ones to be answered, the racing stable with its inevitable worries -of horses going wrong, men going wrong, and the usual everyday -matters to be carried out and adjudicated upon, all this requiring -considerable discretion. - -Lord William arrived at Durban about the middle of April, 1879, -after a tedious journey from Aden in a coasting steamer, which, -like excursion trains, seemed to stop everywhere with no particular -object, and mostly at horribly unhealthy-looking places. - -[Illustration: CAPTAIN CHARLES MUIR (NOW COL.), A.D.C. TO VICEROY AND -COMMANDING HIS EXCELLENCY’S BODY-GUARD] - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM AND PONTO] - -All around the roadstead were the transports that had brought troops -from England. This thrilled Lord William to such an extent he could -not wait to begin his fighting for Queen and country--that was to -follow--so just to keep his hand in he indulged in a fight on his -own account in the hotel at Durban, which was cram-full of officers -in every branch of the service. This was fight No. 1, before he -had reached head-quarters or reported himself; that time-honoured -institution he attended to later. Fight No. 2 was another private -affair, between himself and a war correspondent named Mr. Fripps, who -made some disparaging remark about General Buller, when Lord William -delivered a message he had received orders to convey, and which -caused the artist inconvenience. - -Lord William could not stand this, and said he would not allow -anybody to abuse his General, and if they did he would thrash them. -Mr. Fripps did not appear the least awed, and suggested when they -got back to camp that night they should settle the matter. Amidst -the work and excitement of the day Lord William forgot all about the -suggested thrashing: not so Mr. Fripps, who turned up before going -to bed to see if it was convenient to his lordship to carry out his -threat. A fierce encounter ensued, and it was just touch and go who -came out on top, when one of Lord William’s arms got rather badly -hurt; he wanted to go on fighting with only one arm, but chivalrous -Mr. Fripps suggested finishing the fight another day, when he had -both arms and it would be fair play. After this they were the best of -friends. - -Now came the official fighting. Lord William had been hoping for some -staff appointment. His lucky star being in the ascendant, the wish -was gratified almost immediately, as will be gathered from the above -narrative, by General Redvers Buller (at that time Colonel Buller) -appointing him, with the sanction of Lord Chelmsford, as his staff -officer, in the place of Captain the Hon. Ronald Campbell, who had -been killed in a recent battle when fighting against 20,000 Zulus. - -Captain Campbell was a difficult man to follow, and Sir Redvers was -rather in despair of finding anyone who could fill his place. General -Marshall, who knew Lord William better than most people at that time, -hearing he had arrived in the country, hastened to bring him to Sir -Redvers’ notice, knowing he would be invaluable. - -It did not take Lord Bill long to collect his kit and start off on -his long journey to join his new Chief up country at Kambula, where -he was in command of the irregular Volunteer Cavalry, forming part of -Sir Evelyn Wood’s splendid little fighting force, and it was here the -Fripps fight already mentioned took place. - -Lord William found he was the only staff officer with Sir Redvers, -so his hands were soon full. The force of 8000 under his chief -were a strange but interesting crowd, made up largely of gentlemen -not wanted elsewhere, runaway sailors, Australians, Canadians, and -some of the undescribables from South African towns, in fact a -cosmopolitan crowd who had volunteered for the period of the campaign -for the sum of 5s. a day as pay. - -What made Lord William’s work the more difficult was that there -were several sub-commands which had originally been forces of their -own, all of whom he had to keep up to the mark, work together, make -efficient, and content. Every detail had to be arranged by him; also -the daily parades had to be inspected. - -It was no sinecure being right-hand man to Sir Redvers, for he was a -firm, silent martinet, ruling all under him with a rod of iron, and -he considered it Lord William’s place to wheel this heterogeneous -crowd into line and order. Lord William was, in some degree, of the -same way of thinking as his Chief. Both were born fighters, both, -at any rate in theory, strict disciplinarians, but Lord William had -the happy knack of always drawing the best out of people; his Irish -wit, combined with his cheerfulness, was irresistible; even the most -cantankerous, the worst funkers, the most lawless succumbed, and -became his willing slaves. - -June 1st saw Lord Chelmsford’s Army in the Valley of the Umvaloosi, -where across the silvery winding river could be seen the Kraal of -the Ulundi King, with all its minor attachments surrounding it. Two -or three days only had been allowed in which the Zulu Chief had to -decide whether he would do as we bid him or not. While the gentleman -was making up his mind it was considered wise to find out what sort -of ground was in front of our force, over which it was expected -we should advance. The orders were that Sir Redvers was to make a -reconnaissance across the river without aggravating Cetewayo unduly, -before his days of meditation were concluded. - -At the appointed hour Lord William and his Chief were to be seen -in front of Sir Evelyn Wood’s tent, waiting for the rest of the -contingent, made up of all sorts and odds and ends. - -Sir Redvers led the way, followed by the rest of the horsemen, Lord -William bringing up the rear, to see all was complete. He then -galloped forward to join and lead the Scouts, little thinking what -stern adventure was awaiting him. General Buller followed with the -rest of his party. - -Cetewayo, not requiring time for consideration, having quite -decided on his course of action, when hearing of our assortment of -troops climbing down the bank of the Umvaloosi, at once commenced -hostilities, a scattered fire from the Zulus greeting our horsemen. -Nothing daunted, they forded the river on the left of a kopje which -was evidently being held by the Zulus, and then bending again to -the left took it in reverse. The late occupants were seen hurrying -through the long grass out on to the open plain in front of our men, -who thought they feared being cut off. Lord William and his scouts -were pressing on the heels of the fleeing Zulus, some of them not -reaching the Kraal they seemed to be heading for. - -It looked as if Sir Redvers and his staff officer were going to -have an easy time and run straight into Ulundi. This was very -exhilarating, and they galloped on close behind the Zulu Chief, who -was evidently in command of the fugitives, and possibly from design -in their rear. He was a huge, powerful man and a veteran, which was -proved by the ring round his head. Suddenly he turned round on the -advancing scouts. Lord William being well in advance of the rest, -leading his men, could plainly see the Chief marking his distance -preparing to use his assegai, and it came. But his opponent was -ready, and too quick for him, so dashing aside the assegai, he -galloped with his sword up, the point fixed and rigid. The Zulu -waited with his shield up. He did not wait long, the impetus -given by the pace his horse was galloping carried Lord William’s -sword right through the shield and half through the man’s body, -entering his heart. He dropped dead, and the assegai was sent home -to Curraghmore, where it decorated the corner of Lady Waterford’s -drawing-room. - -I think we may take it the flight of the Zulus was only to lead -our men on, and get them into a tight corner, for suddenly several -thousand Zulus appeared out of the long grass which had entirely -hidden a deep water-course in which they had been waiting. It -therefore became necessary to retreat, and Sir Redvers Buller gave -the order to fire a volley and then retire. Lord William and his -scouts rode back, followed by many bullets. Two men were killed, and -a third wounded, his horse getting away. - -Always the first to lead the way into any danger zone, so likewise -Lord Bill was the last to leave it. He had been taken by surprise, -but was in no way flustered, and with that thought for others for -which he was so remarkable, turned for a moment in his saddle, though -hotly pressed by the enemy, to make sure all his living men were away -and safe; he then discovered the wounded man whose horse had run -away, lying helpless and dazed on the ground, but trying to rise. He -was a non-commissioned officer, Fitzmaurice by name, and at the mercy -of the advancing hordes of savages who were perilously near. Quick -as thought Lord William turned his Irish charger and galloped back, -threw himself out of the saddle and tried to put Fitzmaurice up on -to his horse, but the wounded man was as splendid as his preserver. -Realising the delay only meant both being killed--one might possibly -escape, but two? It seemed impossible--the Zulus were close on them, -so he shook his head feebly, saying, “No,” begging Lord William to -leave him and save himself. - -Of course Lord Bill would have none of this, and, swearing mighty -swear words, yelled at the man, “Come along, you b---- f----” -(meaning I suppose “beloved friend”). “If you don’t I’ll punch your -b---- (beloved!) head for you.” How characteristic of Lord William. -Those who knew him well will be able to picture the fierce way he -would say it. Seeing Fitzmaurice was weak from loss of blood and -unequal to any exertion, Lord William, though sadly impeded by the -arm hurt in the previous private fight, with some difficulty lifted -and shoved the man on to his horse, no easy matter on a highly-strung -impetuous animal, but it was accomplished, and, hurriedly mounting -behind him, galloped for life, but with little hope of escaping, -the Zulus following closely. What desperately anxious moments! made -doubly so by the wounded man being unable to keep his balance from -weakness and loss of blood, twice his weight nearly pulled Lord -William out of the saddle, and he felt all was over. Just when -beginning to fear he could not support Fitzmaurice any longer, help -came in the shape of Sergeant O’Toole, who had seen their danger -and rode out in hot haste to the rescue, shooting Zulu after Zulu -with his revolver as they came within measurable distance. He then -assisted Lord William with his now helpless burden. - -It is interesting to note that both those brave men, Lord William -Beresford and Fitzmaurice, were Irishmen, O’Toole, who came to -the rescue, was Irish, and the horse which bore them into safety -was Irish, each so splendid in their several parts; Lord William -risking his life to save his countryman, he in his turn refusing to -jeopardise his officer’s life, then the plucky Irish horse straining -every nerve in response to his master’s bidding, though carrying a -double burden of swaying riders. Again, the Irishman that grasped -the situation, and without waiting for any word of command, lost not -a moment in riding to their rescue, no precious time being lost in -wondering what had happened, and if there had been a disaster. Truly -a quartet of distinction. - -It was hard to tell when they arrived at last in safety who was -the sufferer, for all were bathed in gore. Mr. Archibald Forbes, -the clever newspaper correspondent, tells the story of how on the -afternoon of the same day, hearing Lord William was to be recommended -for a V.C., he hurried to his tent to tell him the news, and -congratulate him; finding his lordship fast asleep, the sleep of -exhaustion, he debated in his mind whether to awake him to hear the -good news or let him sleep on and recuperate; deciding on the former, -only to be rewarded by having a boot thrown at his head and being -told to go to h---- (heaven, I suppose). - -Later on, hearing he really was to be recommended for the Cross for -Valour, he remarked it would be no pleasure to him unless O’Toole -received one also. I wonder how many men there are who would have -thought of that? No doubt O’Toole’s promptness had a good deal to do -with the ultimate safety of the party, but it was due to Lord Bill’s -courage and kindness of heart that the episode occurred, and to him, -assuredly, the greater glory. - -In a letter written at this time by Lord William to Lady Lytton he -says, speaking of his experiences, “They were indeed two days worth -living for, and never to be forgotten. I was lucky in the day’s -reconnaissance inasmuch that I helped to save a poor man’s life, -whose horse fell with him, about 200 yards from 3000 Zulus. He was -half stunned and bleeding a good deal. I galloped back to him and -with difficulty got him on to my horse (even more exciting than the -gymkhana races two on one pony). The Zulus had come to within 50 -yards of us when I managed to start off at a gallop with him, never -thinking that the pair of us would get out alive, but we did.” - -It will be remembered that it was during this savage war that Prince -Louis Napoleon lost his life. - -When Lord Bill, or “Fighting Bill” as he was now called, returned to -India, many people hardly knew him he was so altered in appearance, -owing to his having grown a beard. It certainly entirely changed his -face, and his friends were glad when he turned up one morning “in his -right mind” as somebody expressed it, or, in other words, shaved, and -as he was before he wasn’t. - -He was of course fêted and patted on the back, but fortunately he -was not a nature this would spoil. At one regimental dinner given -in his honour while being carried round the table on the shoulders -of some of his old pals he espied in a corner of the room a doctor -wearing the ribbon (V.C.), so the moment he could free himself from -the affectionate attentions of his friends he made a dive for the -doctor, and hoisting him on to his shoulders (regardless of the man’s -protests, who thought his last moment had come) ran round the room -with him on his shoulders, all present now cheering lustily. It is -delightful to remember this sympathetic action of Lord William’s, his -blood still at fever heat, from the excitement and lust of battle -and the appreciation and applause of his countrymen, yet in the -zenith of his pleasure and congratulations on receiving the V.C., -the moment he caught sight of the ribbon on another man’s breast at -once wished him to share in the applause and cheers of the evening. -With quick perception and never-failing sympathy with others, he knew -in a moment what memories had been stirred in the old hero’s heart, -perhaps a little bitterness for the forgetfulness of mankind, and -that chivalrous action of Lord William’s turned his night into day, -all present drinking to the two V.C. heroes. - -There are in this world a certain number of people who are by nature -so jealous they cannot bear to hear anybody praised but themselves, -who say when others have performed deeds of valour that it is purely -a question of chance and luck, that of course everybody would have -done the same if only they had the opportunity. No doubt many would -like to do great deeds, give their souls for the opportunity, yet -when the moment presents itself, fail to recognise it, and so the -golden chance is lost. All are not blessed with a quick perception, -dashing courage and an uncommonly human heart. - -Deciding that a sight of the old country would do him good, Lord -William thought he would finish up the remainder of his leave by -dashing home. After figuring out the time it would take going and -returning, he found he would have just eighteen clear days for -enjoyment. They were a great eighteen days, but hardly restful, -though certainly refreshing. The first to greet and congratulate him -as the ship neared Plymouth was the Prince of Wales, who was in the -Sound at the time with Lord Charles Beresford, and His Royal Highness -was the first to convey the news to Lord William that the Queen had -been pleased to give effect to the recommendation for the V.C., and -that he was commanded to Windsor to receive the reward at the hands -of the Queen-Empress. This was a happy beginning to the short but -well-earned holiday. The Prince was always a good friend to Lord -William, indeed to all the Beresfords. It was seldom one of them was -not in attendance in some capacity. - -A very happy, light-hearted Lord Bill journeyed to Windsor to receive -the modest looking but much coveted bronze Cross “For Valour,” Her -Majesty pinning it on to the hero’s breast, but not before he had -explained to his Queen he could not in honour receive recognition of -any services he had been able to perform, unless Sergeant O’Toole’s -services were also recognised, as he deserved infinitely greater -credit than any that might attach to himself. - -The Queen, appreciating this generosity and soldierly honesty, -bestowed the reward also on Sergeant Edmund O’Toole of Baker’s -Horse, and Lord William was satisfied. He received a great ovation -in London, being especially pleased with the congratulations of the -Prince of Wales, who, while shaking him warmly by the hand, made one -of those individual and graceful little speeches for which he was so -deservedly popular. - -When the Prince of Wales became King he grew so weary of wrestling -with the pins of medals which would not penetrate stiff material, -that he designed a hook for fastening these on, to take the place -of the pins, which makes it a much more simple and less fatiguing -process. The hook is taken back after the hero leaves the “Presence.” - -After a great ovation in London, Lord William made straight -for Ireland, going first to the Bilton Hotel in Dublin, then a -fashionable resort. He asked his old friend the hall-porter if there -was anybody he knew in the hotel, and was informed that Captain -Hartopp, 10th Hussars, known to his friends as “Chicken Hartopp,” -was in the bathroom, so he quietly went upstairs and locked the door -on the outside, then turned on the cold douche from the main source, -giving the occupant a rather forcible shower bath. This was followed -by strong language from inside the bathroom. Lord William was outside -listening, and awaiting events. Presently he heard “I thought there -was only one man in the world who would dare to do such a thing, and -he is safe in Africa.” - -But he soon found out his man was not in Africa, but at home, very -much at home in Ireland, where he was pleased to find he was not -forgotten, but that if he hoped to visit all the kind friends who -sent him pressing invitations he would have to cut himself into a -great many pieces. - -While preparing to return to India, Lord William was staying with -his mother in Charles Street. The Prince of Wales was dining quietly -with her one night; Lord William came down without his V.C. medal. -The Prince at once noticed its absence and told him he believed his -mother had given him the V.C., and he should remember it ought always -to be worn when in the presence of Royalty. Lord William, of course, -went and fetched it. - -The holiday was over all too soon, but there was nothing depressed or -“dumpy” about his lordship. At any rate the world was not allowed to -see it if he was, for up to the last moment he was playing practical -jokes and laughing. One of the reasons why he was always happy and -pleased, wherever he might be going, was because he was sure of a -hearty welcome, but of course that was thanks to his own amiability -and cheerfulness. - -Returning to India it was pleasant to be told how much he had been -missed, and how delighted everybody was he was back again. He was -looking forward to the Dehra races, which would be due shortly after -his return. His cousin Willie Holmes was managing the meeting. Here -he found a goodly collection of cheery souls, amongst them the -well-known Mr. Kelly Maitland, Mr. Horace Hayes, and many more. Lord -William’s Gazelle managed to beat Mr. Horace Hayes’ Bismillah in -the pony race. They then all moved on to Meerut for more racing. At -this meeting Mr. Kelly Maitland gave a cup for a three-quarter-mile -pony handicap. The handicapping of Sattara, the pony belonging to -Mr. Maitland, upset him, for he considered it unfair. It was a -little unusual to enter anything to run for his own cup, and so he -had better have swallowed his discomfiture and said nothing, but he -began airing his grievance at the Wheler Club in the evening, when -Mr. Holmes came into the room, and made some pointed remarks about -the generosity in giving a cup he was so evidently anxious to win -himself. Then the fat was in the fire, everybody talked at once, -shouting to make themselves heard, while somebody went into the -lottery room where Lord William was busy, and told him Mr. Maitland -was calling Mr. Holmes naughty names. This of course could not be -tolerated; he must see his cousin was not sat upon by Mr. Maitland or -anybody else, so he dashed into the fray, after which matters were -not quieter and the hullabaloo ended in the celebrated “Maitland -versus Beresford” defamation case, which was tried before a native -judge in 1880 and the plaintiff was non-suited. Lord William’s -language was as a rule most polished, and personally I never heard -him otherwise than parliamentary, but I have been told that on -occasions “He could bring tears to the eyes of a cabby from an utter -incompetence to compete with him.” I am under the impression this -racing row gave him one of his opportunities and he threw in a few -new words not generally understood outside Ireland, which added -lustre to the occasion, and it is always annoying to have words -hurled at you that you do not know the meaning of. It leaves so much -room for speculation and possibilities. - -There was a little excitement also at the Allahabad races of 1879-80, -where he rode his own Pomponius Ego heavily handicapped by the weight -of 13st. 7lbs., while opposing him was Daintily, ridden by Tingey, -carrying 9st. 7lbs. The latter was declared winner, while Lord -William firmly believed he had won, but Pomponius swerved when just -on the post, and as several ponies were all up together in rather a -bunch it was perhaps difficult to tell exactly. At any rate the judge -decided he was fourth. There were ructions over this, Lord William -speaking his mind; it was finally agreed there should be a match -between Pomponius and Daintily, 1000 rupees a side, the same weights -and same distance, only instead of riding his own pony Lord William -put up John Irving. - -The match was breathlessly watched by a large gathering, and some -betting was the order of the day. The result was a dead heat. The -owners refused to divide, so it had to be run off again, when -Pomponius once more swerved just on the post and was beaten by half -a length. So Pomponius’s owner had to pay up and look as if he liked -it, which none knew better how to do, for there never lived a more -cheerful loser. - -Taking it all together Lord William was fairly successful this cold -weather with his horses. Telegram won a couple of hurdle races at -Agra. The stable did nothing at Lucknow, but in February Ashantee, -ridden by Lord William, won the Himalayan Chase at the Dehra meeting. -Mr. Abbott tells a good story about this event. Ashantee’s owner had -backed him pretty heavily through his pals with Miller the bookmaker, -till the horse stood at 2 to 1. Before mounting to go to the post -he went up to Miller and put on another thousand. Miller addressed -him thus, “Well, my lord, I should be sorry to see a promising young -nobleman like yourself cut off at the commencement of a brilliant -career, but it would suit my book if you was to break your blooming -neck in this race.” - -I remember on one of my journeys in a P. & O., Miller and his -partner, whose name I forget, were on the same boat journeying to -Calcutta. He seemed a very gentle-voiced retiring sort of man, but no -doubt could make himself heard and felt when so inclined. - -While all the fighting in Afghanistan and South Africa was -proceeding, each treading hotly on the other’s heels, the country -at home was growing discontented and upset, for it naturally became -disorganised, business interfered with, and some discomfort for the -inhabitants, which ended in Parliament being dissolved on March 24th, -1880, the Liberal Government being returned by about 120. - -The Queen sent for Lord Hartington, then for Lord Granville, and -lastly for Mr. Gladstone, who accepted office. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - THE VICEROY RETIRES - - Change of Government and What it Meant--Why it Took Place - at Simla--The Ceremony--An Anxious Moment--A General - Stampede--Retirement of Lord Lytton--Work of Which Viceroy?--Lord - William’s Services Valued--A Bet Between Him and the Author--Lord - William’s 10 to 1 - - -In the spring of 1880 there was the change of Government at home -already alluded to, brought about mostly by the dissatisfaction of -the country over Lord Lytton’s Afghan policy and the war in South -Africa with its disasters and awkward situations, Mr. Gladstone -succeeding Lord Beaconsfield as Prime Minister. He at once took steps -to reverse Lord Lytton’s policy. Therefore His Excellency resigned, -Lord Ripon taking his place in June, if I remember correctly. - -The change in Viceroys usually took place in the cold weather at -Calcutta, but on this occasion the Afghan War was still going on, and -the new Liberal Government could not wait until the monsoon, which -was due in a few weeks, had cooled the air, so Lord Ripon had to take -the reins from Lord Lytton at Simla. - -In those days the railway was left at Umballa, on the main line of -the Indian North-Western, after which the rest of the journey was -done with horses in vehicles of some sort, the usual mode being -by “tonga,” a sort of phaeton hung very low and drawn by a pair of -ponies harnessed curricle fashion, the ponies being changed about -every four miles, this part of the journey taking about eight hours. -The first forty miles over the plains to Kalka, the roads are good, -and the travelling over them is very pleasant. After that they become -mountainous for fifty-eight miles, climbing and winding up the spurs -of the outer Himalayas to the deodar and rhododendron clad ridge of -Simla, six or seven thousand feet high. - -Government House, or the Viceregal Lodge at Simla at the time of the -Ripons’ arrival was called “Peterhoff,” and it would be difficult to -imagine an abode less viceregal. It was simply a rather glorified -bungalow, situated on the edge of a young precipice, the house -cramped and inconvenient, with very little ground about it, but -it has long since been superseded by the much more commodious and -impressive new viceregal lodgings on the summit of what was then -known as Observation Hill. The lawn in front of Peterhoff was no -bigger than many of those often seen in front of suburban villas. -This Peterhoff lawn was, however, historic, for it was there that -Lord Lawrence thrashed a chuprasse (messenger) _with his great-coat_ -for some unusually flagrant act of carelessness or disobedience. - -Small as this historic lawn was, it had to take part in the -ceremonies attendant on the change of Viceroys. Lord William was not -responsible for what occurred there on this memorable day, but as an -acting A.D.C. necessarily took part in it, and I think if he had -then been Military Secretary the arrangements might have been better. - -When the change of Rulers took place at Calcutta there was plenty -of space and room for the crowd of dignitaries, British and native, -presenting an impressive show as they lined the stately portico and -ample stairway. The numerous uniforms, picturesque dresses of the -native chiefs and notables, together with the scarlet uniforms and -tall lances of the bodyguard combined to make the scene gay, and even -splendid. - -Not so at Simla, where on this occasion the whole officialdom from -the Commander-in-Chief and members of Council downwards, were packed -into a big shamiana (tent with a flat roof) somewhere about twenty -feet square. Most noticeable amongst the assembly were the two Sikh -Chiefs, of Jhind and Nabha, their states not being far from Simla; -both were elderly men, tall, handsome and strikingly alike, though I -believe no relation. With their snowy garments, jewelled necklaces, -aigrettes and gold-hilted swords, they looked what they were, warrior -princes of the best Oriental type. - -There was nothing remarkable about the rest of the crowd. Everybody -of course had to be in uniform, and as no one was allowed to remain -outside the shamiana it was soon packed and most uncomfortably hot. -One side of the tent was open, and a strip of red cloth led from it -to the porch of Peterhoff. - -Everybody was awaiting the arrival of the new Viceroy, Lord Ripon, -who had slept the night before at the foot of the hills at Kalka, and -was expected every moment to arrive with his personal staff in a -train of tongas. - -Sir Robert Egerton, the Lieut.-Governor of the Punjab, had gone to -meet Lord Ripon at the first rest-house, some six or eight miles -down the road, where the new Viceroy was to refresh his inner man -and change his travelling garments. Everybody in the tent was very -hot and wishing the show over, but they had some time still to wait. -The appointed hour had come and gone, but still no Viceroy. Lord -Lytton walked up and down between the house and the shamiana smoking -a cigar, while everybody else held their breath waiting anxiously for -release before being quite stifled. - -At last the signal was given, the great man was approaching, there -was a general buzz and hum as in a hive of bees when the queen thinks -of moving. Lord Lytton hurried out of the house: three or four -aides-de-camp, Lord William being one, endeavoured with difficulty -to clear a space in the shamiana, which feat presented somewhat of -a conundrum, the area being about the size of an ordinary healthy -hearthrug. - -Sir Robert Egerton’s little pony carriage could be heard driving up, -and in a minute or two Sir Robert came striding down the red cloth, a -very imposing figure, tall and portly, with a good deal of presence, -dressed in his diplomatic uniform as a Lieut.-Governor with cocked -hat and sword. Lord Ripon followed, neither tall nor majestic in -appearance, his London clothes looking as though they had been used -as a pillow in the tonga on the way up, or hastily pulled out of a -much-packed Gladstone bag, which was no doubt precisely the case, -and how loyal of him! having been sent out by the bag’s namesake. - -Well! now the show began. The A.D.C.’s pressed everybody back until -they had to hold in their breath for fear of taking up too much room. -Lord Lytton, whose manner was always polished and charming, came -forward and shook hands, with some ordinary words of welcome. Lord -Ripon, who felt the awkwardness of the situation, being sent out to -replace Lord Lytton, nothing abashed at the numerous eyes fixed on -him at close quarters, plunged at once “in medias res.” - -_Lord Ripon_: “Didn’t want to come out at all really, my dear Lytton, -not in the least you know, but a man must obey orders----” - -_Lord Lytton_ (much embarrassed) interrupting: “Yes, my dear -Marquis, quite so. Let me introduce you to His Excellency the -Commander-in-Chief.” Sir Paul Haines, standing on the fringe of the -crowd, was presented, Lord Ripon hastily shook hands, keeping an -anxious eye on Lord Lytton, then returning to the charge. - -_Lord Ripon_: “Yes! As I was saying, my dear Lytton, I didn’t want -to.” - -_Lord Lytton_ (more embarrassed): “Yes, quite so, exactly. Let me -present you to Mr. ----, a member of your Council.” - -Lord William dived into the crowd, assisted by other A.D.C.’s, who -trampled on everybody until the high official was produced, and the -presentation effected. - -_Lord Ripon_ (again returned to the matter weighing heavily on his -mind): “Oh, yes! I was saying I’ve been Secretary of State, you know, -and I didn’t----” - -_Lord Lytton_ (now desperate): “Yes, my dear Marquis. Let me present -you to Mr. ----, another member of your Council.” - -Once more a dive into the crowd, Lord William returning breathless -with his high official, when a hasty presentation took place. - -The crowd now began to enter into the spirit of the thing, and, being -tired of having their toes trodden on and their waistcoat pressed -out of their proper positions in life, propelled all the big-wigs -wanted by Lord Lytton to the front, almost into Lord Ripon’s arms, -this expedited matters, and there was no longer any time for personal -explanations, so Lord Ripon kept them for another time and everything -went on famously. - -So far, all had been comedy, but it now nearly approached tragedy, -for Lord Lytton’s eyes fell on the Rajah of Jhind, one of the Sikh -chiefs already mentioned, and he was asked to come forward, arriving -in the tiny space kept open by Lord William. He bent himself from -the waist and touched the feet of the new ruler of India, direct -representative of his Sovereign Lady the great Queen, for whom he -had fought most gallantly, and for whom he would right willingly -have fought again. Only Orientals can perform so deep an obeisance -with dignity; to receive it equally becomingly is not so easy, and -poor Lord Ripon, who had been hurried out of England and hurried -up country with hardly time to think, and with little knowledge of -Oriental etiquette, was taken completely by surprise, and jumped -back as far as the crowd would let him, not knowing quite what was -happening, and then bowed violently, the two heads only missing -contact by an inch--awful moment! for had the chief’s turban been -knocked off, or even set awry, he would have felt himself deeply -disgraced, for Orientals do not look at things as we do. To deeply -wound the feelings, however unintentionally, of a chief who, when the -mutiny broke out, was the first to draw his sword on our side, would -have stirred the whole Punjab, and we might have lost in respect and -loyalty what no elective council or other political bodies could -ever have restored. So differently does the East and West judge, and -reflect on both trivial and important matters. - -Shortly after this the ceremonial came to an end, and Lord Ripon was -conducted into the house to take the Viceroy’s oath in presence of -his Council and other almighties who cared to attend. - -The rest of the crowd were then at liberty to go home, but the -morning’s entertainment was not yet over, for groups of people -were riding homewards along the main road or Mall when bang went -a gun, let off close above their heads, the first gun of the new -Viceroy’s salute. What a transformation scene took place, the crowd -of gold-laced and uniformed big-wigs with cocked hats and flowing -plumes, who a moment before had been looking tired and bored, -were now a struggling mass of men and horses, all presenting the -appearance of circus riders doing tricks. One portly General, who -danced beautifully, was struggling manfully with his long-tailed -Yarkundi pony, which seemed to consider the only safe place on earth -was over the railings off the Mall and down the precipice the other -side. Two other folk of some importance had cannoned into each other -violently, while one had bitten the dust. Various people were seen -disappearing in the distance on madly galloping steeds, heaven only -knowing where they would stop; other horses following in their wake, -prancing amongst the cocked hats and sun helmets strewing the ground. -One unfortunate individual, when his horse unshipped him during its -attempts to climb a tree, had a really nasty fall. He seemed from -all accounts to have been ricocheting a bit, and was laid up for -some time. Needless to state none of those happy people who were in -a position to choose what they would do, waited for the remaining -twenty guns, and there was a general stampede. The roads in hill -stations do not lend themselves to runaway horses or circus tricks. -Most of those concerned were glad when that day was over, and most -assuredly both Lord Lytton and his successor must have breathed sighs -of relief. - -Lord William had a keen sense of humour, and nothing escaped his -notice. During experiences of this sort, however, he always behaved -with great calm and dignity, which showed his powers of self-control, -for he was often consumed with mirth. He was all the time, thanks -to his powers of observation and wonderful memory, combined with -the interest he took in the etiquette, superstitions and mystic -rites of the Eastern people, laying the foundation for the brilliant -performance of the most difficult and many-sided office he was a -little later called upon to fill. - -The new Viceroy being installed and having appointed Lord William as -one of his A.D.C.’s, it now became part of his duties to accompany -the Lyttons a certain distance on their way home, travelling with -them and seeing to their comfort as far as Saharanpur, en route for -Bombay. - -With much regret on the part of all the Lytton household they bid -adieu to the A.D.C. To quote Lady Lytton’s own words: “We felt indeed -sorry to lose his cheery and constant pleasant companionship. His -kindness to all our children had never ceased from the first day to -the last.” - -And what were the feelings of Lord William when he said farewell to -the friends who had always shown him the greatest consideration and -kindness? - -[Illustration: LORD LYTTON, FAMILY AND STAFF, 1877 - -_Left to right._ _Standing_: Col. Colley, Mil. Sec. (later Sir George -Colley); Lord William Beresford, Capt. Rose, 10th Hussars; Col. -Villiers, Dr. Barnett, Capt. Liddell, Miss ---- (author forgets), -Lord Downe, Lady Downe, Capt. Jackson - -_Seated_: Mrs. Burne, Sir John Strachey, Lord Lytton, Lady Lytton, -Lady Strachey, Col. Owen Burne, Private Secretary; Lord Kilmaine, -brother of Mrs. Burne - -_Children, left to right_: Bina Lytton, Connie Lytton, Fanny Strachey] - -To many A.D.C.’s it would only be a case of “Le Roi est mort, vive -le Roi,” but their late “aide” was much attached to them, and being -of an affectionate and loyal nature must have felt rather as though -he had been torn up by the roots. That Lord William lived to see -the good results of some of the seeds sown by Lord Lytton’s policy -and earnest work there can be no doubt, for he surely laid the -foundations of some of our latter-day benefits in India. Amongst -the measures that must always be associated with Lord Lytton were -the Famine reports and Insurance, the equalisation and reduction of -the salt duty, the system of Indian Finance profoundly modified by -decentralisation, and reconstruction of Provincial responsibility. In -recognition of his services when returning from India an earldom -was conferred upon him. - -To an impartial observer looking back over the lives and works of the -different rulers in India, it appears to matter not what the views -and policy of each may be, they cannot get away from the fact that -they must, and do, reap the benefit to some extent of the work of -their predecessors. This must be a consoling thought to the retiring -Viceroy, who may feel on leaving India that he will be a thing of -the past, but that at any rate his work will live after him, and, -maybe, he will be spared to see it grow. Even those who know nothing -of India may therefore readily grasp what a difficult thing it is to -know the actual share each Viceroy has taken in the measures proposed -and carried out during his time. Each Viceroy is of course actually -responsible, though his part of the transactions of the Government -of India is sometimes confined to a careful perusal of the papers -and an affirmatory nod or two at the Council table. That Viceroys -work hard and conscientiously there is little doubt, but cannot take -real interest in, or have a thorough knowledge of, half the big -questions they have to deal with. In some cases the very weight of -their responsibility and possible far-reaching personal influence, -makes them shy of exerting that influence, preferring to leave many -questions to be virtually decided by those who have, or ought to -have, first-hand knowledge. - -It is only really in matters of foreign policy that a Viceroy is -almost compelled to form his own decisions. Then again there is -the constant pressure exercised by the Secretary of State. Every -mail the Viceroy writes a long letter to the Secretary of State at -home, and every mail he receives a letter containing the views and -decisions of the latter. Also long cypher telegrams are continually -passing between the two, so that the policy or decision and acts -of a Viceroy are very often not his own, but have been dictated -to him by the Secretary of State. It is well, however, to bear in -mind that if things go wrong, it is the Viceroy who is abused by -the British public, the Press, and quite possibly by the Secretary -of State as well. It does not as a rule take a Viceroy very long -to find out Secretaries of State are not infallible, and that it -is a risky business to go against the opinions of his members of -Council, each of whom have the key to the whole situation, and is on -the spot, while the Secretary of State is not, and has to judge by -documentary evidence, not always at first hand, and naturally robbed -of the atmosphere surrounding the matter requiring decision. All who -have any knowledge of diplomatic situations and work, know what an -important part this plays, and how misleading a written temperature -may be to those not present and therefore unable to keep their finger -on the pulse of the moment. - -This may sound as if it had nothing to do with the subject of these -memories, but as a matter of fact it has. It was because Lord William -so thoroughly appreciated the worries and difficulties surrounding -the life of those he was serving, and because he was always ready to -help in any way possible outside his own particular calling, that he -became so valued by them all. He could be relied upon to carry out, -and see through, any tiresome social problem, could be depended on to -remember and produce almost verbatim established precedents of the -time he had been in India and some time before, as he had closely -studied Indian history on his arrival in the country. How clearly -he had mastered detail was proved to me several times later in his -career. - -Once in London, I think in June, 1885, if I remember rightly, when -speaking to him of the different castes and their faiths, I was much -interested and surprised at the feeling way he spoke of and in a -measure appreciated their feelings, of the Parsees, whom he described -as the Jews of India, with their great wealth and expenditure, -endowing schools, building hospitals, and taking part in many great -financial undertakings, so full of soul and feeling, that they will -not allow their dead to pollute the earth, yet do not hesitate to -offer up the human bodies of those they loved as plunder and food to -the disgusting, flesh-eating vultures, who sit watching the white -road leading from the City of Bombay to the “Tower of Silence.” It is -revolting to hear the cry of those almost featherless, horrid-looking -birds, as they see another pathetic procession winding its way up the -hill. Of the Hindus, who while considering it wicked and cruel to -kill, and against their religion, still will work their cattle until -unable to stand any longer, and then leave them to die of thirst and -misery, rather than put them out of their pain. Animals in India are -supposed to possess souls, and are worshipped, that being the case -one wonders they dare so ill-treat them. - -The life of the Hindu is one perpetual ceremony from the time of -birth to the day when he is burnt by the side of the Holy Ganges. - -Lord William and I agreed that their religion must be a most -absorbing and real thing in their lives, otherwise the perpetual -observance, and ritual, from morn to eve would become most irksome, -yet some of it appeals to us as rather beautiful. The first thing -in the morning on awaking the Hindu turns to the East and prays to -his Sun-god, then to the river to cleanse himself and perform his -ablutions, asking his god to keep him from all temptation, all sin in -taste, touch, word, thought or deed. From the river to the barber to -be shaved, a most important part of the curriculum, for only a tiny -tuft of hair is allowed to any Hindu, and even that must be hidden by -his head-dress. - -The different caste marks of the natives worn on the forehead are -distinctly interesting, and once when we were boasting how much we -knew about all these things, I asked Lord William if he could tell -them straight off from memory. He bet me a sovereign he could. I felt -I might easily lose my sovereign, so beat him down to five shillings, -which I told him was as much as I could afford to lose. I could see -from the merry twinkle in his eye he thought he had me on toast, -so just as he was beginning I said: “If we are not agreed what is -going to happen, who shall be the judge?” In a moment he named a -mutual friend we were likely to meet at Hurlingham on the following -Saturday. This being settled, he asked: “Where shall I begin?” - -_Author_: “With the Hindus.” - -_Lord William_: “A triangle encircling a dot.” - -_Author_: “Right.” - -_Lord William_: “The Brahmans, one single spot on the middle of the -forehead.” - -_Author_: “Right.” - -_Lord William_: “Shiva, a triangle, crescent, a dot and two curved -lines” (he hesitated a moment, continuing) “and a U-shaped mark with -a dot in the middle.” - -_Author_: “Wrong!” (in a triumphant voice). - -_Lord William_: “No, no, I am right, by my vig and viskers I’m right!” - -We both talked at once while laughing, gesticulating and explaining, -he enquired where I considered he had gone wrong. I explained -the U-mark with a dot in the middle was part of the Vishnu caste -mark, and what he had forgotten of the Shiva was in reality three -horizontal curved lines. - -The argument became so fierce the rest of the caste marks remained -unrelated, but on the following Saturday I received my five -shillings, he having found out his mistake meanwhile, and to my -horror, having no pocket in my best bib and tucker of any useful -proportions, I was presented with five shillings in threepenny pieces -out of pure mischief, but he did not score much, as I insisted on his -carrying them for me all the afternoon. - -It will be rather sad in many ways when the much-boasted civilisation -of the West has robbed India of the value and dignity of her -traditions and heritages. - -The Indians are really descendants I believe of the great Aryan -race, whose language our Lord spoke in. There is so much of interest -attached to the lives, faiths, and rituals of the people of the -East, but this is not the place to write it, and we must go back -to Simla, where we left Lord Ripon, the new Viceroy. He was a Roman -Catholic, the first of that faith to be a ruler of India; also the -first who had been Secretary of State for India, not that either fact -troubled the natives much. - -One of the features of the Simla season, is the social gathering -on Saturdays to witness sports and gymkhanas held on the course or -ground I have already described in a previous chapter. - -Lord William was the moving spirit; he got up the races, competed in -them, and was always ready with a fresh programme every week. He won -so many races himself that it became monotonous, so he invented all -sorts of weird and sporting combinations. - -The racecourse, if so we may name it, was rather dangerous, as at one -time there was only an apology of a stone wall consisting of loosely -piled-up stones to prevent an impetuous pony from falling down the -side of the hill, or what in India we call the khud, in English a -dangerous mountain-side. - -I remember seeing Lord William get some shocking falls, and once -when he was driving nine ponies and riding one over the jumps, when -it came to turning the awkward corner already mentioned, one of the -leaders, he drove three abreast, took it into its head the stone wall -was there to be jumped, and while it was hanging suspended over the -awful drop at the other side of the wall, which would probably have -meant a broken back, Lord William and the rest of what he called his -“10 to 1” were hopelessly mixed up on the safer side, looking as -if they had all jumped on each other. His lordship was extricated -with nothing worse than a dislocated shoulder and thumb. He laughed -immoderately, though he was ashy white. He insisted on having his -shoulder put right at once. A chair was brought and placed on the -course upon which he sat while his shoulder was jumped and bumped -into its place again, also his thumb attended to and tied up. It was -with some difficulty he was prevented from trying again, only being -stopped by a brother A.D.C. swearing he had sent some of the ponies -home, as they had apparently had enough even if Lord William had not. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - AN IDEAL MILITARY SECRETARY - - Dignity and Humour--Some Tests of Both--Affection of the Natives - for Lord William--How They Tried to Please him--What Happened - on a Slippery Floor--Some Tableaux--A Supper and a Race--What - the Jockey Club Would Have Said--Lord Ripon’s Message to the - Amir of Afghanistan--The Amir’s Reply--The Work of the Military - Secretary--Swelled Heads and Outgrown Shoes--How Lord William Dealt - with Them--Pay of Military Secretary--Compensation for Diminishing - Rupee--No Fish to Fry - - -Those who knew Lord William will think I have passed over a very -marked feature in his life, namely, his smartness at repartee and -his endless jokes. I have forgotten neither, nor have I ceased to -be grateful for the way he succeeded in brightening up the dullest -parties; he carried sunshine and merriment with him wherever he went, -and it was infectious. No matter how awkward a position he might find -himself in, he always came out gracefully and smiling. - -I feel that to repeat Lord William’s jokes, is to rob them of their -atmosphere and merit. Jokes are individual things, and require -such delicate handling, they must have their own surroundings and -atmosphere; it is so easy to rob them of their bloom or kill them -altogether. - -Lord William was one of those rare people who found it possible to be -serious in a funny way, which was no doubt an asset, though at times -disconcerting for other people, as will be seen from the following -narrative: - -When on tour the Viceroy and Vice-reine held receptions answering to -drawing-rooms in England, so that all the local people could come -and make bows and curtseys to the representatives of the English -Court. On one of these occasions a fat Irish lady, having made her -obeisance, thought she would like to watch the rest of the show, so -she and her daughters either stayed in the throne room, or returned -to it, ranging up opposite the viceregal party, and began making -audible comments. - -This could not be allowed, and Lord William most politely told her to -“Move on,” though I am sure he did it in a way that made it appear -he was conferring a great favour, and with one of his most winning -smiles. The lady did not move an inch, but stood her ground. - -“Then, Ma’am,” said Lord William with another seductive smile and -with the broadest of brogues put on for the purpose, “you’ll have -to pardon me if I put my arm round your waist.” The lady, seeing -that, whether she liked it or not, from the throne room she was -going and thinking discretion the greater part of valour, “moved on” -without the pressure of Lord William’s arm. I was not present on this -occasion, so tell the tale as it was told to me. - -Lord Bill’s face when anything funny happened, and he felt it behove -him in his official capacity to be serious, was a study; and while he -often witnessed strange happenings they never ceased to amuse him; -his sense of humour never deserted him. - -I remember one occasion when he must have found self-control -difficult. - -The viceregal party were on tour and staying in a big station where -they announced they would hold one of these drawing-room sort of -receptions. - - -_Scene I. (No action.)_ - -Large bungalow of chief political officer in the neighbourhood. Two -large rooms and one small one opening into one another, the curtains -which usually hung between the rooms to make them more private and -to prevent people hearing what you are saying! being removed for the -afternoon, leaving a free passage from the verandah on one side of -the house through the three rooms and out into another verandah at -the other side of the bungalow. - -All the furniture had been removed from the middle rooms to make it -more impressive. - -A roughly constructed and somewhat uncertain platform raised a little -from the ground, covered with imposing red felt and bath rugs. Two -deck-chairs or something of that sort representing the thrones. - - -_Scene II. (Action.)_ - -Enter Mr. and Mrs. Viceroy, who have learnt to pick their way, and -walk with circumspection over hastily laid red baize and felt. Mr. -and Mrs. Viceroy making polite conversation to their host and hostess -admiring all the excellent arrangements made for their comfort. Mrs. -Viceroy sits on her throne, Mr. Viceroy stands beside her, and the -staff arrange themselves becomingly, one A.D.C. having been told -off to receive and unpack the ladies on arrival at No. 1 verandah, -another on verandah No. 2 to repack them, and say how charming they -are all looking, that it is a day he will remember all his life, and -so on. A third A.D.C. announces the names, which are handed to him on -cards, and the Military Secretary introduces them. - - -_Scene III._ - -Arrival of fluttering ladies on verandah No. 1. Many never having -attended a drawing-room at home, are very anxious about their -curtseys. First lady, who has been practising various kinds of -curtseys and bobs before her glass for days, now forgets all about -them, her one idea being to get it over. She shoots through the room -and out the other side, her example followed by those behind her, -like rabbits bolting in frosty weather from one hole to another, Mrs. -Viceroy trying to keep time with a bow and a reassuring smile for -each. The Viceroy bowing, trying to look pleased, but unmistakably -bored. - -Fresh batch of ladies, one starts with the wrong foot first, or -something of the kind, gets out of step and turns round to begin, -again hoping for better luck, but hastily stopped by Lord William, -who explains in a whisper the rules of the game forbid any return. -Mr. and Mrs. Viceroy pretend not to see or hear. - -Everything going swimmingly, Viceroyalty beginning to think of tea -and drive in the evening, A.D.C.’s beginning to think of flannels, -rackets and smokes. - -Enter elderly lady very nervous, makes a really profound curtsey, -so profound she cannot extricate herself from it, and she rocks -slowly backwards and forwards endeavouring to recover herself and get -into her stride again. Lord William’s big blue eyes watching every -movement (I felt certain he was betting on the finish), when with a -groan the lady subsided backwards on the floor, her feet entangled in -drapery and skirt. - -“Fighting Bill” to the rescue, old lady picked up, her brow mopped, -bonnet set straight and restoratives administered in verandah No. 2. - - -_Scene IV._ - -Royalty descend--mutual congratulations, Lord William and A.D.C.’s -telling each other all about it in room No. 3. Enter whiskey and -sodas. - - -But I must not be frivolous, as Lord William was a stern upholder -of the dignity of the Court, and very properly so, only the -“make-shifts” necessary for more or less impromptu ceremonies in -India and foreign countries at times lend themselves to amusing -situations; and why is it people always want to laugh more when they -know they must not do it? - -I remember at a big function at Simla, when Colonel Chesney was -being made a K.C.S.I. by Lord Ripon. Lord William had arranged -for a number of us to be allowed into the holy of holies to watch -the ceremony. We stood round the wall like well-behaved school -children. His Excellency was announced, small, rotund and dignified -in flowing robes of state, and walked up a strip of the inevitable -red baize to his seat at the far end of the room. There was a good -deal of ceremony about the proceedings. First one official walked a -few steps and bowed to the occupant on the seat at the end of the -red baize, then, after apparently counting something to himself, -advanced a few more steps and bowed again, continuing this slow -mode of progress until within a certain distance of His Excellency, -when more characters took part, and my attention was diverted to -one of the bowing individuals who was related to me, which made me -more sensitive to the fact that one of his silk stockings was on -wrong side out, and with every waft of air caused by his humble -obeisances, little fluttering ends of silk streamed out behind the -happily unconscious man, who, buttoned tightly into much gold lace, -was fancying himself not a little. Those little flags fascinated me, -and I was certain not one of them escaped Lord William’s eagle eye. I -looked across the room to where he was carrying out his duties, but -he was as grave as a judge, and so was I, indeed I flattered myself -I was behaving very nicely, until I heard one of the daughters of -the Commander-in-Chief, who was standing just behind me, whisper: -“Look, he has got his stockings on wrong side out.” I then felt, with -someone sharing my amusement, I must laugh and disgrace myself for -ever. Fortunately more important developments taking place we forgot -to watch the fluffy bits of silk. - -While being most punctilious about all things concerning his work, -and the popularity of those he served, and in spite of his hard -work, Lord William found time to amuse himself fairly well. I was at -Government House one day when preparations were being made for a -dance. Seeing the native servants deeply engrossed arranging a cosy -dark corner, amongst some palms and curtains, I enquired what they -were trying to do. They replied with many salaams that they were -arranging a “Kissi Ka waste for Lord Brasspot-Sahib,” in English I -suppose you would call it a quiet corner for two. All the natives -were fond of Lord William, hence doubtless their anxiety to minister -to his moods and emotions, arranging a little corner where a little -kissing could be done in peace and quietness. - -Speaking of dances reminds me of one at the Commander-in-Chief’s -(Sir Donald Stewart); the floor was very slippery, and Lord William, -while dancing in a set of Lancers, pointing his toes and doing pretty -steps first to the right and then to the left, fell on to his knees -in front of a huge old lady with several chins and tied in the middle -with a string or what had possibly once been a sash, but it was hard -to tell, being out of sight in folds of figure. Lord William, not the -least disconcerted, crossed his arms over his chest and bowed his -head, saying, “Madam, I am at your feet,” and was up dancing again -for all he was worth without a pause, as if it was all part of the -game, much to the amusement of everybody present, especially the lady -at whose feet he fell, for she was a jolly cheery soul. - -Among the enterprising things Lord William did in India was the -overhauling and setting on its feet the Amateur Dramatic Club, -which was on the verge of bankruptcy when he applied himself to -re-establishing it on a firmer basis; now it is one of the soundest -undertakings in India, with a stock of excellent scenery, library, -and large wardrobe. Always anxious to provide amusement for the folk -at Simla, he considered it would be a pity to allow such a useful -institution to fall on evil days, so with his usual generosity he -advanced the money to pay off the most pressing of the club’s debts, -and from that day to the present time the club has never looked -behind it and has now become the fashion. Every season theatricals -take place there, all the rank and fashion taking part or scrambling -for seats to watch the performances. Having firmly placed the club -on its feet Lord William retired from the management, only keeping a -first claim on one of the boxes. Invitations to the little suppers -he instituted in the theatre after the performances were much sought -after, their fame had spread far and wide, both for the good things -he provided and for their cheeriness. - -One year some tableaux were got up in the theatre, the money -collected for seats being given to some charity connected with sick -children. Lord William loved small bairns and they loved him. I -remember at these particular tableaux I represented Charlotte Corday -going to execution for the murder of Marat; my executioners were Lord -William Beresford and Captain Donald Stewart, a brother officer of my -husband’s in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders; we had many rehearsals both -for this tableau and others, but the despair of the stage manager -was great over the Corday scene, as the executioners always ended in -romping. Well do I remember their both rolling about the floor trying -to execute one another instead of Charlotte Corday. The manager -would become almost tearful in his entreaties to them to “behave -themselves.” They would then get up, shake themselves, saying to one -another, “Now no more nonsense, Donny, we must behave ourselves”; and -Captain Stewart would reply, “Now do shut up, Bill, and let us get to -business,” but their good resolutions did not last long, they were -soon stabbing, wrestling and tickling one another again and rolling -about on the floor. I began to wonder what would really happen when -the day arrived to appear before the public, but in spite of having -had no proper rehearsals when the fateful moment came they behaved -splendidly, but directly they were off the stage and behind the -scenes began again. - -When the whole performance was over, the staff gave a supper in the -theatre to those they wished to invite who had taken part in the -tableaux. A merry evening followed. As soon as all had refreshed -themselves, someone suggested a steeplechase over the tables and -chairs; forms were quickly turned upside-down, and chairs built up -into fences. There was some fun while the would-be riders chose -their mounts. At last all was settled, and we women packed ourselves -away in one corner of the room to act as audience. I am afraid if -the Jockey Club had witnessed that race none of the riders would -ever again have been granted licences, for they out-jockeyed each -other, crossing and trying to pull the riders off their mounts. There -were some resounding and shocking spills, but nobody cared, and the -race waxed fast and furious, being won eventually by Captain Donald -Stewart, a great big fine mount, ridden, if my memory may be relied -upon, by Captain Des Voeux of the Carabineers or Captain Roddy Owen. -The appearance of these sportsmen at the end of the race baffles -description, their hair, which in some cases had answered for reins, -was hanging in disordered wisps, collars reclining on shoulders, -clothes dusty, dirty shiny faces, and all weak with laughter. - -This was the lighter side of what was taking place during the early -part of Lord Ripon’s reign. He, meanwhile, was giving anxious thought -to the conclusion of the second Afghan campaign, having been sent out -with instructions to reverse Lord Lytton’s policy and terminate the -war as speedily as possible. Kandahar, which the latter had intended -to hold, was given up, and the whole of Afghanistan secured to the -Amir Abdul Rahman. - -The following, poem shall I call it, appeared about this time in one -of the Indian papers signed “Bala.” A cutting of it was given to me, -but I do not know from what paper, so cannot ask for permission to -reproduce it, and can only trust I may be forgiven. - - -THE VICEROY’S MESSAGE AND THE AMIR’S REPLY - - George Samuel, Marquis of Ripon, to the Afghan Chief wrote he, - “God made me Viceroy of India, and thou knowest what I made thee, - You rule by my will and pleasure, I care not to flatter or bribe, - One pledge or promise I ask of thee; I pardon if all men know - That up to this time thou hast not done much to prove thee our friend - or foe. - For the Russian is closing upon you, our faith in his promise is dead, - He is massing his troops on your border, and is eager to push on ahead. - Sharp is the word with the Muscovite, whose will is to plunder and - spoil, - His covetous eye is on India, and eke on your God-granted soil. - Now while he stands for a moment still, there is only one thing to be - done, - I must send a commission to meet him, to show where your boundaries - run, - And you must promise safe escort (we know what the Afghans are!) - And prove yourself friend to the English, and foe to the Russian Czar. - So choose thou of all my civilians, or choose thou of all my host, - One man to lead the commission, whom ever thou trustest most. - Whom thy tribes have known and trusted, to pass through in safety and - peace, - And so shall thy borders be measured, and our feud with the Russians - shall cease.” - - The Afghan Chief wrote answer: “You English are cunning and deep! - But I’d ask if you’ve ever succeeded in catching a weasel asleep? - I know what will come of commissions--just what became of your Embassy, - You harried us well four years ago, and I keep good memory. - Here stands my Cabul city, here I dwell by your favour at rest, - But the tribes of my frontier are evil, and know no respect for a - guest: - If your commission needs a safe escort on the oath of a trusted friend, - I have not the means to protect them. But whom will the Viceroy send? - Wilt thou send the poet, Sir A. F. D., the man who advised the last war? - He is safer, I ween, on the Naini Tal lake than he would be near - Kandahar. - Wilt thou send little Bobs--the Bahadur? He is trusted and honoured, I - know, - But he’s cooling his heels at Ootacamund, and doesn’t seem anxious - to go. - Shall I ask for the man with the ringlets? the virtuous lovely L--p--l, - He is living at home at his ease, writing books, and he has grown a - great swell. - Where is the chief McG----gr to pledge me the word of his clan? - He is there on the pine-clad highlands, a highly-paid, well-placed man. - He is shelved with the rest, all promoted they enjoy the reward of the - great. - Will they come now those I have chosen? I watch for their face and wait, - For the bright light shines on promotion, and dark is the downward - track, - And the Simla hills ring an echo of voices that hold them back. - Let the commission stay on the mountain and start as thy message said, - When the Amir sends a safe escort--when the Kalends of Greece are sped.” - “BALA.” - -This effusion is amusing no matter how it scans. - -Lord Ripon was also called upon to decide grave questions arising -between British and natives; he embarked at once on a very liberal -policy. In accordance therewith the Vernacular Press Act was -repealed, and among other measures, the so-called Ilbert Bill was -introduced in the Legislative Council, giving native magistrates -the same powers with respect to Europeans and Americans as British -magistrates, but this aroused such a storm of opposition the measure -had to be practically abandoned, Act III of 1884 being a compromise. - -Lord William, having acquired a useful knowledge of Indian customs -and feelings, was able to be a great help to Lord Ripon, who, finding -the value of his loyal friend, very shortly appointed him his -Military Secretary. - -Major White (later Sir George White, V.C.) of the 92nd Gordon -Highlanders, had been acting in that capacity from the time Lord -Ripon arrived in Bombay, where both he and Lord William Beresford -met His Excellency, but the work of Military Secretary did not -appeal to Major White, who loved soldiering, and was not obliged by -circumstances to do anything else, and feeling thoroughly unsettled -when his old regiment was in Afghanistan, in the thick of the -fighting, at last made up his mind to ask Lord Ripon to spare him for -a time, at any rate, so that he might go and join them. This request -being granted his work had to be carried on temporarily by someone -else. When Major White returned he still felt unsettled, and shortly -afterwards resigned. Major (afterwards Sir John) Ardagh succeeded -him, but did not remain long; then Lord Ripon offered the post to -Lord William, and the great moment in his life had come, he had now -the opportunity of showing the stuff he was made of, a scope for his -talents. - -The work of a Military Secretary is not known to everybody, so -I will try and explain it in common or garden English. When any -big machinery is in motion it all looks very easy, but machinery -requires much oiling and constant careful supervision to make it work -satisfactorily. - -To be a successful Military Secretary in a viceregal household it is -necessary to be like St. Paul, “all things to all men,” for he comes -in touch with so many different interests, acts as oil to so many -different wheels. It calls heavily on anybody’s tact to carry out the -work without friction. The duties are many and important, for he is -the head of the establishment and controls it. The private accounts -and correspondence are in the hands of the private secretary, all -the rest is in those of the Military Secretary. The A.D.C.’s are -under him, and he arranges what part each one has to play. One may -happen to be musical, he will probably be told off to look after the -band; another may be a connoisseur on omelettes and other appetising -confections, he will be asked to look after the kitchen department. -It will be the duty of one, whoever writes the most plainly, to keep -the visitors’ book, write and send out the invitations; this is no -light undertaking, for Viceroyalty have to entertain a good deal--it -is a part of their duty. Some do it better than others, but all -endeavour to fulfil their obligations. - -It is in fact a miniature court and meant to be impressive. - -The Military Secretary has four paid A.D.C.’s under him; by that I -mean a staff allowance, which is in addition to their military pay -they may be drawing in the usual way, the staff allowance being -anything between Rps.250 and 400, possibly 500 a month, and of course -they live free. I am speaking of the time that Lord William was -Military Secretary, there may be a different arrangement now. - -In addition to the four A.D.C.’s I have mentioned there were usually -two that were honorary. - -The popularity of a Viceroy rests in a great measure in the hands -of his Military Secretary, hence the importance of having a man who -understands, and is in touch, with the native princes and people, -who has the table of precedence at his finger-ends, and is pleasing -and courteous to all. Lord William excelled in all this, and one of -the reasons why he was from first to last such a phenomenal success, -was because he left nothing to chance, everything was carefully -thought out, no hurried word of mouth orders, but everything written -or printed and placed in the hands of those it concerned, some time -before the orders and work had to be carried out. - -Lord William was one of the old school who saw nothing amusing in -being rude, nothing clever in hurting people’s feelings, and he would -not tolerate anything of the kind amongst his A.D.C.’s. - -It is not altogether unknown for young A.D.C.’s attached to the staff -of Government houses to get swelled heads, treating everybody not -in immediate connection with their household as canaille, unless -of course they happened to be globe trotters with handles to their -names, but anything of this kind was quickly suppressed by Lord -William, who was kindly and courteous to all, be they princes, -princesses, subalterns, Bohemians or what nots. Perhaps a little -extra pleasant to a pretty face, and who will blame him? - -Speaking of bad manners occasionally witnessed at Government houses -in different countries, I have observed it is a way satellites have -at times; while their superiors, like our Royal Family for instance, -are unsurpassed for graciousness of manner, those in attendance on -them are at times sadly lacking in those amiable qualities. In fact -not only have swelled heads, but have grown too big for their shoes. -One might think such an uncomfortable combination would lead them to -see the error of their ways. - -But to return to the Military Secretary and his many duties, which -are enough to make the stoutest heart quake. - -The Viceroy not being a soldier, naturally depends a good deal on -him for advice as to military points of view, military law, and so -forth. A really sound man can, and often does, influence the ultimate -decisions of His Excellency, imperceptibly, of course, or his value -would be gone. The work of the Indian Office also filters more or -less through his hands, in fact everything requiring the Viceroy’s -attention, while should there be any difference of opinion between -departments, and any of them thought the Military Secretary was -taking any part, or interfering, there would be fierce indignation -and heart-burnings. So while all these delicate matters are being -brought to the Viceroy’s notice by the Military Secretary, yet he -must appear to know nothing about them, though quite possibly his -advice has been asked. - -Amongst other duties he has to map out and be responsible for the -arrangements of all the Viceregal tours in the country, involving the -railway journeys, allotting every hour of time each day and night for -weeks and months ahead. The moving of horses and carriages, servants, -and arranging for everything to be in readiness to meet the viceregal -party at all the places where they are going to stay, the officials -to be informed at each; levees, drawing-rooms, and receptions to be -arranged. The native princes who wish to meet His Excellency have to -be communicated with. Attached to these meetings there is endless -work, as each Rajah has a certain code of etiquettes, a proper number -of guns fired as salutes according to their rank. Some have to be -fetched in state to meet the Viceroy; the Military Secretary, an -aide-de-camp, and at times other officials having to drive to their -palaces and fetch them, taking them back in the same way. These -tours are looked forward to by the princes and big landowners of the -country, as many of them have grievances and schemes to lay before -the representative of the English Royalty. - -It is difficult for anyone unversed in Eastern ways to realise -how much depends on the forethought and experience of the person -responsible for all these arrangements. It requires some tact to -carry out all efficiently without a hitch, the least little error, -even a molehill of a hitch, may mean mountains of annoyance and -friction for His Excellency. - -In all viceregal movements it is essential that there should be -much dignity and show, plenty of colour and red druggeting. Ritual -and observances are the soul of the people of the East. Established -precedents have to be carefully guarded, a yard or two of less red -cloth than usual might easily be construed into an indignity. - -Then there are the presents to be thought of, which it is part of -the Viceroy’s duty to dispense, and there is a certain amount of -work attached to this, as the different political officers in each -district to be visited have to be consulted as to what will be most -suitable, and will meet with the approval of each recipient. - -In addition to all this strenuousness, the domestic details fall -to the lot of the Military Secretary; if a handle comes off a door -he must see it is replaced, if a goat instead of a sheep finds its -way on to the dinner table, if the horses fall sick or the coachman -drinks too much tea, if a bath leaks, if more visitors are coming -to stay than there is accommodation for, it is the business of the -Military Secretary to avert inconvenience or disaster, in fact -there must be no inconvenience or disaster, otherwise he is not an -efficient Military Secretary. - -In return for all this efficiency the pay of a Military Secretary is -1500 rupees a month, fifteen rupees being equal to £1, making about -twelve hundred a year. In later years something was given in the way -of compensation for the diminished value of the rupee, bringing it to -about £1300 a year, all found, as the servants say. - -Not every man possesses the necessary qualifications to enable him to -fill this onerous post, for not only has the Military Secretary to -mother the Viceroy so to speak, but he has to look after, advise and -help Mrs. Viceroy, all the little Viceroys, their maids, governesses, -butlers, coachmen and hangers on. - -Lord William filled the post so satisfactorily that he was retained -by three successive Viceroys; this speaks for itself. With the -exception of Lord William I never met a really popular Military -Secretary, there was always the qualifying “but” or “if,” but then -the majority have perhaps had “fish to fry” of their own, which would -bring them into ill favour with aspirants for the same frying-pan. It -seems sad that the days of enthusiastic workers should be embittered -by disappointment because promotion does not come soon enough, or -someone else has forged ahead--then a few short chapters of life and -we find “Finis,” and what has all the striving done for them? all the -heart-burnings? Very soon their names are only blots of ink on pieces -of paper, and probably these are put away in the lumber-room with -other “forgottens.” - -One of the refreshing things about Lord Bill was he was entirely -devoid of any fish to fry for himself, he sought no high places, -suffered from none of the discontents or scramblings after promotion -or office that seem to have pervaded the lives of many great men, -if we may judge by what we read of them, so he climbed no ladders -at other people’s expense, pushing them down when arriving at the -top, which gives such grave and not unnatural offence, leaving much -bitterness in the minds and hearts of those who are feeling injured. - -The two things in life which seem to cause the most unpleasantness -are jealousy and class-hatred. Lord William disarmed both, it was -not easy to be jealous of a man who asked nothing for himself, -climbed over nobody, and who was so generous he would give away -almost everything he possessed to anyone in need, whose pride of -race only showed itself in honourable straightforwardness and -unswerving singleness of purpose. _No_ class could hate him, he was -hail-fellow-well-met to all, thinking no ill of any man, and having -a clean mind himself was not on the look-out for unpleasantness in -other people. He had learnt that most valuable lesson of how to -handle humanity, which spells success in life. - -No doubt there are some people who will say, “Oh! but he was born -with a silver spoon in his mouth, with plenty of relations and -friends to push and help him.” Even supposing for the sake of the -argument we allow that, does anybody imagine that if Lord William -had been unsatisfactory or incapable he would have been Military -Secretary for so many years? and not to one Viceroy but to three, -all of whom probably held more or less conflicting views, likes and -dislikes, each one in turn passing through anxious times and moments -of perplexity, yet all without exception spoke of him in terms of -great appreciation and affection. - -Many have obtained good posts, not all have kept them. - -Amongst all the successful personages I can think of, there are none -who have had so few jealous enemies as Lord William Beresford. - -Unfortunately everyone who has anything to do with that noble animal, -the horse, comes in for a certain amount of criticism and occasional -abuse; it appears to be the inevitable or natural sequence of events. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - EARLY RACING EXPERIENCES - - First Racing Partnership--Some Successful Horses--The “White - Mutiny”--Military Secretaries Come and Go--Fleur-de-lys’ - Affection--Racing--Paperchasing--An Exciting Drive--Ponto’s - Admiration for the Fair Sex--Inverarm--How a Sick Soldier - Fared--Love of Children--A Children’s Party and How it Ended--The - Home for Lost Dogs--Simla Gymkhanas--A Sore Head--A Change of - Mounts--Sipi Fair and Marriage Market--What Some of Lord William’s - Friends Said--Why he was like King Solomon - - -Early in 1880 Lord William and his friend, Mr. Monty Stewart, joined -hands, forming a racing partnership, and their horse Warrego won -the St. Leger at the Umballa meeting. They had also purchased Kate -Coventry for 5000 rupees, a big sum for those days. She won the Grand -Annual the very next day for them, which was encouraging. At the same -meeting Gazelle won the Pony Handicap, Warrego the Trials, and Oliver -Twist the Selling Race. On the last day’s racing Oliver Twist rather -upset the public’s and everybody else’s calculations by defeating his -own stable companion Warrego, who was favourite. - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Rouch, Straua_ - -LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD’S HORSE DEMOCRAT] - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD LEADING KATE COVENTRY, RIDDEN -BY DEWING. CALCUTTA, 1881] - -At Lahore Kate Coventry won the Maiden Chase, Pompey the Dwarf Chase, -Lielle the Arab and Country-bred Handicap, Ronaleyn the All-horse -Handicap, and Potboy the Pony Handicap, not a bad performance. Lord -William now engaged Ryder as his trainer and jockey; he had been -successful for Baboo Mohini Mohun Doss of Dacca. - -At Dumdum Kate Coventry won the Handicap Chase as well as another -race. After this, luck seemed to desert the combined stable, though -Kate Coventry still played up nobly, winning the Ballygunge Cup, and -Lawyer the Trial Chase Cup. At Deccan, Pot Boy and Lawyer also won a -race or two. - -Then came the Umballa Autumn Meeting, where their luck was so -crushing Lord William vowed he would get rid of the lot of his -horses, and advertised the majority for sale. He may have deceived -himself through disappointment, but nobody else thought for a moment -he would be able to live without racing, in taking which view they -were correct, for in July, 1881, he purchased Camballa and Western -Princess through the dealer and importer known by the name of Teddy -Weekes. Luck seemed once more to be returning, for at the October -meeting at Dehra Fleur-de-Lys won over the hurdles, Kate Coventry the -Himalayan Chase, and Warrego the Corinthian Stakes, while Probably, -a country-bred pony, showed the way in the Gimcrack Stakes. Again at -Umballa the good Kate Coventry, Fleur-de-Lys and Probably also each -won a race. - -Lord William was now recognised as a rising racing man, and as one -come to stay. He began to do great things when the Government moved -down to Calcutta for the cold weather of 1881-2. His new purchase -Camballa, a black Waler gelding, began well by winning the Viceroy’s -Cup, steered by Ryder. I see in an old paper of that time “the -unpopular Governor-General was not present to see his cup run for.” - -It will be remembered I have already pointed out the reason of Lord -Ripon’s unpopularity with his own countrymen, though never was a -Viceroy so loved by the natives, into whose hands he played all the -time, no doubt thinking it would lead to future good, but causing -at the time dread and consternation amongst Europeans. Whether his -scheme of equalisation between the races has been a success or not I -leave to my readers to decide, though perhaps it is still early days -to say definitely one way or the other. Certainly, if we may judge by -the way India has assisted us in our present struggle, we should feel -inclined to think it had, but it is necessary to look a little beyond -our noses, and think what may be expected in return--the _quid pro -quo_. - -I do not suppose Lord Ripon troubled much as to whether he was -popular or not, he was there to do the best for the country and -its people, according to his light, after that it must be left in -the lap of the gods. The public opinion I have heard expressed of -the Viceroys during the time Lord William was on the staff ran as -follows--that Lord Lytton was charming, hard-working, and that -his work would live long after him; Lord Ripon unpopular, as it -was thought he would make life impossible for the white man in -the country owing to his enormous sympathy with the natives; Lord -Dufferin, popular but left a great deal in the hands of his private -secretary; Lord Lansdowne, universally popular, and Lady Lansdowne -especially so. These being the only Governor-Generals under whom -Lord William served I need go no further. He spoke of them all -with affection and gratitude, saying he had received “the greatest -kindness from all officially and individually.” I must confess when -he said this I felt much as I do when parents say they love all their -children alike, which cannot be in the least true; they may love them -all, but it must be in different ways and degrees, so I think Lord -William felt, if he had spoken literally, he had affection for all -his chiefs but in different ways and degrees. - -Even Viceroys have a good deal to “put up with.” First and foremost -they have to act on orders from home, after which, if the measures -do not prove successful or satisfactory, the blame of course falls -on the Viceroy’s head; then when settling down and getting into -his stride, finding help and comfort in some of his staff--say the -Military Secretary, that office bringing the individual more closely -into association with him than the rest, forming an important part of -his daily life--it has not been unknown for one Military Secretary -after another to find that their health will not stand the strain, -or that they wish to return to their regiment, another has married -a wife who will not live in India and so on, so resignation follows -on resignation, leaving the unhappy Viceroy in a constant state of -explanations and instructions to new-comers, and with nobody to lean -on, while possibly feeling anxious over work of which he has had no -previous experience and hardly knows where to turn to find someone -who does. Occasionally, perhaps, Viceroy and members of the staff -find “incompatibility” a reason for divorce. - -The cold weather of 1881-2 proved to the Beresford-Stewart partners -that they had a good thing in their new purchase Camballa, besides -winning the Viceroy’s Cup, he also won the Burdwarn Cup. Many -people speculated as to this horse’s lasting powers, as he stood -rather straight on his pasterns, and in India the ground is very -hard. However, he did all that was required of him, caused no -disappointment, and then was sold again at no loss, so was not a bad -bargain. Lord William also won a race himself on Alien; his pretty -little Australian mare Fleur-de-Lys, which he had bought from Mr. -Abbott, the Tirhoot planter, also won the Tom Thumb Stakes for him. -This little mare was charming as well as pretty, and as intelligent -as a dog. She had a great affection for her syce, who had been her -close companion from the time she arrived in India, and her owner -used to give his friends little exhibitions of her affection at -times. He would hide the syce somewhere, and then let Fleur-de-Lys -loose out of her stable, telling the man to call her, while he kept -dodging about hiding from her, but she always found him in spite of -all the dodging, whinnying with pleasure when she came up to him. -If anyone caught hold of the syce and pretended to beat him and he -howled, the mare would go straight for whoever it was she supposed -was hurting her friend and companion, would savage and trample on -the offender if she could get at him. So great was her affection for -her syce that it was unnecessary when moving about the country to -put a bit into her mouth, for she would follow him anywhere. She was -eventually sold amongst others to the Prince of Jodhpore, where she -would be well cared for. - -Warrego was now the property of the Beresford-Stewart stable, and -won the two mile Durbangah Cup for them. Camballa beat several good -horses for the Merchants’ Cup, proving himself _the_ horse of the -year. - -At the end of the cold weather 1881-2 Mr. Stewart was obliged to -leave India and go home owing to ill-health. - -Kate Coventry was still going strong and doing wonders, winning the -Ballygunge Cup, and again later in the year the Grand Annual, at -Lucknow, Ryder in the saddle. After this meeting Ryder was sent to -England to buy some horses for Lord William. - -The Autumn Meeting at Dehra Doon was very poor, the unsatisfactory -settling after their last meeting had made people a little shy, many -declaring it was not worth while running their horses under the -circumstances; another reason, I think, being the course was not in -very good order, but none of these things troubled Lord William, -though now I come to think of it he certainly rode other people’s -horses, and did not run any of his own, as far as I can remember. - -The Umballa Autumn Meeting was not a great success either, owing to -much the same reason. The rules regarding betting were a trifle lax, -but Ryder, who had returned from England, rode an Australian horse -named Blackthorn for Lord William, winning the Sirhind Derby, also -several other races; but Island King, a horse Ryder had brought back -with him, had a terrible fall when running for the Cup, and had to be -put out of his pain. - -Paperchases were much in vogue in India during the cold weather. -In Calcutta they were very popular, large fields collecting, but -eventually they became little short of steeplechases. A number of -women used to ride in them, and go right well, but so many who joined -in the chase were given to racing it became a little dangerous, as -will be readily grasped by anyone who has been closely followed -either in the hunting field or in a paper-chase by a racing man, -who may, and at times does, forget all about waiting his turn at a -fence, and just pushes and rushes wherever he sees a chance, quite -regardless of consequences. What matter whose face they trample on so -long as they get there! - -There were some great chase riders in those days, Captain David -Papillon, Colonel Oliver Probyn, with his one arm, Lord William -Beresford, and that good sort Mr. Sydney Hartwell of the Oude and -Roulicund Railway. What nerve that man had! I remember a wonderful -grey roan pony he drove, with a knee as big as an apple dumpling, -the result of one of his many accidents, arising from the fact that -he was almost impossible to hold. I doubt if many people would have -cared to drive the gee. Mr. Hartwell was a strong man, yet it took -him all his time to hold this handsome quadruped. He was like a -miniature carthorse, and exceedingly fast. An extra pair of reins -were always buckled on to the bit and rested under a clip on the -dashboard in case of the first lot giving way under the strain. The -traces generally dangled loose, the whole cart and contents, no -matter what weight, being pulled from the bit and reins. - -Several times I was asked if I would like to risk my life behind -this steed, and gladly consented, as Mr. Hartwell was a first-rate -whip and most cheery companion. It was arranged during one of these -drives that we should meet Lord William on the Lucknow Racecourse to -see a pony he thought would suit me, put over the jumps. We arrived -safely at the appointed spot, Mr. Hartwell put me down and took the -pony and cart a little distance away to wait until we were ready, the -pony raising no objection to standing. After the matter of trying the -pony Lord William thought would suit me, it was agreed that both Mr. -Hartwell and Lord Bill should come back and refresh at our bungalow, -his lordship said he would jump up behind us on the cart; he received -the same instructions as myself, namely, to nip in quick, the moment -our Jehu took hold of the reins; this was safely accomplished by both -of us, and off we shot like a rocket. The syce in his anxiety to -give the place of honour behind to Lord Bill, did not leave himself -quite enough foothold, and was shot off at the first rear and bound -given by the pony, given just to express pleasure at being on the -move again. Mr. Hartwell was the only person or thing in the cart -retaining a firm and upright position, Lord William was heard to -say “By Jove,” I was speechless shuffling back into my seat trying -to look as if I had never left it, the syce I heard later was last -seen tearing frantically in rear of the cart, after falling flat on -his face and losing his puggery, which was flying out in yards and -streams behind him as he ran trying to re-wind it round his head. I -was too busy holding on to turn my head to see what had happened to -anybody. - -After this preliminary all went well, as we proceeded to drive -round the course to have a look at the pony jumps, the grey roan -flinging himself along delightfully though keeping us in a state -of expectancy, when my lord and master, who had been on duty and -delayed, therefore not able to be present at the trial of the new -pony, came galloping up in hot haste to overtake us. This was the -signal evidently to the roan that a race was on, it was really -thrilling, and instead of going straight home as we had intended -after inspecting the jumps, we were raced round the racecourse at -top speed about three-quarters of the way, then on one wheel were -hurruished down an awkward dip and carried like birds through the -Barrack Square, then on through a mango tope, where Lord William -disappeared. Various people who saw us _en route_ were pleased to be -funny about our appearance, and one or two sketches were made, in one -of which Lord William was supposed to be holding me on to the seat, -but looked much more as if trying to sit on my head. - -I regret much that in the course of my travels a book full of such -souvenirs has unaccountably disappeared. Eventually Mr. Hartwell got -the pony in hand, and thanks to his brilliant driving I was landed -at our bungalow to find Lord William and my spouse complacently -refreshing themselves in the verandah. Lord William said he and a -bucket, which appeared from under the seat somewhere, were tipped out -under the mango trees while we were being carried over what looked -like a newly filled-in grave. - -Mr. Alfred Abbott was another great chase rider; he was seldom seen -without a cigar in his mouth, and died with one between his teeth on -the Barrackpore Racecourse; and many more old friends of Lord William -and mine, in fact it would be easy to fill many books with the doings -of old friends of that period. - -Young and old took part in these paper-chases, Sir George White with -grey hairs when Commander-in-Chief, and youths with growing down on -their upper lip. One very noticeable thing about people in India is -the way they keep young in spite of their years, taking part and -interest in all that is going on, old ladies and gentlemen dance -until the early hours with the best of the young ones, ride races, -play tennis and racquets, in fact everything that is going. - -One year Lord William offered a prize for a Ladies’ Steeplechase over -the Calcutta Racecourse. There were many competitors, some coming -from a distance to show what they could do. - -When Lord William presented the prize of a beautiful silver inkstand -to the winner, who happened to be a Mrs. Somebody he did not know, he -expressed the hope that she would find it useful and persuade her to -write long letters to her husband. This was unfortunate, as the lady -and her husband had agreed to part. It was a most unusual thing for -Lord Bill to make a _faux pas_. - -The Simla Season of 1882 passed much in the usual way, a round of -social gatherings and festivities. One character I must not fail to -introduce to you, namely, Ponto, Lord William’s poodle; he appears -in many photographs, and so he ought, being quite a personage; he -lived with his master after he became Military Secretary in quite a -palatial house called “Inverarm,” standing on the hill, not far from -the Viceregal Lodge. - -Ponto and his master were inseparable; there were times of course -when he was not wanted which he failed to realise or appreciate, and -in spite of the efforts of those who had instructions to keep him at -home, searched Simla until he located his master, sitting proudly -outside the door until he put in an appearance. Once Lord William -left the house he was visiting by a different route, and Ponto sat on -far into another day, when he was remonstrated with by the inhabitant -of the bungalow at whose door he sat. - -On another occasion Ponto broke away from custody and turned up in -church at Simla during a marriage service; the church was very full, -but Ponto managed to squeeze his way through amongst the multitude of -legs, and gave a brisk “Wuff” of delighted greeting when he located -his master. This affection at times was embarrassing, but as he meant -it all in good part his master was obliged to accept it in the same -spirit, while vowing he would find some other means of keeping Ponto -at home. Both the latter and his master had many things in common, -both admired beauty; if Lord William was sitting at luncheon and said -in the usual conversational voice, “There goes a pretty girl,” Ponto -would be up and off in a moment, on to a chair to gaze right and -left out of the window, or to the door, to look out for the pretty -girl. This was always a sure draw for Ponto, and used to amuse Lord -William, showing him off. - -Inverarm was like a museum for its many trophies of the chase and -sport generally. Tables groaned under cups and beautiful silver. -Some of Lord Bill’s silver bowls were remarkable for their delicate -workmanship; he used often to lend them to people giving parties -when they wanted to make a little splash. Indeed, so interesting and -comfortable was the house that whenever there was an overflow from -the Viceregal Lodge, which was not infrequent, Peterhoff being very -circumscribed, the extra guests were put up at Inverarm. - -One day when riding along the Mall, Lord William saw a doolie being -carried along with a sick man inside; he asked the bearers who was -inside, and being told a cavalry officer from the plains, and hearing -they were going to take the invalid to an hotel, he told them to go -straight to Inverarm, and escorted them to it, keeping the sick man -until well again, doing everything possible for his comfort and to -expedite his recovery. The individual in question was the present Sir -Robert Baden-Powell, at that time in the 13th Hussars, now father of -that most important and valuable institution the Boy Scouts. - -No season either in Simla or Calcutta was allowed to pass without the -children being catered for; the parties the Military Secretary gave -for them were amongst the most delightful and eagerly looked forward -to by the young folk, who all adored Lord Bill; he in his turn adored -them. The vocabulary of children is so small and yet so sufficing. -Bairns are very dramatic little persons, and their patois delightful. -He would at any time give up an engagement for his own pleasure to go -and amuse a sick child, telling them stories, taking them presents -and flowers, and always being robbed of the one in his button-hole. -He used to have great confidences and secrets with them, which -children always enjoy. One small boy who had broken his leg and was -much devoted to his delicate mother, wanted to give her something on -her birthday as a great surprise, and could not make up his mind what -it should be, as his saved pennies were not excessive. For days Lord -William made suggestions, none of which were favoured, some being too -costly, others she would not care for. Each visit Lord William paid -he had some fresh list of suggestions. If the boy had decided on an -elephant Lord Bill would have said he was sure he could get one for -the money and procured it; but at last the boy had decided in his own -mind, and joyfully told Lord William, saying, “I have found out what -mother would like; it is a book she often reads. It got spoilt with -the white ants eating it, and I want to give her another.” - -“That is capital,” said Lord William; “what is the name of the book -and who is it by, I mean who wrote it?” - -“Oh, I don’t know that,” replied his little friend, looking rather -dismayed, “I think it is called _Infernal Hope_, but I don’t know who -wrote it.” - -“Never mind, little man, I will soon find out, don’t worry, it is a -funny name, but I will soon get it for you. If I write to a man I -know who keeps a big book shop, he will be sure to know and send it -at once.” - -Lord William made a point of finding out from another member of the -family what the book was without giving away his little friend’s -secret. It was Archdeacon Farrer’s _Eternal Hope_, and it arrived -duly in a beautiful cover in time to give pleasure to both the little -invalid and his mother. - -Some years after this, when I was giving a children’s party at home -in England, Lord Bill asked, “May this child come, please?” Of course -I replied I should be charmed, and certainly the children were; -I never saw bairns enjoy themselves more. He pretended he was an -elephant at the Zoo, and allowed them to sit all over him while he -travelled about on all fours giving them rides, then pretending to -fall down and roll with them. When he thought they were tired of this -he crawled under the table in the dining-room and pretended he was a -bear in a cage, and had to be fed by the children through the bars -formed by the legs of the chairs arranged around him. - -After the last happy child had gone home, Lord William and my -youngest brother, who had likewise been assisting, feeling rather -limp and exhausted, suggested they would like a wash and brush up. -After this operation both were due at opposite ends of London; it -was pouring with rain, and there seemed to be a scarcity of cabs. -The servants whistled until they were nearly black in the face, as -my brother expressed it; at last they succeeded in attracting the -attention of one hansom; then each man was too polite to take the cab -from the other, and as they were going in opposite directions they -could not share it. My brother told Lord William to jump in and he -would find one for himself, or wait with me until another arrived. - -Lord William would not agree to this, and told my brother to jump in. -It ended in their struggling fiercely in the street, each trying to -put the other into the cab. The cabby at first looked on in awe and -wonderment; he was anxious to keep the cab dry, and each time one -of the strugglers was nearly deposited in the cab, up would go the -glass, then as they subsided for a fresh effort on the pavement down -went the glass again, as the cabby saw all was not decided. He was -now entering into the spirit of the game, and settled down to watch -and be ready to receive the missile when it eventually arrived. - -By this time another cab had turned up, but nobody took the least -notice of it. A small crowd of wet errand boys had collected to watch -the fun, and I was momentarily expecting a policeman to appear on the -scenes and take them both into custody. - -At last Lord William won the day, and from behind the curtains in -the dining-room window I saw my bruised and shin-barked brother -chucked into the cab while in response to the cabman’s “Where to?” -Lord William replied, “Home for lost dogs, and drive like the devil.” -Needless to say neither my brother nor Lord William looked like -paying visits after this romp; their hats had been knocked off and -clapped on again by the servants, and small boys looking on, only to -roll off once more. Ties had waltzed round, and were looking out from -unaccustomed places, collars looked shy and drooping; but I am flying -too far ahead; and the Simla Gymkhanas require and deserve a little -space before passing on. - -The subject of these memories was always full of new ideas for -the amusement of Simla. Amongst other races he organised, was the -Victoria Cross Race, which was exciting, the idea being that each -rider had to place a dummy figure of sorts lying on the ground or in -some perilous position, the riders would then have to ride as hard -as ever they could over certain jumps, pick up the figure, and bring -it back over more jumps into safety, just as if they were trying to -save life. These figures were often really well got up, one perhaps -dressed as an ayah, another as a child, a soldier, war correspondent, -and so on. It was most amusing to watch the struggles while picking -up the figures and remounting again. During one of these races Lord -William elected to rescue a war correspondent who was supposed to be -wounded. He succeeded in picking him up, and was coming over the last -fence with him in great style, when a post, which had no business -to have been left where it was, caught Lord William on the head, or -his head came in contact with the post, giving him a nasty wound, -which bled profusely and caused him to lose the race, but the rescued -correspondent came in useful, as he helped to mop up the gore. Lord -William swore he was none the worse, but must surely have had a very -sore head. - -Another invention from the same brain was the cigar race. The riders -had to start, go over some of the jumps, then change mounts. It was -arranged beforehand whom they would change with, it had to be one -that had started in the race; then light a cigar, remount quickly, -and finish the race with the cigar still alight. This was essential. -The agitation was great when the matches would not light, their -heads broke off, or the ponies objected, some of which saw no fun in -it and declined to wait and see the rest. - -Then for another change the ponies and their riders had to jump -through big paper hoops after the fashion of circus entertainments. -This race generally led to merriment, as the ponies did not care -for the game, and ran in every direction to avoid the ordeal. The -umbrella race was a good one. Riders had to be mounted on their own -ponies, which they had to saddle themselves, when a bell was rung, -then open an umbrella, which had to be carried open over the jumps. -The opening of the umbrella generally caused trouble. - -The race for people who had never ridden in one before was usually -comic; elderly sportsmen and timid youths were persuaded or goaded -into entering, and it provided all sorts of novel conditions and -situations. - -Riding up from one of these gymkhanas on a newly purchased pony, -which had seemed to me very quiet and suitable to narrow paths and -hill-climbing, it suddenly turned nasty on hearing the clatter of a -horse coming up hurriedly behind him, promptly laid his ears back and -turned his tail over the side of the khud, while I had the unpleasant -experience of hearing loose stones and earth giving way under his -feet and rattling down hundreds of feet below. I thought I had seen -my last gymkhana. I leaned as far forward as I possibly could, to -keep my weight off his quarters and give him a chance, for he was -beginning to think he had done something foolish, and was scrambling -to keep foothold with his fore feet, when Lord William, whose -horse’s clatter had caused the outbreak of displeasure on the part -of my mount, came to the rescue, and seizing me more or less by the -hair of my head landed me safely, the pony slipped down a little way, -but got entangled in some bushes, and so gave time to several kindly -helpers who rescued him. Lord William then insisted on our saddles -being changed, as he would not hear of my riding the wicked pony -any more; I therefore had a charming beast of his to take me home, -while he taught mine a lesson. When he turned up later he told me he -thought the pony must have been drugged when I bought it, as it was a -nasty, vicious brute, and had tried to crush his legs against first a -tree and then some railings after I had left him with it. - -The fair held once a year at Sipi, a few miles outside Simla, was -usually a day of extra festivities. Lord William’s picnics there were -most enjoyable, being arranged and managed as everything he undertook -was managed, with forethought for everybody’s comfort. His organising -powers were extraordinary, while his peculiarly gracious and courtly -manner added charm to all the functions he arranged. Even in the -matter of food everyone’s particular taste was catered for. - -With the exception perhaps of Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, I never met -anyone with such a talent for organising State functions and great -occasions as Lord William, and certainly the latter was the more -popular and caused less offence than his old friend did at times. - -The road from Simla to Sipi is just a pleasant distance for a ride, -but along the edge of precipices and through an alarming dark tunnel, -which is quite exciting if riding a quarrelsome horse, for in the -darkness you often meet a crowd of ponies being driven through with -big bundles on their backs. They are usually being driven through -by pedestrian natives. The situation at times lends itself to some -mix-ups and chatter. - -The surrounding tribal women gather themselves together, decked -out in all their best, some with a view to finding suitable mates, -others to sell their jewellery and gew-gaws. The Thibetan women often -realise big prices for their turquoise and silver ornaments. It is -a great day amongst the hill tribes for exchange and barter, indeed -sales of all sorts. - -There is also ceremony attached to this fair, as some of their gods -are brought to shower blessings on all the chosen ones. Such curious -figures some of these deities possess, they baffle description, -being quaint figures, half man, half beast, half nothing. Some do -not possess any legs, others we presume have, but are clothed in -mysterious garments, leaving much to the imagination. One year -Lord William gave his picnic in a villa built there by an Italian -confectioner, which sounds strange in the Himalayan mountains -surrounded by Thibetan females and other hill tribes. We also must -have looked a little out of place, indeed I think we always do look -out of place in the gorgeous colour-loving East. - -Lord William was the life and soul of Simla, and exceedingly popular -with everybody. One of his most charming traits, and one which I -admired much, was his gentle, polite manner to natives. Once young -Englishmen arriving from home considered it fine and grand to be -rude and rough to natives when they were stupid, and made mistakes, -which very often arose from their own ignorance of the language, and -therefore being unable to express themselves intelligibly; I have -heard a young subaltern saying he had saddled his pony, when what -he wished to say was the syce was to do so, the young man’s grammar -being defective, for which the natives had to suffer. Lord William -was most particular in giving his orders to see they were understood, -and gave them in a clear polite way which was most refreshing; -naturally the natives loved him, would do anything for “Lord Brasspot -Sahib.” - -Many of his friends said he was a great loss to the Service. Once -when a great friend of his was walking round Jakko (the only decent -road round on one side of Simla, a sort of continuation of the Mall) -with General Sir George Chesney, who wrote that clever book _The -Battle of Dorking_, Lord William rode by at a gallop, taking his -hat off to Sir George in a way quite peculiar to himself; it always -seemed to imply so much, respect, affection, compliment, pleasure at -seeing you, and everything else of the kind, leaving each individual -feeling comfortable and pleased. As he passed, Sir George, who was -walking with one of the members of the staff and as already stated -an old friend of Lord William’s, turned to his companion remarking, -“There goes a leader of men. Instead of being Military Secretary to -the Viceroy he ought to be commanding a cavalry brigade; he would be -unequalled at that work, always supposing he was not turned out of -the service for disobedience to orders.” - -Another friend, a clever lady of that time at Simla, speaking of Lord -William’s character generally, said, “It is not Bill’s cleverness or -quickness to grasp the situation, but what he has got in an eminent -degree is what Solomon had. I have always thought that Solomon’s -great wisdom was much exaggerated, and that what he really had in -pre-eminence, and Bill has too, is tact, doing the right thing at the -right time. For instance ... it was not Solomon’s great knowledge -that bamboozled the Queen of Sheba, but knowing when she wanted a -foot-stool!” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - LORD RIPON LEAVES INDIA - - Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors--Lord de Grey’s Shooting--A - Good-looking Staff--A Fancy Ball--The Baby cries--Lord William - Feeds the Infant--Singing Quadrilles--Pig-sticking--The Tent Club - and Its Members--A Case of Mistaken Identity--The Reputation - Match--Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing--Lord Ripon’s - Farewell - - -During Lord Ripon’s time in India a number of people came out from -home to stay with him, some wishing to combine a visit to their -friends with shooting, pig-sticking and globe-trotting. This kept -Lord William busy, as he had to make all the arrangements for their -comfort, and where they were to stay, when the Viceregal Lodge was -full, which was generally the case. Occasionally he turned out of his -own house for guests, searched for suitable bungalows for others, -making everybody comfortable and yet without the least apparent -effort. Rajahs were communicated with, and shoots arranged; horses -were found to suit the various riders, chosen in accordance to their -prowess, programmes made out for each day, and printed instructions -sent on ahead, so that all was in readiness at each halting place, -carriages, horses, servants, food, sport and all the heart of man -could desire. - -The happy relations existing between Lord William and the Native -Princes made this easier for him than it might have been for many. - -The present Marquess of Ripon, then Lord de Grey, came to stay with -his father, and was anxious to have some big game shooting. He is, as -everybody knows, one of the best shots in England. His game card from -1867 to 1891 gives some idea of his skill and the sport provided. I -think the years 1880 and 1882 were the years he was shooting in India. - - -GAME KILLED FROM 1867 TO 1891. - - (Part 1 of 2) - ====================================================================== - Rhinoceros Buffalo Pig Red Deer Partridge - Date Tiger S??? Deer Grouse Pheasants - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1867 8 265 1.179 741 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1868 35 201 1.418 1.601 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1869 35 135 1.659 1.431 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1870 21 498 2.308 2.117 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1871 55 1.408 1.598 1.889 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1872 38 1.498 2.083 2.835 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1873 25 248 2.417 3.050 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1874 3 5 90 2.878 2.345 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1875 3 287 2.882 3.225 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1876 3 1.554 3.394 4.110 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1877 2 4 2.032 2.359 4.235 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1878 4 9 1.669 3.378 4.679 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1879 4 1.344 630 3.140 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1880 9 6 18 31 73 12 1.131 682 531 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1881 5 1.566 3.465 5.014 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1882 2 2 6 1 66 104 10 3.025 2.123 2.370 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1883 5 2.896 1.845 6.119 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1884 10 3.073 3.523 4.347 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1885 5 2.015 2.788 4.620 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1886 20 1.989 1.463 3.383 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1887 57 2.258 3.785 3.387 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1888 4 3.060 853 5.072 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1889 5 3.081 5.751 6.182 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1890 2.006 7.002 6.498 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1891 2.277 1.699 5.794 - ====================================================================== - 2 11 12 19 97 186 378 39.606 63.163 88.715 - - - (Part 2 of 2) - ================================================================== - Wood Cock Wild Duck Capercai- Rabbits Total - Date Snipe Black Game llies K??? Various - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1867 20 22 10 -- -- 719 934 115 4.013 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1868 28 67 23 -- -- 690 543 113 4.719 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1869 26 133 37 -- -- 547 443 122 4.568 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1870 36 53 30 -- -- 893 626 137 6.660 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1871 50 244 42 -- -- 1.093 341 225 6.945 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1872 27 60 31 -- -- 1.108 756 235 8.671 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1873 95 263 85 -- -- 1.027 450 591 8.231 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1874 229 462 131 5 4 1.200 302 1.200 8.854 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1875 176 461 208 -- -- 1.376 576 743 9.937 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1876 30 25 37 -- -- 1.248 890 266 11.557 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1877 35 45 33 11 11 1.496 1.044 309 11.616 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1878 43 44 55 5 6 2.152 667 503 13.214 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1879 132 92 62 9 11 1.125 287 215 7.051 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1880 9 47 54 26 5 501 141 408 3.684 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1881 26 14 43 -- -- 1.058 797 166 12.154 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1882 14 21 44 -- -- 464 1.122 117 9.491 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1883 157 84 155 -- -- 918 1.386 319 13.884 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1884 134 70 70 -- -- 713 1.896 453 14.289 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1885 104 23 31 -- -- 589 2.547 108 12.830 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1886 105 87 72 -- -- 357 786 349 8.611 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1887 104 3 12 -- -- 415 2.328 237 12.586 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1888 31 151 10 -- -- 307 1.523 85 11.096 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1889 100 109 14 38 8 1.747 1.069 135 18.239 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1890 172 105 28 -- -- 1.446 1.120 123 18.500 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 1891 34 13 -- -- -- 711 406 271 11.205 - ================================================================== - 1.917 2.698 1.317 94 45 23.840 22.980 7.543 252.625 - - LORD DE GREY’S GAME CARD FROM 1867-91 - - -Amongst others who came out were Lord and Lady Wenlock, Lady Charles -Beresford, and later their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess -of Connaught. - -[Illustration: GROUP AT BARRACKPORE ON THE LAWN - -_Left to right. Standing_: Lady Downe (the late); Mr Primrose -(now Right Hon. Sir Henry), Lord Alwyne Compton (the late); Dr. -Anderson (Viceroy’s Medical attendant); (next figure not known to -author); Lord Downe, Capt. Deane, 17th Lancers; possible Sir Maurice -Fitzgerald; but uncertain; Capt. Poe, I believe; Lord William -Beresford. _Seated_: Lord Ripon, H.R.H. Duchess of Connaught, H.R.H. -Duke of Connaught, Lady Ripon. _On ground_: Capt. Rochfort (now Sir -Alex., Governor of Jersey), Capt. the Hon. Charles Harbord (now Lord -Suffield)] - -Lord William found a pleasant bungalow, not far from the Viceregal -Lodge, for Lady Wenlock, while her husband was away shooting, and she -spent a good deal of time sketching. Being of an artistic temperament -she delighted in the scenery and colouring, finding endless -opportunities to practise her art--plenty of work for her brush. Yet -at times the colouring is so superb it defies all efforts of speech -or brush. - -Picture the hill-sides one blaze of rhododendrons, sheets of them -leading down to green valleys, where after the rains maidenhair ferns -and wild orchids cling lovingly to the branches of the trees, on -the ground, carpets of little white flowers resembling our lily of -the valley, but lacking its scent, in the distance blue mountains, -behind these purple mountains, behind these again snow-clad peaks, -a brilliant sun shining over all, framing pictures that remain in -memory for life, and yet there are times when the very splendour of -it seizes us with a limitless despair. In these few beautiful moments -when the sun, symbol of deity in the East, is bidding us good-night, -changing all round from rose to red, orange to turquoise, leaving -a tiny twilight, and the day is gone, hidden away behind a mist of -grey. And we think--but no, we will not think, we will go dress for -the “Poggle Khana” or fools’ dance, as the natives call a fancy dress -ball. But of these more later. - -I wish to introduce my readers to a group of people taken about this -time. All the men are members of the Viceregal Staff. Lady Wenlock -is in the centre, handsome Lord Alwyne Compton (died in 1911) is seen -sitting behind her; he was one of the A.D.C.’s. When not on duty he -had an affection for a brown velveteen coat and yellow button-hole, -which suited him exceedingly well, his hair, eyes and skin, being -almost Italian looking. Lord William, Military Secretary, is on -Lady Wenlock’s left, and beside him sits Lady Charles Beresford, -his sister-in-law. Then comes Mr. Primrose, Private Secretary to -the Viceroy (now the Right Hon. Sir Henry Primrose). On the extreme -left is Capt. St. Quinten, another good looking young man, who was a -favourite A.D.C. in the viceregal household. Sitting at Lady Charles -Beresford’s feet is Capt. Clough Taylor, who hailed from the same -county as the Ripons, he also was A.D.C. His wife, Lady Elizabeth -Clough Taylor (died in 1896) is sitting on Lady Wenlock’s right. -Behind her stands the Hon. Miss Lawley. Sitting at Lady Elizabeth’s -feet is Capt. Muir, A.D.C. (now Colonel) and Commander of the Body -Guard. In the arm-chair below Miss Lawley is the Hon. Charles -Harbord, A.D.C. (now Lord Suffield), and next to him Capt. Rochfort, -A.D.C. (now Sir Alex. Rochfort, Governor of Jersey). - -It will be observed their Excellencies liked good looking men on -their staff. - -[Illustration: STAFF AND GUESTS AT VICEREGAL LODGE, SIMLA - -_Left to right_: Capt. Rochfort (now Sir Alex. Rochfort, Governor -of Jersey); Honble. Miss Lawley, Capt. Harbord (now Lord Suffield), -Lady Elizabeth Clough-Taylor, Lord Alwyne Compton, Lady Wenlock, Lord -William Beresford, Lady Charles Beresford, Mr. Primrose, Captain St. -Quinten - -_On ground, left to right_: Capt. Muir and Capt. Clough-Taylor] - -Now I am anxious to tell you about the fancy dress balls. - -Some of the dresses worn in India on these occasions are marvellous, -people out there seem to take much greater pains to do the thing -properly, and there have been many anxious moments in case the -dresses should not arrive from Paris or England in time. One fancy -dress ball I remember as being particularly amusing, but it was not -at Simla. Lord William appeared as a Chelsea Pensioner, and was quite -excellent. A good looking woman, wife of an Artilleryman, was “A -Wasp”; she naturally had a tiny waist. The wondrous dress with its -stripy bands of yellow, black gauze wings, and the little antennae in -her head, all well carried out, but the wings made dancing difficult, -so she sat in a corner with the Chelsea Pensioner a good deal. The -poor old Pensioner did not like much light--it hurt his poor old -eyes. But the chief joke of the evening was when a big hefty hospital -nurse carried into the ballroom a very lusty looking big red-faced -baby, with a distinctly blue line along the upper lip. A white -rosette-adorned cap tied under his chin, a short white frock reaching -a little below his knees which stuck out all round from the amount of -material it contained, which, however, helped to support a big blue -sash, matching the shoulder knots; frilled kicksey-wickseys, white -socks and sandal shoes completed this child’s costume. The bottle of -milk which he was sucking, or pretending to suck, was fixed to his -sash, and had a long tube. The nurse put down her charge to toddle -along the floor, still holding his hand, but the baby if left for a -moment began to cry. - -It was not long before we discovered in the baby a hard riding man -who had brought some hounds out from home and given us some amusement -with them in the cold weather, his nurse was an officer in a smart -cavalry regiment. Before the evening was over so many practical -jokes had been played on the poor baby that he and his nurse in -self-defence retired and changed into ordinary evening garments; but -not before supper, when Lord William insisted on feeding the baby -with a tablespoon, and dived first into one dish and then another so -quickly that the already red-faced baby became apoplectic; it was -after this he escaped, having been severely patted on the back for a -choking fit. - -India has changed since those days when the natives used to be rather -shocked at ladies appearing publicly in evening dress, and at some -of the flirtations, perhaps not entirely peculiar to the East, but -to-day they have become so civilised and Westernised it takes a good -deal more to shock them. - -The country is a mixture of shabbiness and gorgeousness, pathos and -childishness. Some of us appear very giddy out there, because if we -did not, we should cry; so ride and dance, keeping up a ceaseless -round of activity, we _say_ because it keeps us in health, which in a -measure no doubt it does, it also leaves no time for thoughts of home -and regrets. - -The music of the country is quite peculiar to itself, so is the -dancing, which is poor and monotonous, but, of course, I am -speaking of some years ago, now possibly the Princes are asking -their bandmasters the names of the morsels being played to them, -and are told, as really happened I believe to Queen Victoria once, -who, on hearing a particularly bright tune being played, asked its -name. Nobody seemed able, or inclined, to inform her, but she was -determined to know, and sent specially to the band to ask, the -messenger returned looking a little uncomfortable, and said it was -called “Come where the booze is cheaper.” Probably tunes of that sort -are now the order of the day, having travelled with the motor-car and -latter-day luxuries. - -During the winter in India, singing quadrilles were the fashion, -and had to be rehearsed frequently, it was rather funny to see Lord -William being schooled into singing his part of “Ba ba black sheep, -have you any wool?”; he learnt “Where are you going to, my pretty -maid?” much quicker. - -It is astonishing the amount of talent that is represented at times -in the hill stations in summer, it is by no means uncommon to -have really good Christy Minstrels, concerts and even high-class -oratorios. (I suppose the latter ought to have been mentioned first). - -Lord William did not take part in the big game shooting unless he had -to go officially, as it bored him to tears, but he loved pig-sticking -more than any other form of sport, and used to get a good deal of it -from Calcutta. He belonged to the Calcutta Tent Club, and always said -the best days he had were when with his friend “Archie Hills, on his -own land at Packabari.” Mr. Hills, if I remember right, was an indigo -planter. He appears in the pig-sticking group. For those unacquainted -with this form of sport I will explain it briefly. The game can be -played by one alone, but usually by three or four men who go out -together mounted on horses, and armed with spears to hunt and slay -the boar. My own humble opinion is that Arabs are the pleasantest -mounts for this form of sport, they seem to understand the broken -ground better than any other class of horse and are sure-footed. - -The boars are not like our English pork, but very fierce fighting -animals; tigers have been known to fight shy of them. It is wonderful -the way these pigs cover the ground; they are really fast, and -give jumps and bounds of a surprising nature. They generally begin -by going away from the sportsmen, but after a while when they get -annoyed, and think it is time for some fun themselves, they will turn -suddenly and charge the enemy. Some horses that have been ridden -regularly after pig, are clever at dodging these charges, which is -a distinct advantage, a rip from the tusk of a boar is a nasty one, -they always rip upwards, inflicting horrid wounds, when they get the -chance. - -The Tent Club, already mentioned, was formed at Calcutta of -pig-stickers, a photo of which will be found with the names of the -most prominent members. I do not remember hearing a great deal about -Lord William’s pig-sticking, beyond the fact that he enjoyed it -above all things, and got as much of it as his duties allowed. It -was returning from pig-sticking in 1880, I think, that an excitement -occurred in which Lord William took part. - -[Illustration: SOME NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE CALCUTTA TENT CLUB - -_Left to right, standing_: General Harry Wilkinson, Col. Jim Cooke, -Mr. Macnair, Mr. H. Millett, Mr. Anderson, Mr. W. L. Thomas, Mr. W. -O. Bell Irving, Mr. Playfair, I think; Mr. Jim Henderson, Captain -Muir. _Seated_: Mr. G. Fox, Sir George Greaves, Mr. Carlysle, Sir -Franklin Prestage, Lord William Beresford, Mr. Archie Hills; (next -not known to the author). _On the ground_: Mr. A. S. Chapman, Mr. -Laurie Johnstone, Captain A. Rochfort] - -A number of horses, about 250, had been landed from the ship -_Thessalus_, with a view to taking them to Dhurrumtollah, where -stables were ready for them; how to get them there was a matter of -speculation; it was decided a few expert Australians, with stock -whips, should drive them Colonial fashion, all grouped up together, -this answered admirably for some time, until one or two of the -leaders took it into their heads that gas lamps were dangerous -things, and galloped madly away through the streets, followed by all -the rest, simply a mad galloping and hurruishing crowd of horses, -a regular stampede, not a pleasant thing to find advancing towards -you. They rushed with alarming clatter through the streets out -into the maidan or plain, where they broke up into groups, tearing -off in every direction. It took all night and part of the next day -collecting the animals, who by that time had tasted enough freedom -and were not sorry to be caught, but the excitement was great. One -unfortunate man, who was riding home at a belated hour, meeting -this charging cavalcade turned his horse’s head very wisely and was -carried along with them. - -Lord William was a good judge of a horse and understood their -training, he was therefore often asked for his advice, and if anyone -had a good horse they wished to sell they usually let Lord William -have a look at it. One day in Calcutta, Mr. John Ralli sent him -for trial a very fine fast trotting mare to look at; his lordship -decided to buy her. The same evening he went for a “walk round” at -Belvedere and saw there a Mr. S. (we will say) and his very handsome -wife walking arm-in-arm. There was a very strong likeness between -Mr. Ralli and Mr. S., and as Lord William passed, mistaking him for -Mr. Ralli, he gave a little pinch whispering, “She’s a ripper.” Mr. -S. immediately replied, “You’re a scoundrel, sir!” Lord William was -very indignant and thought the man had gone mad, as, of course, he -was referring to Mr. John Ralli’s fast trotting mare. Mr. S. was also -angry, thinking Lord William referred to his wife. Rather a funny -story of mistaken identity. - -Lord William was with the Viceroy on the memorable occasion when -touring a certain district where the natives had come to the -conclusion that, under the new Viceroy’s rule, they were to have a -free run among the scattered European residents, where several ladies -were living, and when he arrived the said scattered Europeans were -not inclined to give his Excellency a favourable reception! This -episode was referred to as the “White Mutiny.” - -The Autumn of 1882 was not a very lucky one from the racing point of -view. Both the Dehra and Umballa meetings were poor and temporarily -somewhat out of favour. The winter of 1882-3 was not much better, at -Calcutta Lord William certainly won a race with Fariz and another -with Mooltan, and he won a match five hundred rupees a side, riding -his Premier against Captain Webb, on Mr. Godjack’s Skirmishe. - -In May came the news of his partner’s death, poor Mr. Monty Stewart, -who had gone home sick. In consequence of this, all the horses were -put up for sale, the majority being bought by the Sporting Maharajah -of Jodhpore. - -Lord William not being able to afford racing alone, on the lines he -aspired to, now looked round for another partner, and before long he -and the young and rich Maharajah of Durbangah came to an arrangement. -The Rajah had acquired a taste for racing from Major Ben Roberts, -who had just left India to take up some appointment in England. So -now began another partnership, and more money was forthcoming to -purchase valuable horses. Ryder was once more sent to England to -see what he could find, Lord William also went on short leave and -returned with a sprinter named Reputation, Father Prout and Little -Charlie. £2000 was given for Reputation, and before leaving for India -he won the Egremont Plate of £300 and the Glasgow Plate £200, but he -was a nervous horse, did not travel well, was easily thrown off his -oats and did no good in India where the ground was too hard for him, -which was disappointing, for in the Egremont Plate before leaving -England when being ridden by “Archer” he gave 16lbs. to Laceman and -27lbs. to Hornpipe, who were the same age, yet won easily. - -Reputation was a smart good-looking horse, bought from a solicitor -I believe named Tidy, whom it may be remembered Lord Marcus once -tackled in his office, ending in fisticuffs and police court -proceedings. - -On May 10th, 1883, a great match was arranged between Lord William -and Mr. Leopold de Rothschild: the former backing his Reputation -against the latter’s Brag. Archer rode for Lord William and Fordham -for Mr. Rothschild. The race was run at the Newmarket Spring meeting, -200 sovereigns a side T.Y.C. Matches were quite a fashionable feature -of the sport at this period and were generally arranged overnight and -a surprise addition to the day’s racing. - -The excitement was great over this race, many were interested in it, -amongst others the Prince of Wales, Sir J. Astley, Lord Hartington -(afterwards Duke of Devonshire) and many more. Crowds flocked to see -the race run and there was a good deal of money on it. The horses -ran close together most of the course, it was most thrilling, but -eventually Brag gained the advantage about a hundred yards from home, -winning cleverly by a neck. Perhaps for the benefit of those who -are not race-goers I ought to explain T.Y.C. means the two year old -course at Newmarket which is five furlongs and 140 yards. This course -was a long way from the stand; there were more winning-posts in those -days than there are now. It was customary for people to hack over to -the different places to see the finish. Brag had the advantage in -weight as Reputation had to give him 14lbs., which, in the opinion -of many people who were in a position to judge, was considered too -much to ask. Perhaps Lord William was not as experienced at that -time as he was later in that delicate game of matching: considerable -knowledge being necessary to bring it off successfully. - -A number of people will not forget that day easily, a good deal of -money changed hands over the race. - -It was in the Palace House at Newmarket, Lord William made this -Brag and Reputation match; where Mr. Leopold de Rothschild always -entertained both King Edward and our present King. It is an -unpretentious looking abode but very historic, and was the Newmarket -house of Charles II. - -The newly purchased horses arrived safely in India on July 30th, -1883. But now more bad luck attended poor Lord William, for while -riding at Cawnpore in the Gangees Cup he broke his collarbone, and -hardly had he recovered from this than, in a jumping Competition at -Simla, he dislocated his shoulder and was not able to enjoy the Dehra -Autumn meeting. - -When once a shoulder has been dislocated it forms a fondness for -the amusement and continues to do it with slight provocation. Lord -William says it happened once through sneezing! - -Though unable to attend the Dehra Meeting, his stable was -represented, an Australian named The Mute won the Trials, Action -won the Gimcrack Stakes and Johnnie the Hack race. Later at Meerut, -Lord William was well enough to ride, and on a horse purchased from -the circus proprietor, John Wilson, won the Maiden Chase. At Umballa -riding Johnnie he was triumphant in the Grand Military Steeplechase, -but got a toss in the Grand Annual when riding Jack the circus -horse, but he remounted and finished the race. On the last day of -the Umballa meeting he grew annoyed at the weight his horses had to -carry and refused to start any one of them, declaring he was sick of -racing, and meant to “give it up, and go in for Botany or Erotics.” - -In spite of this heroic resolve the following month he was riding at -Lahore. - -The Calcutta 1883-4 first cold weather meeting, Lord William had -a walk over for the Monsoon Welter Cup. At the second meeting -Syndicate won the Hooghly Plate, but had only one opponent. In -March, Diamond won the Corinthian Stakes, and Caspian the Sirhind -Plate. Lord William thought a good deal of an Arab they--he and his -partner--owned, named Reformer, and he sent it to England to run at -Newmarket in the Arab races, but the poor beast died in the Red Sea. - -In June, the first and second day’s racing at Simla saw Lord William -without a winning mount. - -Though Lord Ripon’s time was comparatively free from political -anxieties he had a number of guests to stay with him all to be amused -and catered for, this provided food for thought on the Military -Secretary’s part, who was ceaseless in his endeavours, but the hard -work of that and the constant strain of his racing engagements was -beginning to tell on Lord Bill, and he began to look as if a journey -home for a while would be good for him. - -Only those who understand racing know the amount of thought and -care it requires to be successful, even with luck in their favour. -To begin at the beginning, money is not made out of the stakes that -are won, expenses generally throw the balance into the wrong side, -therefore it is betting must do it, and we know Lord William did make -a good deal of money over his racing, but it was thanks to his own -cleverness. To be successful it must be studied as a business; there -are many elements to be taken into consideration and reckoned with, -it is really a vast study. Jockeys have to be chosen and retained. -Trainers found who give satisfaction and understand their work. Races -looked up to suit the horses in the stable, and horses bought to -suit the big-plum races all are keen on winning, and after all these -considerations how often things go awry. - -[Illustration: LORD RIPON, LADY RIPON AND STAFF - -_Left to right. Standing_: Lord Wm. Beresford and Ponto, Capt. -Charles Harbord (Lord Suffield), Capt. C. Burn, Dr. Anderson, Capt. -Muir, Capt. Leonard Gordon - -_Sitting_: Mr. Primrose, Lord Ripon, Lady Ripon, Capt. St. Quinten, -Capt. the Hon. H. Legge - -_On ground_: Capt. Roddy Owen, Capt. Rochfort] - -It is not reassuring to know that the moment a man takes up racing -his honour no longer remains in his own hands, for now he has to -take his trainer, his jockey, his syce, and his understudies into -consideration, not forgetting his horse. On the face of it, it seems -as if only a very philosophical person could bear the strain. - -When things go wrong it is usually put down to either the jockey’s -evil doing, or the owner’s sharp practice, while it by no means -follows that either is to blame. So many things, and so many people -have to be taken into consideration, the horse by no means the least; -for horses like human beings have their good and bad days, their -moods and tempers, but are unable to explain their feelings. Trainers -are likewise not infallible, inclined at times to think some of their -geese have grown into swans (in all good faith), forgetting other -people have a swan or two. - -Owners are obliged of necessity to rely a good deal on their -trainer’s judgment, but those who come off best are undoubtedly the -men who keep an eye on their horses, having opinions of their own and -able to carry their own tails. Against this there is the trainer who -will not express an opinion, which is vexation to owners wishing to -discuss their chances. - -Then again think of the anxiety attached to sending valuable horses -from place to place to fulfil their engagements; the serious question -of what race will be suitable to each horse, the difficulty of -deciding what and when to buy, what and when to sell, and judging -their public value. Buying race-horses is a different thing -altogether to choosing a hunter or a carriage horse. The temper of -the parents has to be thought of, and indeed traced back a good long -way, also whether any of the family are inclined to be musical. The -shape of horses’ feet is important, and so few people agree about -horses’ points, the wonder is any trainer and owner can be found to -agree. - -Lord William looked most carefully after the training of his own -horses, and this is no sinecure; they require constant watching. Some -have capricious appetites and have to be coaxed with dainties or they -will not eat enough, others do not thrive unless they eat grossly and -have to be exercised in proportion; here comes in the valuable gift -of being able to judge condition, many fail in this most critical -point. - -It was greatly owing to Lord William’s study of his horses’ -characters and temperaments that he was as successful as he was; he -knew (none better) that all cannot be treated alike, in sickness and -in health, as they say in the Marriage Service; he was also perfectly -aware of the uncertainty attached to all matters appertaining to -horse-racing. Horses as a rule do their utmost to meet the wishes of -their riders, but the training is a severe trial, and the tempers of -some give away under it. Their life seems to be one long persecution; -it is to be hoped their feeling of fitness makes up for all the fuss -and regulations. - -Logic is no doubt a good training for owners, leading them to sound -judgment, but horses are not given that way. - -One good point in Lord William’s training was he did not overtrain, -as a rule his horse had a reserve of staying power. - -It will be seen that his lordship had plenty to occupy him, in fact -considerably overworked himself habitually. Yet always cheerful and -comfortably optimistic, and it really requires the temper of an -angel to be able to manage horses, stablemen, jockeys, trainers and -racing authorities. When we bear in mind that this was Lord William’s -recreation, it enables us to form some idea of his busy life. - -The State functions which all had to be arranged by him were no -trifle, any mistakes or incompetence on the part of the Military -Secretary might lead to serious trouble and jealousies. The official -visits of the Rajahs to the Viceroy, our King’s representative -for the time being, requires a special knowledge, each having to -be received according to his rank. Some when coming to pay their -respects have to be fetched, as I have already stated, by the -Military Secretary, Under-Secretary of the Foreign Department, and -an A.D.C. A guard of honour has to await his arrival, much red cloth -spread, and a salute fired of as many guns as his rank entitles him, -and they keep a very sharp and watchful eye, carefully noting these -etiquettes, which are of staggering intricacy when receiving and -paying visits. It is also obligatory that the General commanding the -district should be in attendance with his A.D.C. Nothing must be left -to chance. All is prescribed in the official regulations. - -At the levees and drawing-rooms the Military Secretary reads the -names on the cards handed to him as each person presents himself -to bow or curtsey. Some of the foreign names are rather posers and -shocking mouthfuls. It requires some pluck to tackle them, and it is -surprising what offence is caused if any mistake is made. Supposing -Mrs. De Larpent Fitz-Jones-Ben-Maurice is presented, and the De is -left out or the Fitz-Jones perchance, many apologies and explanations -will have to be made. Besides these functions the viceregal stables -were looked after by the Military Secretary, the French cook Bonsard -and the English coachman with their native underlings to be kept up -to the mark, the ladies’ maids (who usually require so much more -waiting on than their mistresses) to be amused, and the servants -ready to carry them out in rickshaws or jampans, to eat the air, or -in some cases, riding, and I think no one was overlooked or forgotten. - -When on tour his lordship made out each day’s programme in advance, -something after this fashion: - - 8 a.m. The Rajah of ... will send his Sirdars to ask after - the health of the Viceroy. - - 9 a.m. His Excellency will eat his breakfast. - - 10 a.m. His Excellency will smoke and attend to his correspondence. - - 11 a.m. The Rajah will arrive, and the usual ceremonies take - place. - - 12.30. His Excellency will return the Rajah’s visit. - - 1.30. Their Excellencies will have luncheon. - - 2.30. Sports and tent-pegging arranged by the Rajah for - his Excellency’s amusement. - -and so on throughout the day. - -Imagine to yourself having to map out 365 days in this fashion and -please everybody! Truly a great man, and some of the big functions -I have been privileged to witness have sadly needed a Lord William -as stage manager; he would have greatly added to the dignity of the -shows and the persons taking part. - -The official society in Simla at this period was particularly bright -and happy. The Commander-in-Chief at Snowdon, Sir Donald Stewart, -with his kindly wife and family of cheery, happy young people; -the young men on the Viceroy’s staff, other dignitaries and their -belongings, all like one big family, meeting nearly every day; then -the crowd of visitors, officials from all over India on leave with -their wives, officers up on short leave with wives if they own one, -wives sent up for their health, while the husbands are kept working -on the plains (Lord William being sure to look after them), little -children with pale faces hoping to find some roses to take back to -daddy; Lord William kept an eye on them all, ready to sympathise and -help any he thought needing it. - -It was at Simla in Lord Ripon’s time I first met the Rajah of Kooch -Behar and the Maharanee. She had not long been married, was very shy -and rather fragile looking, and wore beautiful silken draperies I -remember. Her husband, the Rajah, was very popular with the English -community, and a great friend of Lord William’s. They had much in -common, as both were fond of racing, polo, and paperchasing, the -latter of course only in the plains and Calcutta. - -A few years ago I met the Maharanee again in London, and introduced -my son to her, she being no longer shy but with an assured and very -charming manner, speaking good English and dressed like the rest of -us. My son said how pleased he was to meet her, he had heard me speak -of her so often. She replied with a charming smile: - -“And now you meet me I hope you are not disappointed.” - -Latterly the Kooch Behars spent a good deal of time in England, where -everybody liked them. - -[Illustration: THE LATE MARQUESS OF RIPON, VICEROY OF INDIA] - -Lord Ripon’s reign was drawing to a close; he left India in November, -1884. More popular with the natives than any previous Viceroy, he was -also much liked by those who worked with him. He was very loyal to -them, but how glad he must have been to return to his own beautiful -home in England. The following farewell is supposed to have emanated -from his Excellency’s pen, it appeared in some local paper at the -time I believe, and was sent to me as a cutting. I therefore do not -know the name of the paper, so cannot ask its permission to quote it, -but feel sure it will have no objection. - - - LORD RIPON’S GOOD NIGHT - - Adieu! adieu! the land of palms - Fades o’er the waters blue; - The loafers yell, the planters roar, - And weeps the mild Hindu. - Apollo his own Bunder gilds, - As slow he sinks from sight: - Farewell to them and thee for aye, - Unhappy land--Good night! - - I leave thy shores to which I steered - With hopes that swelled my heart, - Their shadowy phantoms rise again - To greet me ere I part. - They came not through Sleep’s Ivory Gate, - As once they came, dream-born, - But whence the truer shades arise - From the twin Gate of Horn. - - They tell of many a purpose crossed, - Of disconcerted plan: - Of baffled aims that wisely chide - The imaginings of man: - Of fond desires, of fancied good, - As though could power constrain - All means to justest ends and bring - A golden age again. - - They tell of angry gathering crowds: - Of Faction’s hate-swayed throng: - Of wild words prompting wilder deeds, - Unstayed by heed of wrong; - The cruel taunt, the scornful jest, - The slander that belies, - The coward hiss that rose unshamed - Before a woman’s eyes. - - All save the last in other years - I braved this, this, was spared; - Though fiercer crowds had wreaked the worst - That bigot rage had dared. - I stood for what I deemed the right-- - Ye women-slayers say true! - Have cheeks that never paled for them, - Ere blanched for such as you? - - To win the fickle breath of praise, - No suppliant knee I bow, - And what once Duty pledged to grant, - No fear shall disavow. - I crave not at your hands for aught - But dues that fair lists owe, - And bear ye as ye will, ye meet - At least a gallant foe. - - Yet not alone of these the freight - Their parting message bears, - But auguries of harvest joys - For a seed-time of tears. - The reapers of the summer swathes - Know well that winter’s rain - Must spend its havoc on the soil, - Ere smiles the yellow grain. - - So time shall its own wreck repair, - And they who garner, then, - Forget not that the day’s long heats - Were borne by other men. - Yet not in vain the labour now, - Nor scant the meed unsued, - The richest guerdon toil can earn-- - A people’s gratitude. - - They bring the memories of friends - Who charm on exile shed: - Who lightened weary months of care, - And soothed the fevered bed: - Bold hearts that never failed my side, - In cloud or shine the same: - Still true in the fierce fight that raged - Round Ilbert’s fateful name. - - Come hither, come hither, my trusty Aide, - What turns thy cheek so pale? - What latest fair thou leav’st behind, - Believes thy oft-told tale? - If ’tis some fond delusion paints - Thy happiness at stake, - A heart that holds so many loves, - Fear not, will never break. - - And she for whom thou sighest now, - That fond and faithful she! - Already smiles on other Aides, - And thinks no more of thee. - A simple primrose is to her - But that and nothing more: - And thou wilt find some newer love - Before thou touchest shore. - - Another lord my palace treads, - My reign is past and o’er: - Of me thy shades have seen the last, - Rheumatic Barrackpore! - Let Simla’s typhoid-laden air - Another victim know, - And envy his ungrateful race - That wail in health below. - - Farewell to levees, pageants, routs, - To weeks of endless dinners; - To balls where I must lead the dance - With capering saints and sinners. - Farewell to Rajahs and Nabobs: - To fetid pan and attar, - To coming Russians in Herat - And Rent Bills in Calcutta. - - Farewell, Societies where meet - In concord, whites and blacks: - Associations that defend - What nobody attacks: - The long addresses that pursue - A Viceroy where he goes: - Farewell to Hunter’s bright romance - And Kimberley’s dull prose. - - Farewell to Budgets and Reports, - To critics in the press, - Who nightly weave Arabian tales - Of fiction, fact and guess: - To hourly fears lest Colvin’s glance - Of deficits should tell; - Riots, rupees, and zemindars! - To one and all farewell! - - And all the scathing paper wars - Where Secretaries fight - To prove how sharp the pens they wield, - How smartly they can write: - Official minutes, drafts and notes - And boxes that they fill, - To my successors I bequeath - With one unfinished Bill. - - With thee, my bark, I’ll swiftly speed - Athwart the ocean’s span, - Nor care what land thou bear’st me to, - So not to Hindustan. - Welcome, welcome, ye hastening waves - That homeward wing my flight! - Welcome the Franchise and the Lords. - Distracted land--Good night. - H. S. J. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - LORD DUFFERIN’S VICEROYALTY - - Lord Dufferin Succeeds Lord Ripon as Viceroy--Durbar at Rawal - Pindi to Meet the Amir of Afghanistan--A Few Annoyances--How - it All Ended--Some Presents--Outline of a Viceroy’s Tour--A - Nasty Fall--Sale of Confederacy Horses--“Father Time”--Parlour - Fireworks--A Ride to the Pyramids--Unostentatious Charity--Some - Impositions - - -The Earl of Dufferin succeeded the Marquis of Ripon in 1884. India -hoped great things of him, as he was a man thoroughly experienced in -dealing with delicate situations, having been Governor-General of the -Dominion of Canada, and Ambassador at St. Petersburg; he had also -from 1864 to 1866 been Under-Secretary of State for India. - -Lord Ripon’s zeal for the natives having created a strong and most -undesirable antagonism between the Europeans and natives, the new -Viceroy’s first endeavour was to restore confidence to the European -community without undue reaction, and he succeeded in a measure. - -Lord William remained in his old haunts, being appointed Military -Secretary to the new Viceroy; he also being experienced, all began -smoothly. In domestic politics Lord Dufferin carried out certain -reforms in the tenure of land in Bengal (Bengal Tenancy Act, -passed 1885), and Lady Dufferin started a great work with a view -to providing medical treatment and nursing for native women, of -which I will write later. In all these movements Lord William took -the keenest interest, and he was the oil which helped to keep the -machinery working smoothly. Somebody once said, “A landlord is -the father of his tenants,” then surely a good competent Military -Secretary who has been at his post some years is father, godfather -and nurse all rolled into one to the Viceroy. The private secretary, -Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, was also exceptionally capable and a -man of letters. - -Being so well supported must have been a comfort to Lord Dufferin -during the anxious time which followed his taking office, for there -was still that urgent and difficult question of the Afghan boundary -demanding attention. The hitherto sketchy and uncertain alignment -as arranged and agreed in the 1872-3 Anglo-Russian agreement left -loopholes for controversy, the River Oxus having been regarded as -the boundary or demarcation line. This river had views of its own, -altering its course to suit its own convenience, therefore could not -be relied upon as a satisfactory or definite boundary, but one likely -to lead to misunderstanding. The Russians were also a little pressing -with their influence in the direction of Herat. As we had been led to -look upon that place as “The Key of India,” we had to consider what -was best to be done to prevent its occupation by the Russians. It -may be remembered that Lord Dufferin considered almost any deviation -in the boundary better than offending the Amir and making him -antagonistic to us. - -The forts at Herat were not of much importance, but our prestige -would certainly suffer if we allowed anybody else to occupy the -place, and as India could not spare enough troops either to hold -Herat or even the line of communication between it and Candahar, -Lord Dufferin held much converse with the Government at home, the -Commander-in-Chief in India (Sir Donald Stewart) and the India Office -as to the best mode of procedure, the result of which was we prepared -to send about 25,000 men to Quetta via the Bolan Pass. The Amir -thought he would like to talk over the situation with the Viceroy, -and so it was agreed that the Afghan Chief should meet His Excellency -at Rawal Pindi. In consequence of this arrangement a huge camp was -formed, everything done and carried out on the most magnificent and -impressive scale, such as is beloved by Orientals, plenty of tinsel, -glitter and pomp. - -I have often thought the inhabitants of India, and Afghanistan too -for that matter, must think us very dowdy looking people compared -with their own codes, and indeed we do make a sorry show amongst -their gorgeous jewels, colour and trappings. Perhaps if we were to -appear at their big gatherings and on great occasions with more of -the “rings on our fingers and bells on our toes” that we used to -hear about in our nursery rhymes, we should inspire more admiration -and reverence. I am strongly under the impression that these -colour-loving people look for, and take the outward and visible sign, -as a precursor of the inward and spiritual grace. - -This Durbar at Pindi entailed most elaborate preparations and much -work on the Military Secretary. It really consisted of several -camps, one group for the native princes and chiefs, one for the -British Army, another for the native army, the viceregal camp, one -for the Lieut.-Governor, and various others, making an imposing array. - -Among the guests of the Viceroy were the Duke and Duchess of -Connaught, numerous Lieut.-Governors, Commander-in-Chief, also -members of Council. - -The comings and goings of all these good people, their comfort, the -necessary arrangement of precedence and etiquette was the work of the -Military Secretary, and required some thought and hard work to digest -and assimilate satisfactorily. The worry attached to the arranging -of a camp of this kind is enormous. Lord William did not appear the -least depressed, but quite as cheery and bright as usual, while being -extraordinarily efficient. Of course he had the A.D.C.’s under him, -whom no doubt he had chosen from his knowledge of their capabilities. -It is, however, easy to imagine the worries and anxieties attached to -the occasion. We all know how annoying it is when arranging functions -ourselves, to find at the last moment the _chef_ has been indulging -in something stronger than tea, which has made him quarrelsome, -preferring chasing the kitchen and vegetables maids rather than -attending to the dinner the expectant guests may be awaiting. - -Heaps of annoyances of all sorts and kinds were bound to happen. I -do not know what they all were, but I do know that after making the -most elaborate arrangements for everybody’s comfort, excellent food, -decorations, snowy white tablecloths, etc., the very day of the -Amir’s entry a heavy thunderstorm spoilt everything. The tenants of -the different camps had either to stay where they happened to be and -risk having no dinner, or wade through a swamp. The decorations were -ruined, the tablecloths draggled and limp, the water having poured -through the tents. Elaborate ceremonies under canvas are trying at -any time, but when in addition to natural difficulties everything is -under water, it is truly a hopeless and thankless task. - -Usually these domestic worries fall on the shoulders of women, and -are borne more or less patiently as part of their existence. For -a man to tackle such things and on such a glorified scale will, I -feel sure, take away the breath of those readers who have never seen -what an energetic, undauntable man like Lord William could master. -In a moment, so to speak, he had to reorganise everything. How was -he going to keep people dry, how prevent the rain from spoiling or -even washing away the presents all laid out ready for the Amir, the -diamond ornaments, gewgaws, and oh! horrible thought, the musical -boxes, suppose they refused to be musical in consequence of the wet? -Who could tell what crisis might arise, or whose head be cut off! As -a matter of fact and interest the Amir did bring his own executioner -with him in gorgeous garments, and carrying the emblem of his office, -a battle-axe and a few other suggestive little items, meant, no -doubt, to impress us. - -Before passing on to other matters, it may interest some of my -readers to know what in the Oriental world is considered “good form” -when receiving presents. On this occasion a sword studded with -diamonds round the hilt was presented on a cushion to the Amir, who -on taking it into his hand diplomatically exclaimed, “With this sword -I hope to smite any enemy of the British Government,” repeating his -lesson very nicely. This was quite as it should be, and the Amir had -been well advised, but when the rest of the presents, guns for his -son, musical boxes, watches and all sort of glittering things were -being spread out before him, he pretended not to see, or take the -smallest interest in this part of the show; but as soon as he was -alone with his followers, all were examined carefully, and he was -very pleased. - -When the time arrived for the giving of presents it was understood -the object of the meeting had been obtained, all points carefully -discussed between the Viceroy and the Amir, the latter having -formed clearer views of what was to his own interests (and ours -incidentally); that we were prepared to fight his enemies, assist him -with arms and money, and with him pay attention to the fortification -of Herat, and if he followed our advice we were going to help him to -keep Russia away from his doors. - -The great Durbar was over, and beyond the torrents of rain nothing -much had gone amiss, the elephants told off to take part in the state -procession did not refuse to “process,” the musical boxes did not -refuse to play, and all went well. - -[Illustration: LORD DUFFERIN, FAMILY AND STAFF - -_Left to right. Standing_: Capt. Leonard Gordon, Hon. C. Lawrence, -Capt. Onslow, Col. Harry Cooper, Capt. A. Balfour, Lord Herbrand -Russell, Mr. Goad, D. Findley - -_Sitting_: Col. G. F. Graham, Lady Helen Blackwood, Lord Wm. -Beresford, Miss Thynne, Lord Dufferin, Lady Dufferin, Sir Donald -Mackenzie Wallace - -_On ground_: Capt. C. Burn, Capt. Honble. C. Harbord] - -Then followed the arranging for the return of all the participators -in this pageant. Happily the Amir considered rain a good omen, and -as it rained when he arrived, also when he took his departure, he -must have felt he was in luck’s way. - -Lord William, Captain Harbord, Mr. Durand, and other high officials -drove from the Viceroy’s camp to the Amir’s, preparatory to the final -adieu and to inform him of the arrest of Ayab Khan, thereby easing -his mind, also the tidings that Her Majesty the Queen-Empress had -conferred on him the decoration of the Grand Cross of the Star of -India. - -The Amir left in the Viceroy’s carriage accompanied by these officers -_en route_ for the station with a cavalry escort and body-guard -of the King’s Dragoon Guards. The route was lined with troops who -presented arms every fifty yards. Then a pleasing little speech from -the Amir, and he was on his way back to Kabul. - -Lord William had time again now to breathe freely after his hard -work, and carried back to India and eventually to his home in England -various souvenirs he treasured, presented to him by some of those -attending the Durbar as a small appreciation of his untiring efforts -for their comfort and pleasure. - -Besides the brain work this gathering necessitated the writing it had -entailed was enormous. I append a programme drawn up by the Military -Secretary for Lord Dufferin’s tour from Simla to Calcutta in 1885, -which gives some faint insight into the Military Secretary’s work -every day. Also into that of the Viceroy, for at each place mentioned -in the programme there were numerous people to be interviewed, -some with grievances to be redressed, or petitions of sorts for -the consideration of his Excellency. The landowners look forward -to these visits as they give them an opportunity of personally -explaining their views to their ruler. In addition to all this there -are all the local celebrities to be met and have polite nothings said -to them, the arranging of which takes some writing, some tact and -some talking. It all passes more or less through the hands of the -Military Secretary before being placed in the hands of the Viceroy. - -Think what the Durbar entailed! - - _Memo. of Dates of His Excellency the Viceroy’s route from Simla - to Calcutta, via Nahun, Dehra, Saharunpore, Delhi, Ulwar, Ajmere, - Oodeypore, Indore, Jodhpore, Jeypore, Bhurtpore, Agra, Lucknow, - Cawnpore, and Benares._ - - 1885 DAY STATION REMARKS - - Oct. 20 Tuesday Simla Leave 8.30 a.m. by tonga. - - Dugshai Arrive 1.30 p.m. Lunch. - Leave 3 p.m. Ride on to - Nyna, 9 miles. - - Nyna Viceroy’s Camp; arrive 5.30 - p.m. - - ” 21 Wednesday Nyna to Suran Viceroy’s Camp, 13 miles. - - ” 22 Thursday Suran to Viceroy’s Camp, 13 miles. - Bonytee - - ” 23 Friday Bonytee to Viceroy’s Camp, 12 miles. - Nahun - - ” 24 Saturday Nahun Viceroy’s Camp. - - ” 25 Sunday Nahun to Viceroy’s Camp by tonga. - Majra - - ” 26 Monday Majra Viceroy’s Camp. Shoot. - - ” 27 Tuesday Majra to Viceroy’s Camp. Shoot on - Dehra Dun road. By tonga. - - ” 28 Wednesday Dehra Dun to Inspect remounts, stables, - Sharunpore and gardens in the afternoon. - - ” 29 Thursday Delhi Arrive 9 a.m. by special - train. - - ” 30 Friday Delhi Levee 9 p.m. - - ” 31 Saturday Delhi - - Nov. 1 Sunday Delhi - - ” 2 Monday Delhi Leave 11 p.m. by special - train. - - ” 3 Tuesday Ulwar Arrive 9 a.m. - - ” 4 Wednesday Ulwar Shoot. - - ” 5 Thursday Ulwar to Leave 10 a.m.; arrive 6 p.m. - Ajmere by special train. - - ” 6 Friday Ajmere Levee 9 p.m. - - ” 7 Saturday Ajmere Open College; leave 9 p.m. - by special train to Nimbehera. - - ” 8 Sunday Oodeypore Arrive 6 p.m.; 6 miles by - road. - - ” 9 Monday Oodeypore - - ” 10 Tuesday Oodeypore - - ” 11 Wednesday Oodeypore Leave 9 a.m. by road to Nimbehera. - - ” 12 Thursday Indore Arrive 9 a.m. by special train. - - ” 13 Friday Indore - - ” 14 Saturday Indore Leave 2.30 p.m. - - ” 15 Sunday Jodhpore Arrive 6 p.m. by special train. - - ” 16 Monday Jodhpore Shoot. - - ” 17 Tuesday Jodhpore Shoot. - - ” 18 Wednesday Jodhpore Leave 9 p.m. - - ” 19 Thursday Jeypore Arrive 10 a.m. - - ” 20 Friday Jeypore - - ” 21 Saturday Jeypore - - ” 22 Sunday Jeypore to Leave 10 a.m.; arrive 4.30 - Bhurtpore p.m. - - ” 23 Monday Bhurtpore Shoot; leave 3 p.m. - - ” 24 Tuesday Bhurtpore to Viceroy’s Camp. By special - Agra train; arrive 5 p.m. - - ” 25 Wednesday Agra Levee 9 p.m. - - ” 26 Thursday Agra Levee 9 p.m. - - ” 27 Friday Agra Levee. - - ” 28 Saturday Agra Levee. - - ” 29 Sunday Agra Levee. - - ” 30 Monday Agra Levee. - - Dec. 1 Tuesday Agra Levee. - - ” 2 Wednesday Agra to Leave 9 a.m. - Gwalior - - Dec. 3 Thursday Gwalior to Arrive 4.30 p.m.; leave 11 - Dholepore p.m. - - ” 4 Friday Lucknow Arrive 9 a.m. - - ” 5 Saturday Lucknow - - ” 6 Sunday Lucknow - - ” 7 Monday Lucknow to Arrive 1.30 p.m. - Cawnpore - - ” 8 Tuesday Cawnpore Leave 11 p.m. - - ” 9 Wednesday Benares Arrive 9 a.m. - - ” 10 Thursday Benares - - ” 11 Friday Benares to Leave 11 p.m. - Calcutta - - ” 12 Saturday Calcutta Arrive 9 p.m. - - MILITARY SECRETARY’S OFFICE, SIMLA. - _September 14th, 1885._ - -All this time while Lord William was attending to his duties, his -horses were running in different races, but he was not very lucky, -the 1884-5 Calcutta Meeting was disastrous, one horse after another -going wrong, and Prospero put his lordship’s shoulder out again by -falling with him, in spite of which, swathed in bandages, he rode on -the second day a very good race on the same animal, it being one of -the best races he ever rode, though he did not win. - -Calcutta now had a new grand stand, and the races were run in the -afternoon instead of the morning, which was a popular innovation. At -the Second Calcutta Meeting, Ryder, Lord William’s jockey, also had a -nasty fall when riding Euphrates, the grand one-eyed Arab belonging -to John Wheal, termed by Mr. Abbott the Father of Indian Trainers, -who describing the race says: “Just opposite the Stand, on the other -side of the course, Euphrates, being on his blind side and on the -extreme inside, perhaps shying from the rush of heels behind him, ran -bang into the rails, not only crushing and breaking Ryder’s leg but -continuing to press inwards till the woodwork gave way and Ryder from -sheer weakness fell off, and Euphrates continuing his mad career must -have dashed against a post, for, when caught, it was found he had -knocked his only remaining eye out.” - -On the 28th of January Lord William had another nasty fall, his horse -Jack not rising properly at the first fence, throwing his rider on to -his face. Friends who were near pulled him out of the way before he -got trodden on. He was unconscious and badly cut about the head and -nose, having to be carried back to Government House and put to bed, -though the moment he regained consciousness he wanted to go back to -the races. - -Shortly after this accident Lord William went home on leave, and -badly he wanted the change and rest, for he was showing signs of -overwork, his many accidents had shaken him almost more than he -was aware of; but before leaving India the Durbangah-Beresford -Confederacy horses were put up for sale on the 28th of February -at Messrs. Brown & Co.’s Mart in Calcutta. Very fair prices were -realised as will be seen from the following list: - - Reputation bought by Mr. Hard 1,800 - - Father Prout ” Dr. Hart 700 - - Little Charlie ” Mr. Hard 6,000 - - King of the Vale ” Major Deane 2,500 - - Bassanio ” Mr. Macklin 5,700 - - Zephyr ” Dr. Hart 3,000 - - Glory ” Major Deane 2,000 - - Manfred ” Major Deane 2,500 - - Lapella ” Mr. Croft 1,500 - - Bolieo ” Captain Gordon 3,700 - - Jack ” Dr. Hart 2,500 - - Diamond ” Captain Webb 750 - - Prospero ” Captain Burn 1,000 - - Torpedo ” H. H. Kooch Behar 700 - - Quack ” H. H. Kooch Behar 450 - - Pretender ” Major Deane 1,200 - - Cinder ” -- 1,800 - - Atarin ” -- 1,400 - - Khartoum ” -- 1,200 - - Fariz ” Captain Gordon 650 - - Snuff ” Dr. Hart 900 - -One or two of the best were bought by Mr. Hard for one or other -of the partners of the Confederacy, Reputation and Little Charlie -amongst them. Bassanio, the Australian, who fetched 5,700 rupees, was -bought back in March by Lord William. The Government bought several -for the Stud Department, and a little later purchased good old Jack -from Dr. Hart and sent him as a present to the Amir of Kabul for stud -purposes. Prospero was back again in the stable, and a week or two -before Lord William started for home won the Grand Annual at Meerut, -also the Hurdle Race, and Dynamite a handicap of sorts. - -In April Lord Bill started for home. India felt lonely when he had -gone, especially amongst some of his fair friends. With women absence -often makes the heart grow fonder, but with men it is proximity that -plays the mischief, and Lord William I am afraid forgot to be sad -over the partings, for he found so many more fair friends in the Old -Country anxious to greet him and be kind. - -There was no doubt about it he was beginning to age, to realise how -quickly we drop into middle age. It all comes about so imperceptibly, -perhaps a few grey hairs first awaken us to the change, it suddenly -dawns upon us, time is not standing still, that we have reached the -top of the hill that looked so long and unending, and now behold we -are slipping down the other side, and where are all the lovely views -we expected to find on reaching the top of the hill? Surely they must -have been mirage! It is a curious fact that you may look at yourself -in the glass many times a day but until something happens to force -the fact of a change on you the only image you behold in the mirror -is yourself in _youth_. Even after elasticity has left us, it still -does not dawn upon us we are--of the past. Perhaps nothing brings it -home to us more quickly than meeting some friend of our youth and -finding he has grown ponderous, lost the sparkle, hair grown grey, -eyes dim, and possibly a corporation, this makes us turn an anxious -eye on ourselves to see if similar changes have taken place. - -Lord William never lost his sparkle or his pluck and he never sported -a corporation, but the unceasing energy of his life was telling on -him. It was quite useless begging him to take things more easily -for it was not possible to him. How he did enjoy a joke! I think it -was in 1885 when he was home on this leave that he went with me to -Rose’s toyshop in Sloane Street to find some toy to amuse a small -boy of mine that was delicate. While we were wandering round the -shop a friend came and spoke to me, so Lord William continued his -prowl, looking for likely things. When at liberty once more I found -him with a neat parcel in one hand, and he exclaimed, “I have the -very thing.” “What?” I asked. “Oh, come along, and I will explain -it to you,” so we marched out. I was then told the parcel contained -“Parlour Fireworks.” I suggested they were rather dangerous things, -but the idea was pooh-poohed. They were only pretty coloured lights -that threw up harmless sprays of blue, green and red powdery flame. -One of them he lit in the drawing-room fender to show me how harmless -they were. It seemed all right, so as soon as he had gone and it was -growing dark the small boy, myself and nurses proceeded on to the -flat roof of the house we were then renting in Park Lane, in the -narrow end near Gloucester House, where we felt well protected by the -Duke of Cambridge’s policeman always stationed at his door. The first -few Roman candles we lit were a success and caused great delight, -then I found a queer little box with rules where to light it. I -faithfully followed all the instructions. At first nothing happened, -then suddenly the air was alive with rifle-like reports in rapid -succession, while live squibs, things I believe called crackers, -were flying about cracking in every direction all over the tops of -the houses. What a commotion there was! The policeman ran in every -direction at once and blew his whistle, the jaded sleeping horse in -the laundry van at our area railings suddenly awoke, curled its tail -over its back pug-dog fashion, and set off for all it was worth, -leaving the man in charge, still in the kitchen, probably enjoying -good things. Everybody in the neighbourhood shouted, while we all -scrambled helter-skelter down the narrow staircase leading from -the roof, and on which housemaids had left various pails to dry and -air. These in our haste to descend and hide our heads, we charged, -hurtling them down the stairs in front of us, making a horrible -clatter. - -Arrived at last in our rooms again, we all pretended to be dead while -the policeman came to enquire if we had heard anything, and did we -know anything about it? Our old housekeeper, who had been with us -many years and who was in the secret, faced the policeman, fearing -we might be given away by some indiscreet statements from the other -servants. She, of course, was very indignant that peaceable people -should be liable to such disturbance and hoped the policeman would -make a point of finding out about it, saying: “Really nobody is safe -from bombs and Jack-the-Rippers nowadays.” The policeman promised -to do his best. The following day the morning paper mentioned a -mysterious affair that had occurred in Park Lane, and it was supposed -an attempt had been made to blow up Gloucester House! - -Thinking the matter over after all was calm again and the laundry -man had gone in search of his horse and van I began to wonder how -much of this had been design on the part of Lord William, for it was -a Jack-in-the-Box that exploded making such a noise, harmless in -itself but productive of rather an upheaval. When I told him what had -happened I thought he would never stop laughing. - -I had lately returned from Egypt where I had been staying with -friends who one evening got up a picnic at the Pyramids to which -we were all to ride on donkeys. I was told by that dear good fellow -Gerry Portal, I think, but it is so long ago I am not sure, that -the best donkey in the place had been secured for me, it was a -great gymkhana winner, pure white, and boasted the name of Lord -Charles Beresford. So I rode Lord Charles Beresford to the Pyramids. -Everything was being called Lord Charles or Lord Charles Beresford at -that time, his name was on everybody’s lips, for he was and had been -doing great things in Egypt, and it was considered a great honour for -anyone or anything to be called Charlie. - -I seem to have been recounting many stories of Lord William’s fun -and humour, but none of his thousands of kindly deeds, which were -strewn throughout his life as thickly as blackberries in September. -It is difficult to know where to begin, but I like to think that -when the day came for him to cross the border the spirits of some -of those he had saved from despair, whom he had helped not once but -many times, were waiting to greet and welcome him. I do not think -anyone who went to him for help or sympathy was ever “rebuffed.” At -times he certainly was imposed on, though he would not believe it, -and even when it came home to roost, as it occasionally did, he was -most forgiving. One individual in particular I remember in India. He -had been in a good cavalry regiment, but got into trouble at one of -the Umballa Race Meetings I have already described when there was -heavy plunging, trying to recover himself and place his finances on -a firm footing again, he only slipped further into the mire, until -in a hopeless mess; he then, to make matters worse, outstayed his -leave, and was turned out of the service. This man was well known -throughout India, and was an extraordinary character, blessed with -good looks, a fine figure and physique, a charming tenor voice, it -seemed there was much to be thankful for. Lord William thought if -once this man was put on his legs again, given a fresh start, he -might pull himself together and be more lucky; he therefore paid -up for him, and befriended him in every way. This friend, whom we -will call Captain X., now devoted his life to racing in India, and -he became a formidable opponent, as he had good hands and judgment, -and I doubt if there was a racecourse in India that had not made his -acquaintance. It was not long before he was in trouble again; once -more Lord William and Lord Airlie came to the rescue, meeting with -gross ingratitude, for the man could not be straight, he failed and -robbed his benefactors at every turn. Lord William was only full of -pity that such a talented, fine chap should go hopelessly wrong. -Captain X. was very good company, a very fast runner and a strong -swimmer; all this appealed to Lord Bill, who tried his hardest to -save him, but it was no use. I have been told eventually he helped -the man to go away to another country and try again. - -Lord William always said his sympathies were with the sinners, but I -think they were with everybody in every station of life. - -Riding through Cantonments one day he met a soldier’s wife carrying -a heavy child who was looking ill. He asked why she carried it, and -on hearing it was ill and she could not drag it along after her, and -the air was good for it, he expressed his sorrow for its ill-health, -spoke a few cheering words, and rode on. That evening a perambulator -arrived from an anonymous donor at the door of the sick child’s -mother. - -More times than I can number have boys fresh out from home been -saved from making “asses of themselves,” as Lord William expressed -it, by his counsel and help. A youth I knew came out to join a crack -regiment. He had more money than was good for him, and fancied -himself not a little. His mother wrote asking me to be kind to -him. I endeavoured to mother him, but he was so certain he knew -everything and was a fine fellow going to show everybody the way, -it was difficult to guide or help him. He began racing and betting. -Naturally there were older hands at that game than himself, and he -got into trouble. At last, when he had come to the end of all his -resources, he came to me, but as he was then heavily involved with a -native money-lender, I felt it was beyond my powers, and asked if I -might consult a friend if I mentioned no names. This I was permitted -to do, and sought Lord William’s help. He told me not to trouble -about it at all, but send the lad to him. After some discussion -he rather ungraciously accepted Lord William’s offer, and went to -see him. Happily this turned out better than the other case I have -mentioned, for the boy came back radiant, to tell me Lord William was -going to settle with the money-lender and put him straight, and when -he came into his uncle’s property, which was bound to fall to him -before very long, he was going to put it all right with Lord William, -but as he had no power to anticipate the money he could only give his -word of honour about it. - -I wonder if there was anybody but Lord William who would have done -this. When in the evening I met my old friend and thanked him for -helping the lad with such uncertain security, he replied, “Oh, I -never expect to see it again, but he’s a nice boy and has promised -to come to me for tips before plunging again.” It rejoices me to -be able to say all _was_ paid back and Lord William had a faithful -and devoted friend as long as the poor lad lived. He died of heart -failure on a P. & O. going home on leave. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - DEAR LONDON AGAIN - - The Man Who Thought He Was King--A Dance After Dinner--How It - Ended--Corney Grain in Disgrace on the Door-mat--Racing--Trouble - in Burmah--Lord Dufferin and Lord William Go There--Collecting the - Offertory in Church--Some Schemes of Interest - - -Those few months of leave in 1885 picked Lord William up wonderfully, -and he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the time after his nine -years of India, a big slice out of the prime of a man’s life, but -he had the satisfaction of feeling he had faced the music, so to -speak, by beginning his life afresh, yet returning after nine years -comfortably off, and holding a high position of great responsibility, -thanks to nobody but himself. Viceroys came and went, but Lord -William Beresford remained, year in and year out, becoming the -cornerstone of the social fabric of India, and ruling its society -with an iron hand, though very much gloved in velvet. - -I remember comparing notes with him as to what we looked forward -to most on returning to England after a spell abroad. He said he -“yearned for Curraghmore and Piccadilly, and after that devilled sole -and brown bread and butter!” - -Most people will, I think, sympathise with Lord William in his -longing for dear feverish London. She casts a spell over us all, -and when we are exiles the remembrance of her brings on more fits of -home-sickness than almost anything else, visions of Piccadilly come -back to us as we remember her perhaps in the still early morning, -when returning from balls and parties, the streets deserted by all -save a few market carts filled with cabbages and other garden produce -on the way to Covent Garden Market, a few lonesome souls sleeping -on benches between the policeman’s “move on” visits; or perhaps the -visions that come back to us are the evenings when the hurrying mass -of people, the cabs and carriages were all shrouded in the blue-grey -misty haze peculiar to London at night. We remember how we used to -speculate on where they were all hurrying to, and fit histories to -them, all so bent on tasting and testing life, often regardless -of consequences. Each individual wearing that self-absorbed -mind-your-own-business air, that is one of the fascinations of a -great city. - -Lord William said he felt “beside” himself with joy when he again -beheld the buses and heard the newspaper boys, and then “The Eton -Boating Song,” so wrought with memories, played on a street organ -filled him with an ecstasy of joy and sadness. He heard again the -splash of the oars, saw again the pals of those old days whose names -were at one time on everybody’s lips, now only little black splashes -of ink on white paper. - -I wonder if any of my readers remember the fine old man who used to -sit in the Row during the summer of 1885 fancying himself king; the -way he used to swagger up as if all the world belonged to him, his -servant walking immediately behind him watching for the imperious -wave of his master’s hand, which, being interpreted, meant he -wished to sit down. Two chairs were then hastily arranged, on one -of which he sat down with a good deal of action, the other proudly -supported his legs. This arrangement took up a good deal of room -where people were walking up and down, but nobody interfered with -this aristocratic-looking, well dressed and groomed old man, with his -large flowing moustache and huge button-hole, consisting one day of a -sunflower, another a peony, or something equally remarkable. The old -gentleman used to talk a good deal to himself about the bad manners -and ingratitude of his subjects who passed up and down without bowing -to him. We often wondered who he was. One day Lord William found -out from a policeman on duty in the park. An accident had upset the -equilibrium of the old sportsman’s brain, but he was quite harmless -and nobody objected to him, so he was allowed to remain. As our bad -manners and ingratitude caused him so much uneasiness, Lord William -suggested we should muster strong one day and march past in couples, -bowing deeply. We felt a little nervous as to what might happen, but -acquiesced, and we all marched past bowing and smiling, being amply -repaid for our courage by the evident pleasure of the king, who -took off his hat with a graceful flourish to us and presented the -sunflower out of his button-hole to one of the girls of our party. - -Memories of those days come tumbling over one another with such -rapidity it is hard to know where to stop, the pleasure is so great -in recalling them. - -One evening I remember well, during that same leave (I think) of -Lord William’s, he was dining with us, and after dinner somebody -said would I play some dance music as they wanted to dance, so we -adjourned to the dining-room and had it cleared at one end. After -dancing awhile, the men began American cock-fighting. There were some -fierce encounters and amusing scenes. I was still sitting by the -old cottage piano which stood in a corner of the room, when one of -the combatants, breathless from a contest with Lord Bill, came and -leaned against the piano whilst drinking a whisky and soda. Somehow -accidentally the greater part of the whisky and soda got upset down -into the vitals of the piano, the top being open at the time. - -Poor old piano, it is going still, but the shock to its nervous -system was so great it every now and then has the sulks for a time, -until coaxed by a tuner into fresh efforts. - -At the party to which I am referring, I remember the men with us were -Corney Grain, Gerry Portal, Jim Lowther, Lord Hay of Kinfauns, and -my young brother, as well as Lord William. Those who knew the men -will guess what the evening was like. I was afraid we should disturb -the neighbourhood with our laughter over an impromptu that Corney -Grain gave us at the partially intoxicated piano of his experiences -at the houses of some of his patrons where he had been engaged to -amuse the guests. No names were mentioned, but so excellent was his -mimicry that we at once recognised a number of people. Having been -cheered and heavily patted on the back he proceeded to give us a -musical sketch of a certain V.C. hero on board ship making love to -a shy young lady. Lord Bill was much tickled and so were we. It was -screamingly funny, and with our eyes shut we could have imagined it -was Lord William speaking, or perhaps I should say cooing. - -This was followed by another sketch, this time Gerry Portal supposed -to be bamboozling some foreign potentate into believing we, the -British, were doing everything for his good, from pure unadulterated -philanthropy, while really benefiting ourselves. This was considered -too much, and brought the house down. They all set upon Mr. Grain, -who, I had better explain for those who never saw him, was a huge -man both in height and figure. He clung desperately on to the -music-stool with his legs and the piano with his hands, until the -piano, music-stool, and Mr. Grain began to move together first in one -direction and then another. Lord William tried to get his arms round -Mr. Grain’s rather voluminous waistcoat, and Mr. Gerry Portal tried -to untwiddle his legs from the music-stool. Jim Lowther seized the -tea-cosy from the sideboard and clapped it over the musician’s head. -This led to one hand relinquishing its grip on the side of the piano -to remove the head-dress, a weak moment on Mr. Grain’s part, for he -got separated from the instrument and dragged half across the room -when crack went the long-suffering music-stool, and he was on the -floor. My brother held the door open while the rest tried to eject -the man who dared to be ribald about Mr. Portal’s foreign policy, -but each time when it was nearly accomplished out flew a huge and -long leg slamming the door to again. At last, when all were hot and -exhausted, Mr. Grain was laid unresisting on the front-door mat. - -We received many apologies next day from our guests for being -so uproarious, and Lord Bill wished to provide a new piano and -music-stool, but of course we would not hear of it. I never mean to -part with that piano, even when it gives up the ghost, for it has -witnessed many cheery parties, and has been with me long voyages -north, south, east and west. - -In addition to all this froth and frolic Lord Bill had been doing -some useful business in the way of buying race-horses for himself -and his friends. He had also engaged the lightweight jockey named -Dunn, who arrived in India about the same time as his lordship -returned, ready for the October meeting at Umballa. While at home he -had purchased and sent out two or three horses and a pony for Indian -racing, amongst them, Metal, in hopes of carrying off some prizes at -Calcutta. The horse came from the Duke of Westminster’s stable, but -had disappointed his owner in the Goodwood Cup, Baron Hirsch’s horse -just beating him. What a cheery meeting it was, the 9th Lancers being -there under orders for home. They marched out of the station on the -last day of the races, the whole of the white population turning out -to give them a hearty send-off. - -A great number of racing men collected there, combining their wish to -see the 9th Lancers off for home and see some racing. All were in -great form, and the fun was tremendous. - -Lord William’s valuable Prospero won three races for his owner. -Dynamite and Oliver Twist also won a race each. - -A rising Armenian barrister in Calcutta was also present, having -conceived a passion for racing and started a stable for the purpose. - -In the club at Umballa on settling day a sporting match was arranged -between this barrister named Mr. Gasper and Lord Bill, the suggestion -coming from the former. The match was for 2000 rupees a side, P.P., -each horse to carry not less than 8 stone 4 lbs., distance ¾ mile. -Horses to be named by 1 o’clock the day before the race, which was -to be run the last day of the first Calcutta meeting, horse to be -nominated by Lord William Beresford must be his property or the -property of H.H. the Maharajah of Durbangah. - -Lord William hoped to win this on one of his new purchases named -Metal, but when the day arrived the horse was ill with colic so Mr. -Gasper’s Regulater walked over. - -Great things were expected of Metal, and as the Maharajah of -Durbangah was very anxious to win the Viceroy’s Cup Lord William -sold the horse to him just before the race, and His Highness had the -pleasure of seeing his colours carried first past the post. - -Tim Whiffler, who had been bought at the same time as Metal, had so -far not done anything worthy of record or the pay for his keep, and -at Tollygunge, running for the Ballygunge Cup, he went head over -heels at the first hurdle, rolling on his rider. This was an unlucky -race for most of the riders, as every horse fell except the winner, -Mr. Charles Moore’s Prospect. The second day Tim Whiffler won a race -after another fall. - -At the second Calcutta meeting in January, Metal won the Kooch Behar -Cup after a good race with Sir Greville, belonging, I believe, to -Major Prior. - -Trouble had been brewing in Burmah for some time, and Lord Dufferin -decided he would go and see for himself if things were working -satisfactorily. The British resident had been withdrawn owing to -King Thebaw (chiefly at the instigation of his unprincipled wife) -having massacred all the men-kind of the Royal Family with a view -to ensuring the stability of his throne. Commercial relations were -however maintained, and whispers reached Lord Dufferin of some sort -of treaty having been signed between the Burmese and the French, -by which the valuable ruby mines with other perquisites which in -parliamentary language would be termed accessories, had been leased -to a French trading company. - -All this pointed to trouble in the future, especially as King Thebaw -was known to have expressed himself of the amiable intention of -driving “the white devils into the sea,” also it would not be wise to -allow British trades to be excluded. This was politely but forcibly -pointed out to the King, who was evasive and unsatisfactory. The -Secretary of State then gave instructions for an immediate advance -on Mandalay. King Thebaw begged for time, but was told nothing but -instant submission would be considered, under which circumstances -he would be spared and treated properly. He was only allowed a few -minutes in which to make up his mind, and it was thanks to this -promptness and decided policy of ours that the campaign came to a -satisfactory conclusion so quickly and with so little loss of life. -But we were not quite out of the wood as China was asking pertinent -questions about our future policy; but all was explained and approved -in a short time, and a convention signed giving England a free hand -in Burmah. In consequence of all this Lord Dufferin started on -February 3rd, 1886, to see for himself what was happening. Burmah -lying directly on the east of Bengal with a population of four -millions, it was regarded as a frontier over which we should keep a -jealous eye and some control. Besides, he was anxious that commercial -relations should be established with Thibet. Lord William as Military -Secretary was in attendance on His Excellency, receiving the medal -and clasp, being mentioned in despatches, and promoted to Brevet -Lieut.-Colonel. Speaking of the Burmese ladies he said they were most -enlightened and independent people, choosing their own husbands and -divorcing them also if they wished to do so. - -The Viceroy was anxious to have our army considerably increased -in India. In Lord Ripon’s time the native army had been reduced, -but Lord Dufferin thought owing to changed circumstances a fresh -arrangement should be made, and that we should be in a position to -launch a strong force of both British and native troops on short -notice against any neighbour whose conduct was suspicious and -unsatisfactory. He also felt it would be better for the country -itself, but all he could get from the Government was an extra 11,000 -men. Both Lord Dufferin and the Commander-in-Chief were against the -short service system for India, thinking both from the point of -utility and economy longer service would be better. - -The work of the India Office filtered more or less through the hands -of the Military Secretary; he therefore was well posted in all these -questions under consideration and discussion. - -Especially was he interested in Lord Roberts’ scheme for doing -away with the old army canteen, for it was he who inaugurated “The -Institute,” where not only could the men get their beer, but food as -well; they could sit down comfortably and write letters, play games -and read the papers. Places of this sort had been a long-felt want, -and they have been great successes and certainly conducive to less -drunkenness. - -During Lord Dufferin’s time several important steps were taken in -the way of military reform, as he expressed himself plainly on the -difficulties of military administration under dual control, for -while the organisation and commissariat were worked by the superior -Government at home, the discipline, training, equipment, and matters -of that sort were ruled by the Commander-in-Chief. - -Neither were the native troops forgotten, for now in commemoration -of the Queen’s Jubilee they received medals for good conduct and any -special services, also gratuities in much the same way as the English -soldiers. - -Lord William, and indeed most of the thinking community in India at -this time were anxious as to the result of the higher education of -the natives, who, though finding their feet, were not yet able to use -them. He felt the education ought to benefit both them and us, but -would it? - -I have often doubted whether some, even of Lord William’s more -intimate friends, fully recognised the more serious side of his -character. The world is ever prone to think that brilliancy excludes -wisdom, and gaiety is the enemy of common sense. As a matter of -fact there was a world of deep feeling and strength of character -underlying Lord William’s light-hearted manner. - -At a big dinner party at Government House, Bombay, I remember -hearing a number of people discussing Lord William, his career, -racing successes, deeds of daring, etc., when someone asked the -rather unexpected question, “What is his religion?” The then -Commander-in-Chief replied, “I don’t believe he’s got one.” This was -surprising coming from a man who was both officially and socially -in almost daily association with him, proving what I have so often -thought that the faces of those around us, even those of our nearest -and dearest, may be photographed on our brains, while yet we know -little of their minds and hearts; they are sealed books to us. - -Lord William’s religious feeling was profound, though his views -were not altogether orthodox, but there are some dogmatic doubts -while leading us away from the altar bring us nearer to the Throne. -Aristippus tells us “Good cheer is no hindrance to a good life.” His -lordship agreed with this founder of Hedonistic philosophy, but I -doubt if he had been asked to put down in black and white what his -religious convictions were, whether he could have clearly defined -them, any more than a great number of people could. It would be good -for us all if we had to put our faiths and beliefs into writing, but -what confused and contradictory statements they would make, and how -annoyed we should be if anybody dared to say so to us. Faith and -reason unfortunately will not walk kindly hand in hand, and Lord -William felt that amid the latter-day clash of theories, new fields -of thought were being opened to us, thoroughly recognising how some -of the old moth-eaten shibboleths, we have so often repeated, have -prevented us forming unbiased judgments. He maintained that ancient -religions had no creeds but were fed and brought up, so to speak, on -institutions and facts. Faith is not peculiar to Christianity, it -is the ordinary characteristic of the highly developed religions. -Lord Bill always said he felt it was possible to be a good Christian -without being a theologian. I think “good Christian” exactly -describes Lord Bill, yet how hard it is to define a good Christian -when ideals among Christians differ so greatly in different countries -and ages. St. Ethelreda was canonised for never washing; this was -not Lord Bill’s Christianity, though I have known some people who -certainly qualified, but as far as I know, have as yet, had no -justice displayed towards them. Then again St. Onofries was called a -saint because he disappeared into the desert seeing nobody and doing -nothing (so he said), but this saint does not matter at the present -moment; what does matter is the extreme difficulty we all find in -locating the middle distance between two points, when the points do -not stand still. - -Lord William had his faults in common with the rest of us, but not -many can comfort themselves with the belief that they have done as -many kindly acts. He may not always have been aware of the amount -of good he did, for kindly acts towards ourselves make us kindly -to others, thereby forming a common good. That the happiness of -everybody depends to a certain extent on the forbearance and help -of others was part of Lord Bill’s religion. His charities, which -were many, were not of the order that creates multitudes of sins, -but covered them up, often, and helped those who had made grievous -mistakes, to begin afresh. - -The nice little church at Simla used to echo with the sound of Lord -William’s clinking spurs as he walked up the aisle. One Sunday when -he was carrying round the collection plate, he halted in front of -a canny old colonel whose careful habits had made him decline to -subscribe towards the Annandale Races, which had annoyed Lord Bill, -so he held the plate, whispering audibly, “It’s Zenana this time, not -Gymkhana!” - -The scene outside this church on Sundays and high days was curious, -as in the hills everybody rode to church, or came in hand-carried -or drawn equipages. When all the rank and fashion had entered the -building the syces with the many ponies congregated for a smoke and -chatter. The men who ran with the rickshaws and jampans after their -kind, followed suit, arranging their carriages in neat rows. The -owners usually dressed their carriers and runners in some distinctive -livery. One would have, say, claret-coloured coat, cut fairly long, -hanging square over the draped loin cloths which are worn instead of -trousers; only the head man indulged in this form of civilisation. -This combination of coat and loin cloth finished off with possibly a -yellow cumberbund twisted round their waists, and yellow puggeries -round their heads. Others would have brown and blue, and so on, -only the Viceregal party using scarlet, the many colours of the -liveries and the grouping of the natives and their charges forming a -picturesque foreground to the church, though very unusual to the mind -of the everyday English church-going community. - -There were several matters occupying Lord William’s mind at this -time. The enlargement of the Annandale racecourse for one; this was -a great undertaking and a considerable expense which will be readily -understood, as big ravines had to be filled in and levelled as well -as portions of hills removed. His lordship subscribed handsomely -towards it himself, and some of the native princes, who were always -ready to help him in his endeavours for the good or pleasure of -the community, came to the fore also, subscribing liberally. While -the alterations were being carried out the usual races and sports -were taking place, tent-pegging, tilting at the ring, riding one -pony while leading another over the jumps, rickshaw races, which -proved highly exciting for the occupants, and mirth-provoking to the -on-lookers. - -The building of the new Viceregal Lodge or Government House -also occupied a good deal of time, Lord Dufferin supervising and -directing. I have often wondered what the natives must have thought -when they had to build white-tiled kitchens and bath-rooms, and still -more what they felt when called upon to use a correct up-to-date -kitchen equipment. - -I well remember when first I arrived in India being full of -high-flown ideas of revolutionising the cooking and cook-house -system. I was warned not to interfere, but to eat what was placed -before me and leave well alone; however, I was full of ardour and -proceeded to the cook-house to inspect the cooking-pots and arrange -everything to my liking. My splendid theories were doomed to instant -death. My experiences were such that for days I was without appetite -and never again had the pluck to face the cook-house. That was -long ago, no doubt now the natives have learnt to live up to and -appreciate modern luxuries. - -Last, but by no means least, came Lady Dufferin’s scheme for the -benefit of Indian women. The Queen had asked Her Excellency just -before leaving for India to see what could be done to provide proper -medical aid and nursing for native women, who from their traditional -faiths and customs were unable to avail themselves of the knowledge -and help of men doctors. Lord William was very enthusiastic about -the work which was interesting Lady Dufferin, who, with her usual -thoroughness, soon placed it on firm feet. There was so much to -be considered; first of all the question of finance, still more -difficult the inherited traditional prejudices to be overcome in -conjunction with the superstitions and ignorance of the people of -India. For generations the appalling loss of life through ignorance -in the East had been regarded with the hebetude of fatalism. -Nevertheless in 1885 the work was begun under the mouth-filling title -of “The Countess of Dufferin’s National Association for supplying -female medical aid for the women of India.” It is well to take a good -long breath before starting on this impressive title. - -Considering that the undertaking entailed the collecting of the -necessary funds, suitable places being found for the hospitals and -dispensaries, women to be trained as doctors, midwives, and hospital -assistants, and that each and all had to be under the superintendence -of or in the working hands of women for the treatment of their own -sex and children, it is really remarkable that it was so soon in more -or less working order, and speaks volumes for Lady Dufferin’s energy -and for the help of her co-workers. - -I remember Lord William saying it would have a more far-reaching -civilising influence in the country than any other measure hitherto -contemplated. That these women doctors and nurses have been zealous -and capable is proved by the work that has been done. In 1901, that -is in six years, 1,755,734 patients passed through their hands, the -increase between the years 1895 and 1900 being 88,000, the whole of -this treatment having been carried out by forty fully qualified lady -doctors called 1st grade, 322 surgeons, 2nd grade, meaning they had -been taught in India and held that country’s qualifications, and 175 -hospital assistants and helpers called 3rd grade. - -The medical profession for man or woman is one that demands great -sacrifice, and it is a calling that perhaps comes the least before -the lime-light, for it does not advertise, seeks no rewards, no -medals, clapping, or bands to cheer and encourage, yet many are daily -performing heroic deeds, burning the candle at both ends in the cause -of suffering humanity, and for what? Not applause, they get none, not -reward, they get none from the world, but for love of their work, -because they feel there is no higher calling. I do not think many -people know how much this great work is indebted to Lord William’s -collecting and his own personal assistance. Anything in the way of -sickness and suffering appealed strongly to him. The Clewer Sisters -in Calcutta also have little idea where some of the anonymous gifts -came from that were I know from Lord William. Many treats enjoyed by -children were the result of Lord William’s thought and financing, but -he did not like people to know; he only wanted to make them happy and -reaped a real happiness himself in witnessing their pleasure. - -He was keenly interested in the leaps and bounds made in later years -in the science and art of medicine. He could remember when it was the -proper thing to bleed people for fainting fits and apoplexy, when -it was quite usual to use the same family pocket knife to prune the -roses and perform minor operations, before what they a little later -called the faddists’ silly craze for sterilising instruments, came -into vogue. “Such silly fuss and nonsense!” Though, if I remember -right, it was only in George the II’s reign that a law was passed -forbidding the company of barbers from practising the art and science -of surgery, which sounds rather like Punch but is nevertheless a -fact, and can be found by an anxious enquirer in Statute 18, Cap. XV. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - SOME SPORTING MEMORIES - - Lord William’s Driving--One of Two Experiences--A Sermon in the - Smoking-room--Useful Shirt Cuffs--Convenient Handwriting--New - Year’s Parade--A Waiting Race--A Spoilt Meeting--Purchase of Myall - King--Dufferins Leave India--Rules Issued by Lord William for Their - Departure - - -The Autumn Race Meeting at Meerut saw Prospero win the Merchants’ -Purse, value 1,000 rupees, for Lord William, Ryder up; also the -St. Leger, value 1,500 rupees, with Tim Whiffler. The same month -(October) FitzWilliam won the Steward’s Purse at Lucknow, 2,110 -rupees, the Pony Derby, 2,410 rupees, with Little Nell, all ridden by -Dunn. I have heard the winner of the Pony Derby called “Little Hell,” -partly from affection and partly because she gave others so little -chance, I presume! - -I have always been under the impression that there is more money -to be made out of ponies and pony racing than in Viceroy’s cups. -In India a man who is a good judge of horse-flesh and knows their -points can often pick up ponies fairly cheaply in the serais, sort -of village cattle-market, where dealers are to be found with horses -and ponies for sale. Then if the purchaser has good hands and good -temper, he may be able to train some into good polo ponies, and -possibly win a race or two in a small way, after which good prices -may be realised, though some of the ponies bought in the rough, have -a tiresome way of growing after having reached the required height, -skilful shoeing is then the best chance to make them register the -proper standard. If after this they still persist in being too big -they can be sold as ladies’ hacks, if a woman has ridden them once. - -Many poor men have been able to enjoy their lives and have all they -wanted in reason, thanks to their training and selling ponies they -have bought with an eye to business. I am speaking of some years ago, -possibly ponies and prices are different now. - -The Simla season ends in October, and the gaiety and festivities are -carried on at Calcutta on a more pronounced scale though with less -of the family party feeling, owing to the larger community. The poor -big-wigs do not have much peace in either place, it is so difficult -to escape from people, who, though doubtless are many of them -charming in themselves, the amount of bowing and scraping they entail -is fatiguing. - -One Commander-in-Chief I knew simplified matters by riding along -looking straight ahead and seeing nobody, taking no more notice of -the crowd of amiable people waiting to bow and smile than if they -were so many little dogs wagging their tails. At first this gave -offence, which did not greatly upset the good man’s calm, but before -long it was recognised as a mercy and something to be thankful for. - -Lord William’s coach was quite a feature in Calcutta Society, the -turn-out was smart, the driver cheery, and a good whip, small wonder -that most people liked to receive an invitation to accompany his -lordship on some of his jaunts. I have sat beside some pretty whips -one time and another in my life, far and away the most accomplished -being Lord William Beresford; next to him a good second was the late -Mr. Ben Cotton, for some time Master of the Isle of Wight Foxhounds. - -One year after the races at Calcutta, where Lord William had been -riding in several and had a bad fall, dislocating his shoulder, -notwithstanding which he drove his coach laden with friends off the -course, through the thronged streets, the horses very fresh and -pulling hard; but beyond the fact that he was looking very white -nobody would have known anything was the matter with him, and all -reached their homes in safety. - -Another day when returning from a picnic at the Botanical Gardens on -the opposite side of the river to Calcutta his coach-load had a near -shave of a nasty accident. Sir John Hext, who was on the staff of -two Viceroys with Lord Bill, was one of the party at the time, and -tells me they started away from the trysting-place rather late, when -it was quite dark, and somehow managed to miss the road; the horses -were longing to get away, and were scarcely under control. Having -got off the road the next thing to do was to get on again as soon as -possible, not an easy matter, but nobody spoke, and Lord William kept -his head; by a piece of dexterous driving he tooled them safely under -large low hanging branches of trees, round trunks of trees, and over -all sorts of uncomfortable places before reaching their destination. -All on board were holding their breath awaiting disaster at any -moment, happily none occurred, thanks to good driving. - -I really think Lord William thoroughly enjoyed hairbreadth escapes; -he always seemed especially pleased after one that would have left -most people limp, to say the least of it. His driving powers were -certainly put to the test sometimes, and during exciting and critical -moments his eyes seemed to become bigger, bluer, and fiercer. - -Coming over the Howrah Bridge one day, the hook of the pole-piece -came off and dropped the bars on to the leaders’ hocks. This not -being part of the usual programme they objected to it, not quite -knowing what was the proper thing to do under the circumstances, -whether to kick the thing to pieces, jump over the bridge, or run -away. Owing to their not being concerted in their action Lord William -decided it for them, allowing them a little of each, but none for -long; owing no doubt to these little concessions there was no -accident, but when all reached home safely a few pointed remarks were -made to the man who had been entrusted with the revarnishing of the -coach, in return for his forgetfulness in not bolting the pole-piece -on again properly. - -Sir John Hext, now Rear-Admiral, was a great friend of Lord Bill’s -(they were on Lord Dufferin’s and Lord Lansdowne’s staff together), -he tells me an interesting story of his old friend; it happened at -the end of one of the Calcutta race weeks. As usual Lord William had -been hard at work all day. There was an extra large party staying -in Government House, it had overflowed to such an extent that Lord -William was obliged to put up tents in the grounds for some of the -young soldiers and men who were of the party. After dinner the -aides-de-camp’s room was full of men guests staying in the house. Lord -William came in late about 11.30 and, not seeing Sir John and Capt. -Harbord, fellow-staffites, curled up in arm-chairs at the far end of -the room, he proceeded to preach what was virtually a most excellent -sermon on the evils of gambling and racing, holding himself up as the -frightful example. Sir John says, “If that sermon could have been -taken down by a shorthand writer, and a few slight expurgations made, -it was one that any Bishop might have been proud to preach. Being -without exceptions the most practical sermon he ever heard in his -life.” - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD IN 1886] - -One of the most remarkable things about Lord William was his memory; -he never forgot anything and was the soul of punctuality, which -considering his multitudinous duties was praiseworthy. He was little -short of a genius, for even when Government House was crammed full -of guests to overflowing, all to be servanted and fed, each to be -treated with the consideration demanded by their rank, endless -dinners, parties, and receptions to be arranged with carefully -considered etiquette and precedence, people to be met, taken away, -amused; Rajahs’ and Nabobs’ interviews with His Excellency to be -arranged, the stables to be attended to, with at least sixty horses -for the use of the Government House party. This alone is no trifle. -It was part of Lord William’s work to have horses suitable to all -occasions. There must be tame and docile carriage-horses for Her -Excellency, who may be nervous, but they must step up to their noses -and look full of mischief, otherwise they would not be impressive and -therefore valueless for their purpose; as it is important that all -state ceremonials should be highly spectacular. Then the chargers for -His Excellency must understand birthday parades and _feux de joie_ -for it would never do to have the Viceroy standing on his head in -the middle of the Maidan, while his charger either joined the crowd -of onlookers or returned to the stables. Lord William took endless -pains to train the horses to their special duties, like the Balaclava -heroes, guns were fired to the right of them, guns to the left of -them, just by way of practice and to teach them to behave nicely -and pretend they heard nothing, and if they did--well what matter. -There must also be plenty of carriages and horses at the disposal -of the guests. The mounts must be chosen to suit the prowess of the -individuals. One may want to cut a dash in a paper-chase, another -simply a gentle amble to eat the air, and so on. Once a Bath-chair -was requisitioned, but Lord William never turned a hair. A Bath-chair -was forthcoming at the time it was desired, where it came from was -a mystery. Then there were the viceregal tours already mentioned to -be arranged some time in advance. Picture what it means to write out -programmes for 365 days in advance--not for one person--but for many. - -After all his duties had been attended to most punctiliously there -were his own horses and affairs requiring attention. Yet never was -there as much as a cushion forgotten for Her Excellency. Beyond a -tiny notebook and his shirt sleeves everything was carried in his -head. I have seen some wonderful notes on the cuffs of his shirt. An -English laundry-maid of an enquiring turn of mind might have compiled -an amusing diary from them, though a little cryptic. Seeing some -hieroglyphics on one of his cuffs one day at luncheon, I asked if I -might be permitted to know what they meant; he shot out the cuff and -showed it to me; it was not altogether easy to decipher, but with a -little assistance I read: - -“Viceroy’s bath.” “Sack Syce.” “19 Guns.” “Pacify Mrs. B.” - -He explained he had made a note of these little items requiring -attention. I asked if it was part of his duty to give the Viceroy a -bath, but he said, “No, but the bath leaked and his note reminded -him to replace it with a sound one.” “Sack Syce” meant there had -been slackness in the stables and a certain syce would have to go. -Nineteen guns sounded a big order and rather mysterious, but it had -to do with a Native Prince who considered he had not received enough -salutes or too many, I forget which, and his lordship wished to -adjust the matter. Then came “Pacify Mrs. B.” I gathered a certain -lady had been deeply pained at the way her name had been spelt on -one of the invitation cards, a very important “e” had been left out, -which made her name look quite commonplace, and she felt it had been -done on purpose. Lord William was going to put the matter straight -and the “e” in its right place. - -It can easily be imagined the amount of correspondence Lord William -had to attend to, it was enormous, happily he had a clerk who wrote -so like him it was almost impossible to tell one from the other. The -Military Secretary was much praised for being such a good sort, fancy -so busy a man answering all the letters himself! That clerk was most -convenient. - -Lord William used to tell some amusing stories of the way people -approached him with a view to using his influence with the Viceroy -in their favour. Various methods were adopted by those who wanted -his help, they mostly began by expressing great affection for his -lordship, and profound admiration. - -Being a kind-hearted man, Lord Bill did his best to further -everybody’s wishes, and if they were in any way possible presented -the matter to His Excellency for consideration. - -Occasionally some Native Chief thought he ought to have some -concessions, decorations or invitations, and asked Lord William to -help him in the matter, once when this had occurred and the answer -was longer coming than the Chief liked, he thought he would expedite -matters by making a handsome present to his lordship and at the -same time asking when his request was going to be granted. This, of -course, settled the matter, as it was undoubtedly meant as a bribe -and was reported at once to the Viceroy--needless to say the favour -was not granted. - -It seems rather hard that while we, the British people, give presents -to the Chiefs, we are not allowed to receive any in return, that is -to say none of any value; but no doubt it is wise. - -New Year’s Day is a great holiday in India, the birthday, so to -speak, of the Queen-Empress, January 1st being the anniversary of -the Delhi Durbar when she was declared Empress of India. There are -endless big parades all over India in honour of this occasion. At -Calcutta there is always a most imposing military parade which -everybody turns out to witness, putting on their best bibs and -tuckers, as their share in its impressiveness. - -It is a busy and anxious day for the Military Secretary, for in -addition to all his other work he is wondering whether after all his -training, the Viceroy’s charger will behave properly when the dreaded -moment arrives for the firing of the _feu-de-joie_. The horses under -his care may have been properly broken--the horses belonging to other -people may not, and when the show begins if one horse begins playing -the fool in all probability others will follow suit. There is a vast -amount of ceremony attached to these parades. The Viceroy puts on -all his war paint, throws out his chest, and rides down the lines of -troops drawn up for his inspection, followed by his glittering staff, -everybody feels it behoves them to polish buttons and do an extra -brush up, even the Vice-reine’s coachman indulges in an extra shave -and endures the middle button of his coat buttoned up, just until the -ceremony is over. - -Nobody takes the least notice of all these efforts to be extra smart; -but perhaps it would be noticed if they did not, and nobody would -perceive it more quickly than the Military Secretary. - -After examining all the lines of troops drawn up for his inspection -the Viceroy returns to the saluting point, and the Artillery let -themselves go with ten rounds in the Imperial Salute followed with -the much dreaded _feu-de-joie_, when so much dignity is often _nolens -volens_ cast to the wind. On one of these birthday parades I remember -seeing the horse of a big official unship its rider and then after -various gallopings caused much confusion by playing tunes with its -heels on a big drum against which it seemed to bear some grudge, -when he had finished with it, it drummed no more, at any rate for -the time being; but to continue with the orthodox proceedings. After -this fusillade follows the National Anthem with all the massed bands -playing together, then the Artillery have another innings, until -thirty-one guns have done their best. - -In all probability the Viceroy knows little about troops, what they -should look like, what they should do, or how many buttons make five -on the men’s uniforms, but his Military Secretary will have primed -him. - -Everybody says it is a horrid bore, but they enjoy it all the same. -I must not forget one of the most important features in the day’s -show, namely, the final cheers for the Empress of India and the march -past. The cheering proves as trying to the horses generally as the -_feu-de-joie_. - -We were trying to guess the number of people looking on, and asked -Lord William what he considered would be somewhere near the figure, -and he told us there were quite 100,000 on the Maidan, and it was not -an unusual number on these occasions. - -The year 1886 brought several annoyances and disappointments to the -Military Secretary in connection with his racing. In the first place -Metal failed to win him the Viceroy’s Cup, which he had counted on; -Mr. Gasper, who has been already introduced to the reader, beating -him with Mercury. Coveting this horse his lordship made an offer -for him to Mr. Gasper, resulting in the grey Australian changing -his stable and his owner for the sum of 10,000 rupees, which was -considered cheap. - -There was rather a tragic little episode at this meeting though -it had nothing to do with Lord William. A smart little chestnut -belonging to Mr. Abbott won The Trials in the shortest time on record -and dropped dead immediately after passing the winning-post from -rupture of the heart, poor little beast. - -The first race Mercury ran for Lord William was for the Durbangah -Cup, and he won; following it up with the Kooch Behar Cup, but -in this race there was only one other horse against him, namely, -Mr. Mullick’s Sir Greville. This was really a very funny race as -evidently both jockeys had received orders to ride a waiting race, -this they did with a vengeance, for when the flag fell neither of -them hurried at all, but moved quietly along keeping boot to boot, -both being determined to wait, this manœuvre continued, much to -the amusement of the spectators until within half a mile from the -winning-post, when both sat down to ride for all they were worth. -Mercury won, but Mr. Mullick’s jockey pressed Dunn so closely into -the rails that poor Mercury got rather badly cut. - -Another Beresford-Durbangah horse won the Alipore Plate and Bolero -the Jubilee Purse. At Tollygunge, though that good horse Prospero -won the Handicap Chase, poor Tim Whiffler, who had such a habit -of falling, this time turned head-over-heels when running for the -Ballygunge Cup, breaking his thigh and having to be shot. - -Bad luck seemed to be dogging Lord William’s footsteps at this time, -for Mercury, who had been doing so well, and from whom great things -were hoped, caught a chill, followed by fever, from which he died. -Then again, after the annual move to Simla, and he was running -Little Nell in the Bazaar Stakes, on the Annandale Course, though he -won with her, there was a good deal of unpleasantness attached to -the race, owing to Captain Wood, of the 8th Hussars, who was also -riding a pony for a brother officer, and who came in second, lodging -a complaint directly after the race, saying Dunn, Lord William’s -jockey, had jostled him. This rather spoilt the pleasure of the -meeting for everyone. The race had been witnessed by a number of -people, friends of both parties in question; several thought they -could explain it all, and proceeded to air their views, hoping by -so doing to ease matters and straighten it out, instead of which, -further complications ensued. This was followed a little later at -Calcutta with fresh annoyance over the Arab named Euclid, belonging -to the Confederacy. Lord William heard some people had been making -remarks about the performances of this horse, which they seemed to -consider unsatisfactory; he therefore at once asked the stewards of -the Calcutta Turf Club to inquire into the matter and give their -opinion; this they did, saying they found nothing leading to any -such conclusion as had been suggested. So Lord William came out on -top. - -For years Lord William declared no Australian horse could touch the -English, but Mercury caused him to change his mind, this horse’s -performances having been almost phenomenal. In consequence of being -bitten with the grey Australian, and not content with having between -twenty and thirty horses already in training, he gave the well-known -Australian dealer, Mr. Weekes, a commission to bring him one or two -of the “real things” from Melbourne. - -When the dealer returned from Australia, he brought with him two -horses for Lord William, Myall King and Golden Gate. I do not -remember hearing of the latter doing anything encouraging, and Myall -King made a poor show to begin with, and his new master said a few -things not altogether complimentary to the dealer in connection with -his selection, but before long changed his mind, Myall King becoming -his greatest favourite, winning three Viceroy’s Cups for him, the -first on December 24th, 1887, value 7000 rupees. When Lord William -was leading his horse in after the race, thoroughly pleased and -happy, the excited and delighted Mr. Weekes, who had purchased the -horse for his lordship and who had been brooding over the names he -had been called when first he brought Myall King over, rushed up to -Lord William holding out his hand for joy, saying, “Now do you still -say I am a something something thief?” - -“No,” replied Lord Bill, taking the proffered hand; “indeed you are -all something something right.” - -“Then you will come and stay with me in Melbourne, won’t you?” - -“Of course I will,” said his lordship, only too anxious to move on. - -Myall King also won the Durbangah Cup, £150, on the 30th of the same -month. - -In the summer of 1887 Lord William bought up the lease of the Dehra -Doon course, over which he spent some time and trouble, getting it -into good order; he kept it up entirely at his own expense until -he left India. He removed all his horses there, also the Viceregal -horses, being a good climate for them. - -People in India were beginning to be rather frightened of Lord -William’s string of horses, saying it was no use entering theirs -against him, that they had no chance. I remember hearing a good deal -of this at Lucknow, but it was not quite a fact, as his lordship -found out to his cost occasionally. He certainly had a formidable -string of horses, and he wanted to be on top, where to a certain -extent he was, but in racing there is always the element of chance to -be reckoned with, horses going wrong, jockeys making mistakes, and -no end of other things to be taken into consideration. He sent his -horses to all parts of India for race meetings, even to Poona. - -The Spring Meeting at Lucknow of 1888 inaugurated one of his -lordship’s most successful racing years in India. I always feel sorry -he was not able to carry out all his racing single-handed, but he did -it on such a big scale it became more than one pocket could stand, -hence the partnership. The Lucknow races in February brought in 7625 -rupees in stakes alone-- - - Empress winning the All Ponies Handicap Dunn riding - Myall King ” Stewards’ Purse Dunn ” - Lavercost ” Derby Tingey ” - Little Nell ” Mahamet Bagh Plate Elliott ” - -In March at Meerut followed more wins, Little Nell, Solheil, Bob, -Treasure, and Lavercost roping in 3015 rupees in stakes between them. - -The Dufferins’ term of office was up in 1888. They had the pleasure -of seeing the new Viceregal Lodge finished before their departure, -and enjoyed its roomy comfort after the very circumscribed Peterhoff. -Against that they had the discomfort of the move from one house to -the other, with one half of their possessions in one house and the -other half in the other, when, as usually happens on such occasions, -whatever is wanted is sure to be where they are not. - -Lord Dufferin had done a good deal of useful work in India, -undertaking various reforms and costly measures that his predecessors -had seen the advisability of, but postponed, fearing the expense; he -consequently left the country (I am told) with a decided financial -deficit, to be dealt with by someone else. - -On his retirement he was created Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, the -latter taken from the city of that name a few miles from Mandalay. -Of course there was the usual speculation as to whether Lord William -would stay on as Military Secretary. India without Lord William -seemed at that time an impossible thing to contemplate. - -It might be imagined after so many years of India, combined with the -exceptionally strenuous life he led, that his spirits and ceaseless -stream of humour and fun might have begun to fail him, yet this was -far from the case, he still led the van in fun and frolic. - -As the time drew near for the departure of the Dufferins, he issued -the proper and usual orders for all concerned, leaving nothing -unthought of for everyone’s comfort. Then, wag as he was, he issued -the following order, and had it delivered in print to the A.D.C. in -attendance on the departing Viceregal party. - - -_Rules to be observed by the A.D.C. in attendance on their -Excellencies the Viceroy and the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava -after their departure from Calcutta and until their arrival at Aden._ - - 1. The A.D.C. in waiting will have the kindness to report himself - every morning in the undress uniform of His Excellency’s staff, and - will appear in the same at every station at which any officials - meet His Excellency. - - 2. At early Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner he will wear a sword. - - 3. During their Excellencies’ stay at Bombay the A.D.C. in waiting - will always appear in uniform. - - 4. On board the _Kaiser-i-Hind_ the A.D.C. in waiting will visit - the decks at 4 a.m. and will see that the cleaning operations are - performed quietly. - - 5. He will be so good as not to wear boots before 7 a.m. - - 6. He will be so obliging as to appear in uniform at breakfast and - to wear it until sunset. - - 7. The A.D.C. in waiting will take His Excellency’s orders after - breakfast, and in the event of his services not being required - by the outgoing Viceroy, he will be so kind as to see if Her - Excellency wishes to be supported on deck, or if the young ladies - need assistance. - - 8. The A.D.C. in waiting will be so good as personally to submit - to the Captain any wishes the ladies’ maids may express, and to - endeavour to have them carried out. - - 9. The A.D.C. in waiting will please see that the chairs, cushions, - rugs, and books of His Excellency and of the ladies are arranged on - the deck by 10 a.m. - - 10. At 12 o’clock he will kindly see that they all have Beef Tea. - - 11. He will be expected to render assistance to the Captain in - every emergency, and to be the master of all the ceremonies during - fine weather. - - 12. As His Excellency’s policeman does not accompany him to Aden, - the A.D.C. in waiting must endeavour to learn a few Persian stories - for the occasion, which he will repeat to His Excellency for one - hour daily while pacing up and down the deck. - - 13. He will also, while listening to the Persian stories which His - Excellency will relate to him, say “Hau” at intervals of one second - during the whole time the narrative continues. He will also be kind - enough to wear an expression of profound attention. - - 14. In rough weather the A.D.C. in waiting will be permitted to put - on a waterproof coat over his uniform and to use his chin strap. - - 15. His services can on no occasion be dispensed with during the - first five days of the voyage; he will therefore be expected to - keep in good health, and can on no pretext be allowed to call for - the services of the steward. - - 16. At Aden the A.D.C. in waiting will be relieved from duty. - - (Signed) WILLIAM BERESFORD, Lieut.-Col., - Military Secretary to the Viceroy. - - SIMLA, _November 6th, 1888_. - -The A.D.C. in question, of course, knew Lord Bill’s little ways, how -much was earnest and how much fun, and appreciated the thoughtful -concession of allowing a chin strap and waterproof to be used during -rough weather, for more reasons than one. - -It was shortly before the Dufferins left India that Lord William -and five other members of the Viceroy’s staff in one of their -lighter moments when dressed in their racing kit, jumped into a -merry-go-round for a ride and were snapshotted. Lord William is on -the extreme right sitting sideways; next to him in front is Capt. -Roddy Owen; standing up in the striped jacket is Capt. Burn, -generally known as “Handsome Charlie”; then comes Capt. Harbord (now -Lord Suffield) riding a finish; behind him Capt. Leonard Gordon and -Capt. H. Legge. A light-hearted little party, overflowing with good -humour and health, much of which was the result of the amount of -exercise they were in the habit of taking. Sportsmen and those of -an energetic tendency keep their health much longer when in India -than their brethren who resign themselves to the climate with books, -eating, drinking, and sleep, the latter being the natural consequence -of the former. - -[Illustration: THE VICEROY’S STAFF IN LIGHTER MOMENTS] - -Feeling a little holiday would be beneficial Lord William went home -in April on three months’ leave, his string of forty odd horses -remaining at Dehra Doon in the pleasant cool shade of its many fine -trees, but before leaving he attended the March Umballa Meeting, when -his Treasure won two races, the Service Stakes 900 rupees, Capt. -Macdougall riding, and the open Pony Race 850 rupees, Dunn riding; -Eunice the Paget Park Plate 300 rupees, Melbourne Plate with Myall -King 200 rupees, Dunn riding. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - A WINNING YEAR - - On Leave--At the Derby Once More--Lord Lansdowne Takes - Office--Conjurer’s Discomfort--A Gentle Reproach--Irishmen - in India--Another Racing Partnership--A Turf Club - Inquiry--Paperchasers--A Telegram from Lucknow--Lord William’s - Health--Jockey in Trouble Again - - -Three months is not a long leave to spend at home, it seems to be all -coming and going; it really was not long enough to pick Lord William -up properly--he was badly in need of English air and fare. - -A good part of this brief holiday was spent racing and attending to -racing matters. He bought a horse called Pennant, winning a race -with him at Croydon value £200. Oberon was another he purchased, but -turned out rather unreliable. Clarion was also added to his string. - -Being at home in time to see the Derby run, he was enthusiastically -greeted by all his old friends, and had a great time. I rather think -it was at this Derby or Ascot that Sir Claude De Crespigny coming up -behind what he recognised as a Beresford back, said “Good morning, -Marcus,” and then, seeing he had made a mistake and it was Lord -William, asked whom he should apologise to? Without an instant’s -hesitation came the reply, “Marcus, of course, you’ve taken the elder -brother for the younger.” - -All the Beresford brothers were smart at repartee; indeed I think -they would be hard to beat. Someone asked Lord Charles which of his -brothers he considered the quickest at repartee. To which he replied: -“Marcus. It was only this morning when walking down Regent Street, -ahead of us was a doddering old Irish peer, one of the Backwoodsmen -who came over once a year to vote against Home Rule, I said, ‘Marcus, -if you were a despotic monarch would you keep that Irish nobleman in -your House of Lords?’ ‘Yes,’ said Marcus, ‘I think I should, but I -should fire him first on the _Coronet_.’” - -The smartness of this may be lost upon people who are not horsy and -therefore do not know that the part of a horse’s anatomy between the -fetlock and the hoof is termed the coronet. - -The Marquess of Lansdowne succeeded Lord Dufferin as Governor-General -of India, holding the office from 1888 to 1893. No events of great -importance occurred during his administration; there were some small -frontier expeditions, but we did not hear much about them. - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Elliott & Fry_ - -THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE] - -In 1893, at the end of Lord Lansdowne’s reign, Sir Mortimer Durand, -then Foreign Secretary to the Indian Government, was sent on a -mission to Kabul with a view to defining the limits of influence of -the British Government and the Amir, with respect to the independent -tribes in the wide belt of country between Afghanistan and British -India. However, we are not yet dealing with 1893 but 1888, when Lord -Lansdowne had only just taken office. He was fond of horses and -racing, therefore watched his Military Secretary’s horses work -with sympathetic interest. - -From 1888 to 1894 were Lord William’s best racing years in the East, -and all his spare time was devoted to it. - -At the November Lucknow meeting his racing partner, His Highness of -Durbangah, won the Stewards’ Purse with FitzWilliam, Dunn up, Daphne -the Dilkoosha Stakes, Soheil, an Arab, the Pony Handicap. On the -third day, a pony named Brandy the Paddock Stakes for maiden ponies, -besides various others which I forget. - -At the Calcutta chief meeting FitzWilliam won the Trials by way of a -good beginning. Eunice, who had at one time and another won a good -many races for Lord William, now won the Karnaul Stakes. Metal was -backed for a small fortune for the Viceroy’s Cup, when one of those -unexpected things happened which must always be reckoned with in -racing; he was beaten by his stable companion making the pace too hot -for him, and Myall King again romped in a winner. They also won races -with Pekoe and Shamhad, while a grey English mare named Venus, whom -nobody expected to do anything, won the Eclipse Stakes for them. Lord -Clyde and Clarion won a couple of races at the Extra Meeting, making -a tremendous winning year, but not a profitable one taking it all -round. - -It was at this juncture that beautiful Arab pony Blitz came upon the -scenes; the charming picture of him was given to me by Admiral Sir -John Hext, who agreed with Lord Bill “he was one of the best that -ever looked through a bridle.” Lord William sold Metal about this -time for £500 to someone in Australia. - -During the Simla season he rode a good many races himself on -Hardware, Nancy and Shamshad. He also won a match on Hakim against -Mr. Laureston’s Prince Charlie, 2000 rupees a side. - -In July news reached Lord Bill of the death from heart disease of Mr. -Fitch, who for some years had looked after and conducted the Calcutta -lotteries, also acted as secretary to the Dehra Races. The poor man -died in England while home for a holiday. Lord William felt much -regret, for he had been closely associated with him, naturally, over -racing matters. - -Mr. Fitch was another of the many men his lordship had befriended; in -fact had been set on his feet and owed all his success in life to him. - -The season was jogging along much in the usual fashion, plunging -from the sublime to the ridiculous and the ridiculous to the sublime -all the time. In India we all become dual natured, whether it is the -climate, the atmosphere we live in, or the desire to leave no time -_to think_ I do not know; but we may in the morning be told, someone -with whom we have been in daily touch is dead--we say how sad, open -our letters, and make all our arrangements for the day’s amusements, -which we fulfil, leaving just time to pay a last tribute to one -whose hand we have so often held, whose voice and laughter is still -sounding in our ears; we then hurry home from the cemetery and go -out to dinner, or to the theatre, and home to bed late, hoping to be -so tired that sleep will claim us immediately. It is not that we are -callous really, far from it; the sad news in the morning has left -a lonesome feeling in our hearts, an aching for the poor body who -such a short time ago was full of all he or she were going to do when -they went “home,” it makes home seem very far away and the present so -full of prickling possibilities, and we feel we must laugh or cry, -and our English objection to wearing our hearts on our sleeves makes -us appear gay, and thus we are pitch-forked from the sublime to the -ridiculous and vice versa, still if we never reached the sublime we -should miss the picturesqueness. - -I once asked Lord Bill when we were speaking of this very matter, -that is to say, the amount of feeling we contrived to hide in our -everyday life, when he told me of several strange things that had -happened in his life of which he had had strong pre-sentiments; one -was in connection with racing, and the others purely private matters; -this led me to ask him if he was superstitious; he replied, “I like -to think I am not, but I am always very careful not to wound people’s -susceptibilities on that point, having some of that feeling which is -supposed to make us wondrous kind.” - -Superstition is a thing I suppose that can hardly be described or -accounted for, as some of the happenings in our lives refuse to be -explained by any hitherto understood methods or any rules or lines of -our acquaintance; and also there are times when we are not ourselves, -oh strange and bitter paradox! - -Lord William’s way of keeping people in order was very much to the -point generally, and yet he did it very charmingly. An A.D.C. once -had been hauled over the coals by him, and at the end of it said, -“What a good fellow Lord Bill is, how thoroughly he rubbed me down, -and yet how like a gentleman.” - -Another rather amusing instance was when the Rajah of Nabha was -giving a party or entertainment to Lord Lansdowne. A conjurer had -been engaged to amuse those present; he was a rather persistent -personage, at that time wandering round India seeking a living, and -performing at native courts. - -Lord William, who of course had the arranging of all this sort of -functions, told this professor his entertainment must not last more -than twenty minutes; this he strongly objected to, declaring it -would entirely spoil his show, did not give him a chance, and so -on, he would require at least an hour. While expressing his sorrow -at causing so much annoyance and disappointment, Lord Bill stuck to -his point and said not more than twenty minutes could possibly be -allowed; he evidently saw defiance in the man’s attitude, and made -his arrangements accordingly. - -The performance began, Lord William looking on, watch in hand. At -the end of a quarter of an hour the British magician was warned he -had only five minutes more. He took no notice, and continued his -lofty way. At the end of twenty minutes he was told to stop. Still -he took no notice, continuing his tricks and patter, when at a sign -from Lord William a native conjurer, who had been watching huddled -up in a corner, bounded into the middle of the floor with a tom-tom -and commenced a most deafening and unearthly noise. A tom-tom, it -should be explained, is a rattling sort of thing rather like a drum -gone wrong. The native had been waiting for the sign of command, -watching the conjurer much as a terrier watches a rat, waiting to be -told to “Go.” This indignity was too much for the white performer, he -collapsed, and the native then proceeded to make mango trees grow in -a few seconds out of stones and from under flower-pots, etc. Those -present were much tickled at the whole proceeding. - -One more of Lord William’s gentle reproaches. This time it was -addressed to a youth fresh out from home, where he had been much -spoilt; he was complaining about the disrespectful way the regiment -he had just joined treated him, he was not accustomed to be treated -in such a manner. The poor lad was learning that painful but -wholesome lesson, his value in public opinion, and he did not like -it. Thinking he had a sympathetic listener in Lord William, and not -knowing him as well as some of us did, the twinkle in his eye did not -act as a warning, and at last the lad worked himself up to such a -pitch of feeling over his wrongs that he said he should write to his -mother and tell her he should return home at once. No words had come -from Lord Bill, who appeared to be full of interest and sympathy, -but when he was told that the unhappy youth meant to return to his -mother, he said sweetly and quietly, “But, my dear chap! think what -a disappointment it would be to her!” Even then the young lad did -not at first grasp what was meant, but when Lord Bill added, “After -fixing you up with new shirts and pocket handkerchiefs, to have you -back on her hands so soon.” - -Lord William, seeing the boy was nearly tearful, walked off with -him, arm-in-arm, talked it all over quietly, gave some good advice, -and, I understand, left the poor boy happier and probably much wiser. - -What a number of Irishmen have ruled in India and been famous there. -Lord Mayo, born in Dublin, who in 1868 succeeded Lord Lawrence. I -should think he was the only Governor-General who had farmed for his -livelihood, and be it noted made enough to live upon. When he came -of age he was Mr. Bourke. His father, whose eldest brother was then -living, could not afford him any sort of allowance, but rented one of -his farms to him to try and make what he could out of it, and I have -been given to understand he did make it pay, which is more than many -gentlemen farmers do, methinks! - -Lord Mayo is reported to have said, “And many a long day have I stood -in the market selling my beasts.” - -Then there was Lord Connemara, Governor of Madras, responsible for -the well-being and happiness of thirty million souls; Lord Lansdowne, -a Kerry nobleman; Lord Roberts, a Waterford hero of Kandahar fame; -Lord William Beresford, V.C., the unequalled Military Secretary and -patron of the turf; Sir George White, V.C., who brought Burmah into -order; Sir David Barbour, a perfect juggler in figures, who brought -the much feared and dreaded financial deficit of the country to a -considerable surplus, and many more if there were time and space to -recount them. - -The Annandale Racecourse was now enlarged and levelled. It had cost -large sums of money, but was satisfactory, and the races now began -to draw horses from Umballa and Meerut. The lotteries on the first -day’s racing after the new course was “declared open,” as they say at -bazaars, amounted to 20,000 rupees, so Lord William hoped it would -not be long before the debt on the ground was paid off. A little -lady, who was one of Lord William’s most devoted admirers (aged six), -was crying one day at Simla when he happened to look in on the way -down to one of the gymkhanas, and when he asked her what was the -matter and took her on his knee, she threw her arms round his neck -weeping salt tears down his collar, saying, “Mover won’t let me go -and see you run in your pyjamas.” This required a little explanation. -He gathered she had heard her mother and friends talking about some -race they hoped he would win at the coming gymkhana. Not having been -very long in the country she had got a little mixed between gymkhana -and pyjamas. Lord Bill pleaded so hard for his little friend to be -allowed to go to the meeting, consent was at last given, and he said -he could see in the child’s eyes how disappointed she was that he did -not appear in pyjamas after all. - -In October the usual exodus took place, and Lord Bill found time -to see some of his horses win races at the November 1889 Lucknow -meeting. Blitz, beautiful Blitz, won the Dilkoosha Stakes; Nellie the -Little Go Chase, FitzWilliam the Bar Cup, Betsy the Standard Plate. -At Dehra, Meerut and Umballa he won four races. He rode in the Meerut -Charger Race himself, winning on Jim. At Pindi he rode one of the -races, winning on Landshart II; the other two were won by Daphne and -Ensign. Four races in one day to the credit of his stable. - -A little later, at the Calcutta 1889-90 races his Euclid seemed to be -losing form, but Pennant was going strong and won the Trials; Chester -also won the Pony Cup. - -Lord William’s racing partner, His Highness the Maharajah of -Durbangah, was most anxious to be a winner of the Viceroy’s Cup, and -Pennant being in Lord William’s opinion the likely winner, with his -characteristic kindliness sold the horse to His Highness just before -the race, so that the Durbangah colours might be carried. The horse -won easily, greatly to his new owner’s pleasure. - -That wonderful pony, Lord Clyde, won the International Pony Race. - -Speaking at the Turf Club dinner Lord William confessed he thought a -_big_ stable a mistake. In spite of having gained this experience, -which led people to imagine he intended to reduce his stable, he -added to it, and for the first time sent some of his horses to Madras -to see what he could do there. At the Autumn Meerut Meeting he had -no luck this year with his horses, chiefly owing, no doubt, to their -usual jockey, Dunn, who knew their temperaments and little ways, -being away at the time ill, which was hard on the horses and hard on -their owner. - -[Illustration: BEAUTIFUL BLITZ] - -[Illustration: PILOTEER WINNING A TROTTING PRIZE] - -The big Calcutta meeting on December 26th, 1889, saw the beginning -of the Presto row, which most racing people will remember. The horse -was entered for the Walter Locke Cup, and was expected to win, Dunn -riding, but was not even placed! It was suggested that it was the -result of getting off badly at the start, the horse swerving -round, losing several lengths. This caused some comment and much -disappointment, which reached boiling point two days later, when on -the 28th Presto again ran with Dunn up for the Kooch Behar Cup, 1¼ -miles, winning easily, there never being a moment’s doubt from start -to finish that the race was his, even leaving Moorhouse, a very fast -horse, and several others hopelessly behind. - -The public were now thoroughly upset, though on the face of the thing -it seemed natural that if the horse lost so many lengths at the -start in the race on the 26th, it would quite account for relative -positions at the end of the two races. There were, however, those -who considered Dunn’s riding was at fault, therefore the Stewards of -the Turf Club held an enquiry into it. Mr. Gasper, the clever lawyer -who has already been introduced, and from whom Lord William bought -Mercury, appeared to uphold the complaint. Whether Dunn was in any -way to blame for this different running of Presto I am not able to -state, but be that as it may, he stood very little chance in any case -with Mr. Gasper up against him, he being the most brilliant criminal -lawyer Calcutta had ever seen, and he at any rate believed Dunn to -blame, and waxed eloquent in consequence. - -After a long and tedious investigation, over which there had been -some feeling, the Stewards fully exonerated Lord William, and while -not stating Dunn pulled, they were of the opinion he deserved censure -for bad riding, which had certainly justified the enquiry. - -The whole affair was much to be regretted, and makes one wonder how -a man can be found who cares to have his honour resting in the hands -of paid servants like jockeys, trainers, and so forth, when any day -what a man prizes more than anything else in the world may be thrown -to the winds, through absolutely no fault of his own. - -The course at Calcutta had been expanded, and the buildings improved, -greatly owing to the efforts of the sporting and popular merchant Mr. -Charles Moore, who took great interest in racing and the bettering of -all its conditions. - -Following the Calcutta meeting came Tollygunge, where the stable -finished the season well, Blitz winning the Belvedere Stakes in -January 18th, 1893, Gold Leaf the Sensation Handicap, Traveller the -Long Distance Handicap, FitzWilliam the Spring Purse, and Nellie the -Pony Chase. - -I had almost forgotten the cold weather paper-chases, having so much -of interest to recount in the way of racing. Lord Bill was very fond -of riding after paper, and the Calcutta Paperchases were no child’s -play. He ran second in the Cup in the cold weather of 1880-81, riding -Oliver Twist, third on Mariner 1881-82, first on Premier in 1882-83, -first on Diamond in 1887-88. - -Captain Muir, commanding the Body Guard, who has already been -mentioned as having been left in charge of Lord Bill’s affairs when -he started for Zululand, won the Calcutta Paperchase Cup three years -running on his Warwickshire Lad, I believe, in the cold weather of -1877-78--1878-79--1879-80. The only person that I know of with such a -record. - -I ought perhaps to explain that the Viceroy and each Governor has a -Body Guard for escorts, guards, sentries, etc., much the same as the -Household Cavalry in England with the King. - -The Viceroy’s Body Guard was very impressive with its scarlet uniform -and lances. - -What a gift it is to be able to speak well. Lord Bill was a happy -speaker, always to the point, and always amusing, and how people -do like to be amused. We have only to look at the money made by -humorists like Mr. George Robey, who earns £200 a week to make people -laugh, and is worth it, or he would not receive that handsome money; -Little Tich with his £250 a week, or Cissy Loftus, the mimic, who -received £250 a week for her services. - -Compare with this the pay of some of our Indian officials, toiling in -the heat, often separated from all that makes life lovely. Truly it -is better to be funny than great, but then after all it is great to -be funny. Lord William thought every boy ought to be taught to speak, -and considered debating societies excellent practice for them, which -no doubt they are, teaching them not only to think, but to express -themselves intelligibly and to frame their sentences. - -As Lord William expressed it, “Everybody has not got the gift of the -gab,” but most can acquire it, and no doubt this is true to a great -extent; some great speakers have been miserable failures to begin -with, though overflowing with things they wanted to say. Disraeli was -an example. His first speech in the House of Commons was an utter -failure, possibly partially from nervousness, also want of practice; -eventually his phraseology was both forceful and picturesque. - -While Huxley, giving his first lecture at the Royal Institute, I -am told, was quite painful, so much so, that he received a letter -imploring him never to speak again, which was not encouraging. - -Some can speak and cannot write, others can write and cannot speak. -This has been brought home to me lately while turning over old -letters and documents searching for those relating to the subject of -these memories. - -I have come across forgotten letters that I have received at -different times from India, Afghanistan, Zululand, Burmah, South -Africa, East Africa, Russia, France, Egypt, in fact from most of the -places where there have been stirring times during my life. - -Many of the letters written by the chief actors, others from those -who at the time of writing were taught “not to think, but to do as -they were told--thinking was for their superiors!” - -It has interested me placing them side by side and studying the -different views held by the writers of the various situations they -were dealing with, not all the facts being by any means in accordance -with the accounts that have been handed down for our digestion. -Some of these writers could have thrown very vivid light on various -situations, but they have carried their griefs and in some cases -their injustices with them to their lonely, uncared-for graves. - -Amongst these letters are a few written in bald John Bull, -plum-puddingy jerky sentences, like roughly sketched in pictures to -be filled in later; possibly they found speaking easier than writing. -Then there are the letters dealing with the same situations, so -eloquent, so full of human sympathy and yet so dramatic that it is -almost like living through the experiences oneself. - -I suppose mistakes are not sins when people have honestly done their -best, but then the best is sometimes painfully foolish, and it is -poor consolation to those who have suffered in consequence of it, -that it was all a mistake! - -We must now hark back to Lord William’s racing. He was hoping to win -the Civil Service Cup at Lucknow, the best pony race in India. He and -all the staff who could possibly get away from Calcutta went to see -it run. Two of Lord William’s ponies were entered for it, namely, the -famous Arab Blitz and an English pony named Bustle. The former was a -strong favourite, and Lord William thought it a certain win. - -Before leaving Calcutta he promised Lady Lansdowne to telegraph to -her the result of the race. At dinner that night Sir John Hext asked -Lady Lansdowne if she had heard from Lord William as was arranged. -She replied “No; I am rather disappointed.” Dinner had not proceeded -very far when the expected telegram arrived. After reading it Her -Excellency burst out laughing, and handed it to Sir John, who read, -“Bustle _in front_ this time.” So the English pony had won the Cup. - -Myall King won the Horse Handicap, there being nothing there that -could touch him. - -Lord William’s health was again troubling him. He had in fact had -enough of India and its climate, though he would not allow it. He was -advised to go home on leave for a while, which he agreed to do, but -did not take long enough to benefit him materially, that curse of -India, dysentery, claiming him at intervals. - -Before leaving for home he sold Euclid (whom he considered no longer -of much racing value) to Count Poloki for £700. - -While Lord Bill was at home Weekes, who it will be remembered -bought Myall King for him, bought another horse in July for the -Durbangah-Beresford stable for 800 guineas. Various items of news -reached Lord Bill while at home which were worrying. One being that -anthrax had broken out at Dehra in the stables. Those who have had -any experience of that disease will be able to picture his feelings -on receiving this news, it being quite on the cards that every horse -might be dead in a few hours. Poor Shamshad was the first of the -victims. Fortunately stringent measures were taken by Willson, Lord -William’s trainer, before many had succumbed. - -Then followed the unpleasant news that Dunn was in trouble again, -for the confederacy stable was active, though Lord Bill was away. -This time it appears Dunn’s riding was so peculiar from the moment he -left the paddock that the Stewards felt it imperative to institute -another enquiry, regarding the running of Cumberland, and they came -to the conclusion he had not ridden the horse to win, in consequence -of which he was suspended for twelve months, rather taking his breath -away, riding being his means of livelihood. This punishment was later -added to by disqualification for life, for which no one could feel -sorry, if he was unable to serve faithfully such a good master he did -not deserve any mercy. - -I believe in 1892, thinking Dunn had suffered enough, his sentence -was remitted. - -Lord William now engaged the services of that first-rate jockey -Vinall, and he was out in India by October, when his lordship -returned, looking much better for his visit to the German Spas, where -he had amongst other things been drinking the waters. - -In December racing people’s breath was taken away by finding -Lord Bill had bought and landed in the country a couple of South -American horses, which under the then existing rules were rated -as country-breds and carried weight with that class. Vixen and -Westminster were the names of these surprise packets. - -At the Calcutta second meeting Escapade, Labby and Goldleaf won -races. Pamela also won her first prize, the Walter Locke Cup, while -good old Myall King romped away with the Viceroy’s Cup for the third -time, value 5850 rupees. - -The brilliant lawyer, Mr. Gasper, died in December of this year on -the way to England for a holiday; if I remember rightly he died of -heart failure. Lord William at once wrote a kindly, sympathetic -letter to his wife, which, considering he cannot have felt very -warmly towards her husband after the bitter tone he took up against -his jockey and horses, was good of him, and I hope the lady -appreciated the spirit that prompted him to do this gentle act. -Gentle courtly manners are the fruit of noble natures and loyal minds. - -January 1st, 1891, saw Lord William gazetted a full-blown colonel and -K.C.I.E. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER - - Why the Maharajah of Durbangah Gave up Racing--The Maharajah of - Patiala Joins the Stable--The Indian Lotteries--Some Successful - Racing--Lord Bill Pays Up--Simla Feeling Sad--Death of Myall - King--Some of His Chief Races--Farewell Dinner--List of - Guests--Speeches - - -Early in 1891 the Maharajah of Durbangah told his partner he meant to -give up racing. Mr. Abbott, who was in the know of all things racing, -attributes this decision to worry and anxiety caused by certain -Government schemes afloat which he feared would entirely disturb -the peace of his territory. Perhaps I cannot do better than quote -Mr. Abbott’s own words referring to the reason for His Highness’s -retirement. - -“This popular prince was worried out of his life by the spectre which -haunted his nightly dreams of the utterly uncalled for, ill-judged -and stupid scheme of the Cadastral Survey, hatched by two Irish -civilians, true to their breeding in that they were rabid haters of -landlords. If ever the heart of that generous, loyal and rattling -good all-round prince be post-mortemed, Cadastral Survey will be -found indelibly printed thereon. How could a man go on racing when he -knew that his whole principality, at that moment resting in perfect -peace and contentment, was to have its Arcadian simplicity disturbed -by numerically untold bands of harpies in Government uniform, -sweeping through its length and breadth, looting alike Zemindar and -Ryot, taking bribes with a magnificent impartiality from both--and -to do what? Draw dauby maps, incomplete and incorrect to start with, -absolutely useless in less than five years. A precious lot of use -this thrice-cursed and most scandalous survey will prove. Small -wonder Durbangah stopped racing, and that the once contented prince -is in a state of unrest and discontent.” Mr. Abbott maintains, “This -and this alone was the secret of Durbangah’s retiring from the turf.” - -Whether this survey proved disastrous or a benefit I am not able -to say, but I think we may take it that the description of Mr. -Abbott’s which I have quoted faithfully represents the state of the -Maharajah’s mind and feelings at the time. Great was the excitement -in India when the news became public property, and many both wise -and foolish were the speculations indulged in as to the reason. -Lord William was naturally very sorry, having had nothing but the -pleasantest relations with his partner from first to last. There had -always been entire agreement between them. In addition to his regret -at losing his racing partner Lord William was very grieved that -“such a good fellow and such a loyal prince” should be unhappy and -unsettled. - -There happened to be another native nobleman at the time anxious and -longing to make a name for himself on the turf, namely, the young and -enormously rich young Maharajah of Patiala, straight from the leading -strings of a strict Scotch tutor. Being at the Calcutta meeting -for the first time in the early part of ’91, and knowing that the -Beresford-Durbangah arrangement was at an end, he approached Lord -William with a view to being taught the ropes and joining company. He -was already a good horseman and loved the sport. His lordship agreed, -and so for the future it was to be that very powerful stable the -Patiala-Beresford, the strongest in India. - -So there was no halting in any of the programmes, everything went -on just as usual. At the Second Extra Calcutta Meeting in ’91 Lord -William won two races with Lord Clyde and one with Wild Oats, as wild -as his name. At the Lucknow Meeting Myall King won the Stewards’ -Purse, value 1500 rupees. Here again there was an unpleasantness, one -of those heated arguments that spoil the pleasure of a meeting for -everybody. This time the row began when Mr. Apcar’s Sylvia won the -Civil Service Cup, and Lord William, on behalf of the owner of the -second pony named Frisky, made objection to her not having paid the -full penalties. After certain explanations Lord William withdrew his -objection, but Frisky’s owner carried on the war, and the unfortunate -Stewards of the Turf Club (Calcutta) had to sift the matter and -adjudicate. Counsel exhausted themselves with their eloquence over -the case, but again it came to naught. - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Vandyk_ - -H. H. THE MAHARAJAH OF PATIALA] - -It was, I believe, in December, 1891, Myall King was beaten for the -Viceroy’s Cup by that speedy horse Moorhouse, but Sunshine won the -Karnaul Stakes, Edith the Zeerut Stakes, Teviot the Eastern Stakes, -plucky little Blitz the Eclipse Stakes, with ears down, thinking -hard, and doing his best; Ivo the Christmas Cup, so amongst these -many wins it is hoped consolation was found to make up for poor Myall -King’s defeat. - -On the fourth day of the big Calcutta Meeting there was some grand -racing. The Patiala-Beresford’s country-bred pony Negus, supposed -to be the best country-bred ever seen in India, won the Eastern -Handicap, and Ringmaster made a splendid finish for the Durbangah -Cup, Vinall only just managing to squeeze him in front of Savant -by a short head. The stable at this time had a small English boy -named Peake doing the lightweight riding for them, he was rather a -success. At the Third Extra Calcutta Meeting the black cap and light -blue jacket won four races on Christmas Day as follows: Escapade the -Kerry Stakes, Tabby the Welter, Negus the Bengal, Ivo the Fitzmaurice -Stakes. - -From now on, until Lord William left India early in 1894, there is -little if any particular interest to relate except his successful -racing, to which he devoted all his spare time. Chasing appealed -strongly to him, the excitement of it being after his own heart, and -nothing pleased him better than to be up himself. Being a good judge -of a horse, he knew what to look for when keeping his eyes and ears -open for possible winners. On paper we all know the thing to look -for, good shoulders to help them when landing, plenty of power behind -to propel with, and so on, but in practice this does not always do -the trick, for most of us at times have seen little weedy, tucked-up -animals win big prizes. Never mind, we are told the exception proves -the rule, and, as I have already remarked, Logic is, no doubt, a -good training for us all as leading to sound and considered judgment, -but horses are unacquainted with it. It is very seldom, however, that -a horse will not do his best, strain every nerve, in response to the -demands of his master. Lord William was a bold, plucky rider, with -good hands, but in racing was, I think, inclined to be too impetuous. -I have seen him spoil his own chances by being too eager. My readers -will say he managed to win a good many when riding himself. Quite -true, so he did, and he could do almost anything with horses, but his -tendency in racing was to go “all out.” - -A good deal of business was done in India over the Calcutta -Sweepstakes on the English Derby. Lord William was always keenly -interested, and did a good deal of buying and selling over the -horses’ chances, which, of course, is just as legitimate as certain -leading lights in the English racing world making a £10,000 yearling -book on the Derby. As a purchaser of tickets Lord Bill was in a good -position to judge a horse’s chances, being well posted from home, his -brother Lord Marcus keeping him well informed of all that was going -on, the breakdowns, scratchings, and other contingencies connected -with good and bad luck of the racehorse in training. The Calcutta -Sweep on our Derby is the most valuable in the world. Lord William -did a large business with the Indian lotteries, and made a heap -of money over them. The sweepstakes being drawn some weeks before -the race is run, gives everybody who likes to avail themselves of -it opportunities of making money by buying and selling the chances -subsequent to the draw, taking the form of jobbery on the Stock -Exchange. Many of my readers know all about this, but there are some -who may be glad of the explanation. It is not now possible to do -what has been done in the past with Calcutta Sweeps, what is called -“future event wagering,” is more or less a thing of the past. It must -be remembered there was not much for Lord William to learn about -racing, and he knew how to hedge so as to make his book fairly safe -before the flag fell. There is an old adage, “No bet is a good one -until it is well hedged.” I think latterly Lord William hedged a -good deal. I have heard it remarked that he lost his nerve a little, -and after making a big book would hedge it off again, thereby not -making the sums he might have done over his own horses, but I think -we may take it his lordship knew what he was doing, and did it fairly -satisfactorily. - -In February, 1892, that wonderful pony Lord Clyde, whose legs must -have been made of cement, won the Merchants’ Purse at Lucknow with -ease, Arabi Pasha the Derby, and Negus the Civil Service Cup. -Racing people in India were growing restive at the formidable -Patiala-Beresford stable winning so many of the best races, but if -the stewards and officials who arrange the different meetings invite -outsiders to compete they must not cry if they come and at times -carry off their prizes. Both the Maharajah and Lord Bill were so -extraordinarily generous they cared much less for the cash and prizes -than for the glory of winning, and would willingly have given them -the value of the stakes if that was all that mattered. - -The Patiala Prince started some races of his own in April, 1892, on -his own estate. They became very popular, and his hospitality was -remarkable, everything well done, and Lord William able to help him -in laying out and arranging the course, which was 1½ miles long, and -well kept. It boasted of two grand stands, stables, dressing-rooms, -weighing-room, and all the heart of man or beast could desire. - -On the opening day both the Maharajah and his A.D.C., Sirdar Preetum -Singh, rode in races, each being a winner. The bookmakers did good -business too. - -At Agra the stable did fairly well, winning the Bhurtpore Plate -with Doris, Bar Stakes with Teviot, three races with Edith, and the -Auction Stakes with Joker. Small wonder folk felt nervous when the -Patiala-Beresford horses appeared on the scenes. - -At Simla, on the new altered course, the races could hardly be called -gymkhanas any longer, many good horses coming from far and near to -compete. Lord William won the Jakko Stakes with his Coffee, but I do -not remember any other wins of this time at Annandale, though there -may have been several. - -[Illustration: NEW PAVILION AT ANNANDALE] - -The majority of his horses, as well as the viceregal horses, were -summering at Dehra as usual. This year a few were sent to Nami Tal, -another hill station, by way of a change and to represent the stable -in some races and gymkhanas. Two horses that had lately been imported -to India were causing anxiety, they were not doing very well at -Dehra, but as they had come out in that trying month of August it -was hardly surprising. It was my fate once to be in the Red Sea in -August, and I almost made up my mind to die, but thought better of -it, while a real live judge on board made no bones about it, and did -lie down and die, though everybody did their best for the poor old -man with ice, fans, and punkahs. - -At Meerut Doris won the Haupur Stakes, Cuba the Handicap Hurdles, -Tabby the Aligarh Stakes, Edith the Railway Stakes. - -At Umballa a match was arranged between Lord William and Mr. Woolmer, -to come off at the Autumn Lucknow Meeting, the friends of each of -these sportsmen betting on the event. It was looked forward to with -considerable interest. - -Saltford won the Grand Annual at Umballa, and the stable won a couple -of other races. - -At Pindi, Marvel won the Pindi Plate; at Lucknow, Doris the Dilkoosha -Stakes easily, Escapade the Trials, Teviot the Club Stakes. - -Some horses were sent off at the same time to Hyderabad with Ryder in -charge and did well, bringing in something satisfactory in stakes. - -Myall King, if I remember rightly, won a big race. The race meetings -followed on each other’s heels fairly quickly, and we must now follow -the stable to the Calcutta First Extra Meeting, where Pavo won the -Pony Plate easily. Arab Brat, a wonderful pony, a mass of muscle, -well made and lovely to behold, won the small Pony Trials, Ivo the -Frost Stakes, and in the December Stakes, Lord William led in Lady -Grace the winner. - -At the big meeting, December 24th, Sunshine won the Kurnaul Stakes, -Tostig, a most untrustworthy but very fast horse, the Trials, Ivo the -Walter Locke Cup. - -For the Viceroy’s Cup this year the stable had nothing they felt that -could compete with the Maharajah of Kooch Behar’s grand black gelding -Highborn. Their Caterina ran, but was beaten by him. - -The smart country-bred Sunshine won the Gunny Meah Cup, the fast -Eider the Sandown Park Stake in a canter, and Caterina retrieved her -character by winning the rich Kooch Behar prize, though she had a -good field against her; Little Brat also won the Eclipse Stakes. - -It seemed quite correct that after being beaten by the Rajah of Kooch -Behar’s horse for the Viceroy’s Cup that Caterina should retaliate by -winning His Highness’s Cup. - -A glance at the winning of the Confederacy at this meeting is -instructive, 21,000 rupees being won between the Patiala and -Beresford horses. - -At Tollygunge, the obliging and always ready Edith won the Handicap -Chase. So ended the 1892 racing. - -On January 14th, 1903, at Calcutta, that compact and beautifully -made pony Parvo won the Belvedere Pony Stakes, also another a little -later. Vixen, the South American, roped in the rupees in the Selling -Welter, and again next day the Alipore Stakes. - -The first day at Lucknow opened with the two matches between Lord -William and Captain Woolmer. In the first Lord William was to -ride his English horse Tostig against Capt. Woolmer’s Australian -Flashlight, catch weight over 12 stone, distance three furlongs. -Flashlight was a curious, rather ungainly looking horse, with -an uncomfortable saddle back, being round or roach-backed. -Nevertheless, the horse won. In the other match Lord William rode an -English horse again, named Simon de Montfort. I am sure his opponent -must have felt impressed by this high-sounding title. Capt. Woolmer -was on an English mare rejoicing in the common or garden name of -Stourbay. Here again Capt. Woolmer won, and Lord Bill had to pay up, -the terms having been 5000 rupees a side. The only comfort out of the -day’s racing was that Exile won the Martiniere Stakes. - -The second day’s racing was better for them. Doris won the Pony -Race, Mocassin the Pony Chase, Kirkstall the Goomtee Stakes, Prince -Imperial the All-horse Handicap, as well as two other races I am -not sure about; so the owners began to preen themselves again. The -Civil Service Cup was a disappointment. They had hoped to win it with -Negus, but were beaten by a pony named Pekin. - -At Meerut Plebein won the Grand National Chase, Prince Imperial the -Turf Club Cup, and in March, 1893, at the Patiala meeting little -Blitz added the Pony Race to his laurels; Sirus the Asiatic Stakes, -and Salford with nothing near him the Grand Annual. - -Lord William had added Flashlight to his string. It had worried him -very much there being anything that could beat his Tostig, which was -considered a really fast horse; he determined if possible to buy -Flashlight, and, as we see, he did accomplish the deal. - -Riding in the Calcutta Military Paperchase for the cup in 1893, Lord -Bill had a nasty fall with Ratafia. No bones were broken this time -fortunately, but he had to keep to his bed for several weeks. Though -now forty-six years of age, he still rode as hard as ever, still did -gymkhana tricks, and skylarked with the best of them, though he had -already eight times broken his collarbone, had various concussions -of the brain, and hundreds of minor griefs in the way of bumps and -bruises, yet his nerve had never failed him. - -At the 1893 Pindi meeting, Patiala-Beresford horses won nothing, -which was rather amusing, as it was from there the chief cry came -about its being no use racing against millionaire princes, of course -they could afford to buy up all the best horses, etc., giving no one -else a chance. On this occasion they must have felt small, to say the -least of it. - -At the end of the season the horses went to their summer quarters, -and the usual anxiety and curiosity began of wondering what the -Confederacy would produce for the next year’s racing. Wild rumours -floated about of the horses Lord William was supposed to have bought; -the racing and betting people studied all the English, Australian, -and American papers in hopes of finding out, or at any rate gleaning -some information. The would-be wise gossipers added various horses to -his stable with wonderful records, all of which were inventions or -at any rate proved incorrect. What was true, and eventually became -known, was that he had bought Sprig o’ Myrtle, a well-known and good -horse, with a view to taking Highborn down a peg or two. - -In June I think, at any rate in the hot weather, Lord William sent -Westminster, Vixen, Lady Grace, Escapade, Goldleaf and Chester to -Bangalore to train. This was chiefly owing to the Calcutta Turf Club -having decided not to allow South American horses any longer to be -entered in the country-bred class as regards weight. The Western -Indian Turf Club not having arrived at any such conclusion, both -Vixen and Westminster had a good chance there, making it worth while -sending them. Lord William’s prediction was verified, they both won -races and many rupees there. - -Simla was feeling rather miserable trying to face the inevitable, -for Lord William’s years of office were drawing to a close. People -quarrelled with one another to entertain him and do him honour, and -in spite of Lord Bill’s cheery efforts there was a something in the -air that spelt depression, for who would, or ever could, take his -place? And what were Lord Bill’s feelings in leaving all his kind -friends and the haunts of so many happy and successful years? I know -he felt lumps in his throat at times, and it seemed to bring home -to him that his youth was gone; that suddenly somehow he had become -middle-aged, and he had not hitherto realised it. He had been obliged -to give up polo, and his health at times was far from satisfactory, -although his spirit had never failed, was still unquenched, and after -all he had earned a little home life, but against that no one likes -leaving a place where they have been a little god. - -Amongst the most touching of his farewells was from the children -at Simla; he gave them a last farewell party at Inverarm, and they -presented him with a little remembrance, which was amongst the most -valued of his many parting gifts. - -While at Simla, Lady Lansdowne, who was very much liked, told some -lady she should like to visit her friends and have tea with them as -she did amongst her friends at home, she did not care for the formal -“stand-off” viceregal attitude. The lady this remark was addressed -to promptly said, “Oh, will you come to tea with me?” receiving an -answer in the affirmative. When the Military Secretary heard of this -he at once begged Her Excellency to do nothing of the kind; it would -be establishing a precedent in the first place which might not be -desirable, added to which it would most certainly lead to jealousy -and trouble, so the kind and sociable-hearted Vice-reine had to give -up the idea. - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Bourne & Shepherd_ - -MYALL KING’S GRAVE] - -Lord William now entered upon his last year’s racing. He wanted to -have an Irish finish, a good gallop for the last, and he was not -disappointed, for he certainly won a prodigious number of races. -People opened their eyes and blinked when Willson, Lord William’s -trainer, reached Calcutta with a truly formidable string, consisting -of good old Myall King, Flashlight, Tostig, Sprig o’ Myrtle, -Kirstall, Ivo, Westminster, Lady Grace, Caterina, Eider, Tabby, -Killatoe, Firstshot, Nectar, Mite, Negus, Labby, Parvo, Lady Ethleen, -Seabreeze, Puffball, Annie Rooney, Release, FitzGeorge, Coochick -and ever so many more, surely he must have reached the height of -his ambitions in India; but alas! his pleasure in his last year’s -racing was damped by an accident to his favourite Myall King while -he was being schooled over hurdles. It was noticed he was fencing -rather carelessly, whether he felt he had done his bit, and ceased -to be interested in the game, or whether he did not feel well, it is -hard to tell, but it ended in his coming to grief and breaking his -leg. Lord William was much upset, for Myall King had played the game -so handsomely for him. He ordered a monument to be erected to the -horse’s memory at Barrackpore, of which I give a photograph. Lord -William is standing on the right side with his little fox terrier, -Willson the trainer stands on the left, and Vinall near him. The -picture of Lord William is not the least like him. I think it has -suffered in the touching up process through which I understand they -have to go, but the photo is of interest. - -Many people who had admired the poor old horse felt sad when they -heard he had met his death on the racecourse where he had won so many -races. The poor beast had of course to be put out of his pain. - -The _Indian Planters Gazette_ felt it so strongly it broke into song, -as follows:-- - - Myall King has been shot, ran the pitiful story, - We heard in Calcutta on last Tuesday eve; - But that such a sad ending had come to his glory, - We listeners indeed found it hard to believe. - - Fling open the gates of the equine Valhalla - While the notes of his requiem mournfully ring, - Staunchest of thoroughbreds, best of Australians, - Champion of India, brave Myall King. - - Yet, if there’s a future for men and for horses, - Perhaps our old hero we once more may see, - Grazing free on sweet clover in meadows celestial, - Happy as sportsmen all wish him to be. - -The following shows at a glance the horse’s performances:-- - - _Myall King, by King Cob--Queen of the Forest_ - - Weights. Distance. Time. - 1887, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 8.8 1¾ m. 3 m. 9½ s. - Durbangah Cup 9.0 1 m. 6 f. 3 m. 20½ s. - 132 yds. - 1888, Feb. Lucknow Stewards’ Purse 10.3 2 m. 3 m. 41 s. - 1888, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 9.0 1¾ m. 3 m. 7½ s. - 1890, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 9.0 1¾ m. 3 m. 8 s. - 1891, Feb. Lucknow Stewards’ Purse 9.7 1½ m. 2 m. 41 s. - 1891, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup -- -- Ran third - 1892, -- Hyderabad Gold Cup 9.7 2 m. -- - -Misfortunes seldom come singly. Another catastrophe occurred almost -directly after Myall King’s, that useful pony Edith fell at the same -place, putting her shoulder out, so of course she could race no more. - -On December 2nd, at the first Extra Calcutta Meeting, Release ran -a dead-heat with Mr. Apcar’s Sapper in the Pony Plate, which was -unsatisfactory to both. At the second Extra Meeting Ivo won the -Fort Stakes, First Shot, looking splendid, won the Pony Trials, and -Westminster the Maiden Horse Stakes. Prince Imperial the Hastings -Plate Hurdles. - -Then came the eventful Cup Day. Excitement had been great for some -time and now grew intense. Many people thought the Maharajah of Kooch -Behar’s Highborn was certain to win, though in the opinion of some -he was a trifle overtrained. Lord William also had plenty of backers. - -As the horses cantered past to the post, Highborn certainly did look -tired and a little stale, while Tostig, Lord William’s horse, or I -should say the Confederacy horse, was looking very fit. They both got -away well, and Vinall kept his charge going from the first, hoping -to reduce his field a bit; he kept the lead until the last turn for -home, when it was observed Highborn was creeping up, though pale blue -and black cap was still leading. Presently Trahan, who was riding -Highborn, threw up his arm and began riding for a finish. This made -the crowd shout out, “Highborn’s beaten, Highborn’s done,” and the -field thought all was over but the shouting, and Lord William would -be victorious. Both jockeys now meant business; both were riding -every inch resolutely, but in spite of Vinall’s best endeavours, the -black landed his head well in front as he passed the winning post, -conqueror by a length. - -The sporting Maharajah of Kooch Behar, who was very popular, received -endless congratulations, and none more hearty than from his old -friend Lord William. Most people had hoped that being his lordship’s -last year’s racing he would again win the cup and retire victorious, -but the stable had to console itself with Negus winning the Eastern -Pony Stakes, and Eider the Walter Locke Cup. - -The big plum of the third day Parvo secured, on the fourth day -Lady Ethleen ran a dead-heat for the Lilliputians, and Negus the -Pony Handicap, and so ended Lord William’s last season’s racing in -Calcutta. - -On Saturday evening, the 30th of December, 1893, a farewell dinner -was given to Lord William by a large number of his friends in the -Calcutta Town Hall, prior to his departure from India, where he had -spent, as he himself said, “The best years of his life.” - -The hall was decorated with flags and draperies in Lord William’s -racing colours, the lances of the Viceroy’s Body Guard arranged round -the massive pillars of the hall, the general effect being distinctly -pretty. - -Mr. Charles H. Moore, one of Lord William’s oldest friends, occupied -the chair, and it is thanks to his courtesy I am able to produce the -facsimile of the signatures of the guests at that memorable feast, -also his speech in proposing the guest of the evening my readers will -see is both eloquent and earnest, and my friends tell me the delivery -was most impressive, calling forth an enthusiasm rarely witnessed on -such occasions. - -Lord William was, I know, greatly touched, and his reply was spoken -with much feeling and heartfelt appreciation for his kindly reception. - -Lord William sat on Mr. Moore’s right, the two next chairs being -occupied by Mr. Justice Macpherson and the Hon. General Brackenbury, -while on the chairman’s left were Admiral Kennedy and Lord Brassey. -The band of the Rifle Brigade played during the evening. - - -The following is a list of those present:-- - - Abbott, Mr. H. E.; Agnew, Capt. Q.; Agnew, Mr. H. de C.; Alexander, - Mr. R.; Allason, Major; Allan, Mr. J. J.; Anderson, Mr. A. S.; - Anderson, Mr. G. G.; Apcar, Mr. J. G.; Apostolides, Mr. E. C.; - Althorp, Capt. K.; Arbuthnot, Mr. J.; Ardagh, Col. J. C., C.I.E.; - Arthur, Mr. A.; Barclay, Mr. P. D.; Barlow, Mr. R.; Barnes, Mr. - F. C.; Bates, Mr. R. G.; Beaver, Col. P. K. L.; Beresford, Mr. - W. M.; Beverley, the Hon. Mr. Justice, C.S.; Bignell, Mr. R.; - Boteler, Mr. R.; Bourdillon, the Hon. J. A., C.S.; Brackenbury, - the Hon. Lieut.-General H., C.B.; Bradshaw, Surgeon-Major-General; - Brassey, the Right Hon. the Lord; Brasier-Creagh, Capt., A.D.C.; - Brock, Mr. C.; Brooke, Mr. W. R., C.I.E.; Buck, Sir E., C.I.E.; - Buckland, Mr. C. E., C.S.; Butler, Mr. A. L.; Bythell, Capt.; - Campbell, Capt. I. M., D.S.O.; Campbell, Mr. Alec; Campbell, Mr. - H. P.; Chatterton, Col. F. W.; Chisholme, Major J. J. Scott; - Christopher, Major; Collen, Major-General Sir E. H. H., K.C., - I.E.; Cotton, the Hon. H. J. S., C.S.I.; Creagh, Mr. B. P.; Croft, - the Hon. Sir A., K.C.I.E; Cubitt, Mr. J. E.; Cumberledge, Mr. F, - H.; Cuningham, Mr. W. J., C.S.I.; Cunningham, Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. - D. D.; Currie, Capt. J.; Curzon, the Hon. Major M.; Dangerfield, - Mr. E.; Daniel, Mr. Linsay; Dickson, Mr. Geo.; Dickson, Mr. J. - G.; Dods, Mr. W.; Doran, Major B. J. C.; Eddis, Mr. W. K.; Ellis, - Col. S. R.; Enter, Mr. K.; Evans, the Hon. Sir Griffith, K.C.I.E.; - Ezra, Mr. J. E. D.; Fenn, Surgeon-Col. E. H., C.I.E.; Galbraith, - Major-General W., C.B.; Gambrie, Col. G. R.; Gamble, Mr. R. A.; - Garraway, Capt. C. W.; Garth, Mr. G. L.; Garth, Mr. W.; Gladstone, - Mr. A. S.; Gladstone, Mr. J. S.; Gough, Capt. C. H. H.; Gough, Mr. - G.; Gregory, Mr. E. H.; Gregson, Mr. C. B.; Grimston, Capt. R. E., - A.D.C.; Hadden, Mr. F. G.; Hamilton, Mr. F. S., C.S.; Hamilton, - Mr. L. B.; Harbord, Capt. the Hon. C.; Hart, Mr. G. H. R.; Harvey, - Surgeon-Col. R.; Henderson, Mr. G. S.; Hensman, Mr. H.; Herbert, - Capt. L.; Hewett, Mr. J. P., C.S., C.I.E.; Hext, Capt. J., R.N., - C.I.E.; Hills, Mr. A.; Hills, Mr. C. R.; Hodgson, Mr. G. C.; - Holmes, Mr. W., C.S.; Hope, Mr. G. W.; Hunt, Col. J. L.; Irving, - Mr. W. O. Bell; James, Mr. S. Harvey, C.S.; Jardine, Sir William, - Bart.; Jarrett, Col. H. S.; Jenkins, Capt. A. E.; Johnstone, Mr. C. - Lawrie; Jourdain, Mr. C. B.; Kennedy, H. E., Rear-Admiral George; - King, Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. G., C.I.E.; King, Mr. D. W.; - Kirk, Mr. H. A.; Kooch Behar, H. H. the Maharajah of, G.C.I.E.; - Lambert, the Hon. Sir John, K.C.I.E.; Lance, Brigadier-General F., - C.B.; Latimer, Mr. F. W.; Lethbridge, Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col.; - Lister, Capt. G. C., A.D.C.; Ludlow, Col.; Lumsden, Mr. D. M.; - Luson, Mr. H.; Lyall, Mr. A. A.; Lyall the Hon. Mr. D. R., C.S.I., - C.S.; Lyall, Mr. R. A.; Mackensie, Mr. D. F.; Mackellor, Mr. G. - B.; Macleod, Mr. J. J.; Macnair, Mr. G. B.; Macpherson, the Hon. - Justice W., C.S.; Maitland, Col.; McInnes, Mr. H. H.; McLeod, - Mr. C. C.; Mehta, Mr. R. D.; Miley, Col. J. A.; Mills, Mr. G.; - Milton, Lord, A.D.C.; Moore, Mr. C. H.; Muir, Mr. A. K.; Muir, Sir - John, Bart.; Myers, Mr. Dudley B.; Norman, Mr. A. F.; Norris, the - Hon. Justice, Q.C.; Overend, Mr. T. B. G.; Paget, Mr. H. E. C.; - Paris, Mr. G. B.; Pattison, Mr. F. E.; Paul, Col. St.; Peacock, - Mr. F. B.; Perinan, Mr. F. W.; Peterson, Mr. C. D.; Patrie, Mr. - J. M.; Playfair, the Hon. Mr. P.; Pollen, Capt. S. H., A.D.C.; - Prickett, Mr. L. G.; Prinsep, the Hon. Mr. Justice H. T., C.S.; - Pritchard, the Hon. Sir C., K.C.I.E., C.S.I.; Ralli, Mr. John A.; - Ralli, Mr. T. D.; Rawlinson, Mr. A. T.; Raye, Brigade-Surgeon - D.; Rodocanachi, Mr. J.; Ross, Mr. R. M.; Rustornjee, Mr. H. M.; - Sanders, Surgeon-Major R. C.; Saunders, Mr. J. O’B.; Schiller, - Mr. F. C.; Shakespeare, Mr. F.; Simson, Mr. A.; Simson, Mr. A. - F.; Stedman, General E., C.B.; Steel, Mr. Robert; Stewart, Mr. F. - G.; Stewart, Mr. C. D.; Stewart, Mr. J. L.; Stewart, Mr. J. R.; - Stuart, Mr. Harry; Targett, Mr. W. H.; Temple, Mr. G.; Thomas, Mr. - J. P.; Thomas, Mr. L. R.; Thomas, Mr. R. E. S.; Thomas, Mr. W. L.; - Thuillier, Col. H. R.; Toomay, Mr. J. A.; Trail, Mr. T.; Tremearne, - Mr. Shirley; Turnbull, Mr. R., C.I.E.; Turner, Capt. J. G.; Upton, - Mr. R. L.; Vincent, Mr. Claude; Walker, Major-General A.; Waller, - Mr. R. R.; Ward, Mr. G.; West, Mr. J. D.; Wilkins, Mr. C. A., C.S.; - Williams, Capt. G. A. - -In rising to propose the health of the Viceroy and Lady Lansdowne, -Mr. Moore was very warmly received. He said:-- - - “Gentlemen,--We have a rigid rule here to-night to confine our - speeches to two, but I must break it so far as to ask you to drink - to the health of the Viceroy and Lady Lansdowne--(cheers). I am - sure I am interpreting your sentiments right in thinking you will - do it with enthusiasm. They have won the hearts of us all, and - their approaching departure carries with it a feeling of actual - personal loss arising from the affection and esteem they have so - universally inspired; he, because he is straight, loyal and true, - and she, because in every respect she is perfectly charming.” - - “The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm, the whole - company standing,” to quote the words from the account given to me. - -After a brief interval the Chairman again rose, his rising being the -signal for prolonged cheering. He said:-- - - “Gentlemen,--I first knew Bill Beresford over thirty years ago in - the playing fields of Eton, where they say battles are won, to the - inspiration of which thought we may both trust to fight against - the extreme nervousness our respective positions entail on us - to-night. His nervousness needs no apology, as he has to respond - to a whole evening in his honour, which nobody could face with - perfect equanimity. Mine perhaps requires this explanation, that in - assuming my duty, which is to now call a toast to his name, and bid - him farewell on behalf of this large company, I find it difficult - to do so in appropriate terms, lest I be charged with personal bias - from my well-known feelings for him of affectionate friendship and - regard--(cheers). I have been selected for this task which, for - this reason, I would rather have deputed to some other, because - amongst Calcutta residents proper (and this dinner is meant to - bear a Calcutta complexion) I have known him longer than most, if - not than all of you. This qualification I claim with pride. I beg - you however to believe I mean to be impartial in the few remarks - regarding his career which I now make--(cheers). - - “I must not date back too far, so I leave Eton days and get - straight to India, where his main career has been spent, and with - distinction--(cheers)--for it is with that portion of his life that - this company is chiefly concerned. What fortunate accident brought - him here I do not quite know, unless it was the natural termination - of the short life and a merry one dear to youthful soldiers in the - old country, but having arrived here eighteen years ago, here he - has remained, and I would briefly recall to you the various phases - in which he has appeared before us. I think I can best cut him - into four--(laughter and cheers)--the soldier, the official, the - sportsman, and the social companion--(cheers). - - “As soldier I cannot speak of him from personal knowledge. - I have the satisfaction of being a member of society who, - when war is abroad, is entitled to seclude himself from its - ranks--(laughter)--but it is a consolation to feel that a good - plucked one, like our friend Bill, is to the fore to protect - me--(hear, hear, and laughter). I recollect I first saw him as - a soldier, gay and dapper, in 9th Lancers uniform, brown hair, - sufficient of it, and a straight nose--(laughter)--escorting the - Prince of Wales from Prinseps Ghât to Government House, but this is - only the show side of a soldier’s life. For its realistic side one - must go further afield, and there are those amongst us from whom no - doubt I could glean facts to set forth his worth, but there is no - need. He bears on his breast the sign manual of merit in the proud - insignia of the Victoria Cross, and I am justified in accepting - that as sufficient evidence--(loud and prolonged cheers). - - “As official, we have all known him best as Military Secretary to - the Viceroy of India. He has (after six years’ service as A.D.C. to - Lords Northbrook and Lytton) held the post for twelve years under - three successive Viceroys; has raised the office to a science, and - himself from an official into an institution--(cheers)--acquired - a reputation absolutely unique, and so identified himself with - the position that when a new Viceroy is appointed it seems - more natural to ask who is to be his ‘Bill Beresford’ than his - ‘Military Secretary’--(cheers and laughter)--and when it is - Bill himself the Viceroy elect has secured, what is of great - value, the same capacity and undeviating loyalty enjoyed by his - predecessor--(cheers). In all this I need not rely upon my own - judgment, for it is proved a hundred-fold in the fact that he - has been the choice and acquired the confidence and esteem of - successive men of high intellect and such different characters as - Lords Ripon, Dufferin and Lansdowne--(cheers). More than that I - understand his worth has been recognised by a power higher even - than a Viceroy’s, and testified to by his elevation to a Knighthood - in the Order of the Indian Empire, of which he is already a - member--(loud and continued cheering). I knew that would elicit the - hearty congratulations of you all, and I am glad we are the first - to offer them. - - “In the social part of his duties, his capacity extends to, and is - felt by all of us, for the influence of the Chief of the Staff is - visible in every detail of the social functions and hospitality - of Government House. I can assure him we not only know it, but - appreciate very warmly the advantages we have derived from it. He - has won all this by sheer force of character, and we find it hard - to realise he is really giving up. - - “As sportsman, I can best sum him up in the current colloquialism - that he is absolutely undefeated--(loud and continued cheers). - His stable of racehorses has been for years the chief mainstay of - Calcutta racing; in all weathers and all vicissitudes of fortune - he is to the fore, full of pluck, always has horses to run or to - back, buys freely, and is generally a dispensation of Providence - to stewards, being a staunch supporter of ruling powers and - frequent offers of useful advice born of long experience. His most - remarkable virtue to my mind is his exuberant cheerfulness even - when luck is against him--(cheers). I never met a better loser, and - it means possession of a combination of enviable qualities rarely - met with. I have known his career on the turf for over twenty - years, and to speak of him as I know him he has throughout raced - like an honest English gentleman. As you all know, he is a splendid - whip, and was a first-class performer over jumps, especially on - difficult horses, until he ended his career to that game, and it - was then that he spoilt the shape of the nose I before alluded - to--(much laughter and cheers). - - “As social companion, I suppose nobody amongst us has ever had - such a large circle of appreciative acquaintance in circles - from the highest to the lowest, male and female--(laughter and - cheers)--and if I may venture to say it without exhibition of - bias, his popularity is due to his inexhaustible fund of high - spirits, ready sympathy, love for hosts of friends, open-handed - generosity--(cheers)--admiration of beauty, his merry Irish wit, - and infinite capacity of loyal attachment to his pals--(continued - cheers). - - “That concludes my dissection of his personality, which the patient - has borne heroically, and I now put him together again as one - piece--(laughter). - - “I do not think any man in this room is intuitively more modest in - the estimate of his own merits than my dear friend Bill--(hear, - hear, and cheers). I know his impulse will be to attribute my - praise to my kindly feelings towards him. I anticipate him by - replying that 180 people have met here to do him honour--(loud - and prolonged cheers)--that residents in India are not given to - spasmodic ebullitions of enthusiasm, nor to be influenced by a - passing breath of popular favour. Their whole trend of mind is - in the opposite direction; they are more prone to indifference - generally, and as regards individuals to apathy, and when such a - goodly company as this assembles to bid good-bye to one member of - the community, it bears the practical significance that he has - made a noticeable mark and justifies the general tenour of my - remarks--(cheers). - - “I ask him therefore to take that unction to his soul in reflecting - over this entertainment, and assure him that when on behalf of all - of us I now wish him a very warm farewell, health and happiness in - the future, and add a hearty ‘God bless you, old chap,’ we mean - we admire him, that we are his friends, intend to remain so, and - bitterly regret his departure from amongst us--(loud and prolonged - cheers). - - “I have now to call a toast to him, Gentlemen, as a typical - soldier, a capable official, an undefeated sportsman, a prince of - good fellows, and a man of mark amongst us.” - -The toast was drunk with enthusiastic cheers, the band playing “For -he’s a jolly good fellow” and “Auld Lang Syne,” in both of which the -whole company joined in singing the chorus. - -Lord William Beresford stood up to reply, and after the hearty round -of cheering with which his rising was greeted had subsided, spoke as -follows:-- - - “Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,--Before I attempt to reply to the - speech in which your Chairman has praised me much more than I - deserve--(No, no)--I must ask you to notice that even the old - schoolfellow and friend he is, he is unable to bring it to - my charge that I am orator, and I must own I feel at a great - disadvantage in this respect compared with him, and if the few - words which I have risen to say seem to any of you to fall short - of what they should, believe me that it is not because they are - not spoken from the heart--(hear, hear, and cheers)--but because - of my inability to give expression to what I feel, and surely it - would be no reproach to anyone if at a time like this he found it - very difficult, if not almost impossible, to thank you in adequate - terms, not only for the manner in which you have accepted and - endorsed the altogether flattering description that Mr. Moore has - given of me and of my career in India, but also for the feelings of - good fellowship which prompted you to ask me to be your guest here - to-night--(cheers). - - “I can imagine no greater honour than to find myself at the close - of one’s sojourn in India invited by 180 of one’s fellow-countrymen - in Calcutta to a social meeting like that of to-night--(cheers). - The invitation came to me as a most complete, unexpected and - most gratifying surprise, and will, I assure you all, add to - the brightest and happiest recollections of my last weeks in - India--(hear, hear, and cheers)--which must, alas! of necessity - contain far more of pain than pleasure in them, for no one can cut - himself off finally from a country in which he has been employed - for eighteen years, and those the best of his life, in which he - has made most of his best friends, and mixed as I have tried to do - in all its sport and pastimes, without feeling a shock in doing - so--(cheers). - - “Gentlemen, Mr. Moore says he does not quite know what brought me - out to India, and as I, to use his own expression, have appeared - before you in four various phases, first of which he puts as - soldier, I think this is a good opportunity of telling you that it - was in the capacity of a subaltern in the 9th Lancers that I came - out to this country, and he is quite right in saying that it was in - that uniform I first appeared in Calcutta, as extra A.D.C. on Lord - Northbrook’s staff, leading the cortège of His Royal Highness the - Prince of Wales from Prinseps Ghât to Government House. - - “I regret that the abundance of brown locks to which he refers no - longer remain, but is replaced by a scanty silver fringe--(laughter - and cheers). - - “With regard to the allusion he made to the straightness of the - nose--(laughter)--that he recollects on that occasion, he is not - quite correct, and there is a gentleman (Mr. J. J. Allan) among my - hosts here to-night that can testify to the fact that, owing to - a slight disagreement he and I had many years ago, not actually - in the playing fields of Eton, but close by, he made a little - arrangement that prevented the particular nose referred to being - worn straight by its wearer for the rest of his life--(laughter - and cheers)--this particular battle was not won by either, as it - was acknowledged to be a draw, and I am glad to tell you the two - combatants have been the very best of friends ever since--(hear, - hear, and cheers). - - “When I came out with the 9th, the greatest aim and object of my - life was, some day in the future, to get command of that regiment, - but force of circumstances prevented these wishes being gratified, - and I elected, whether for better or worse I cannot say, to remain - as Military Secretary with the Viceroy of India, in preference - to going back as second in command of my old regiment, and thus - closing promotion which I was bound to get by remaining on in my - post out here. I am sorry to say, therefore, that it is years since - I have done any soldiering, and it is a great regret to me on - leaving this country that I cannot return to the dear old regiment - in which I began my service. - - “The next section into which Mr. Moore has placed me is the - official one, and with regard to it I may say how fortunate I have - been in having served under five such masters. It is not for me - to make comparisons, or to refer to their respective policies, - but I may be permitted to say, which I do from the bottom of my - heart, that from one and all I invariably received the greatest - kindness, and if I have succeeded in pleasing them, I am fully - recompensed for any trouble I may have taken in the performance of - my various duties; but, Gentlemen, I am afraid that at times the - Military Secretary’s duty necessitates his doing things which may - be displeasing to those who are affected. In such cases I can only - say that I have endeavoured to do my duty to the best of my lights, - and if I have at any time hurt anyone’s feelings in such matters, I - have done so most unwillingly and to my great regret, and I should - like to take this opportunity of stating how much indebted I am to - all the different departments that I have had to deal with for the - help, advice, and support that I have always received on all sides, - and thanks to which my official work has been made comparatively - easy--(cheers)--and when in a few weeks now I hand over the reins - of my office to my successor, the best and kindest wish I can - desire for his welfare is that he may be as ably supported and - leniently dealt with as I have been--(hear, hear, and cheers). I - think he starts his career under very favourable circumstances, - having formerly served his apprenticeship on the Viceroy’s staff, - and has thus become thoroughly conversant with all the details - of that staff. He (Colonel Durand) is a real good soldier; most - popular with everybody who knows him--(cheers)--and I only hope - when the time comes for him to have finished his turn of office as - Military Secretary he will be able to look back to as many happy - days and warm friendships made as I can--(cheers). - - “The third section to which the Chairman referred was the sportsman - section, and believe me, I am very proud indeed to have such - a title attached to my name, but I am afraid I can no longer - claim to be the sportsman I used to be owing to a variety of - accidents between the flags, on the polo ground, and in pursuit - of pig and paper, but still I cling to sports of all sorts as - much as circumstances will permit me to do. I have tried all that - are offered to us in India, and I think that many of my hosts - to-night will support me in saying that pig-sticking takes first - place--(hear, hear, and cheers). I certainly must own I have - derived more pleasure from this than either tiger shooting, racing, - or anything else I tried. Certainly I was extremely fortunate when - I first came to India and tried my hand at the spear to have the - advice and guidance of that acknowledged prince of pig-stickers, - who I am proud to see has honoured me to-night with his presence, - Archie Hills, of Patkahari--(loud and continued cheers). It was he - who led the dance of our party the first time I ever rode after - pig; he told me how to hold my spear and use it, and the best day’s - pig-sticking I ever saw in my life was afforded by him at his own - place, when we accounted before tiffin for seventeen boars, three - cut horses, and a collar-bone broken--(cheers and laughter). - - “With regard to racing, I have indeed had my full share of the - plums, and it is a pleasant thing to look back on the record of - my stable, which amongst other things can count six Viceroy’s - Cups--(cheers)--three of which are credited to old Myall - King--(cheers)--who, alas! died on the course little over a month - ago--besides two Kooch Behar Cups, two Durbangah Cups, three Civil - Service Cups, and five Grand Military Steeplechases, of which I was - fortunate enough to pilot the winner myself--(loud cheers)--and at - one time or another most of the biggest races in India. - - “In this my last year I was indeed pleased to be connected with - the severe tussle for the Viceroy’s Cup, inasmuch as Tostig, - who made such a good fight for it, was imported by me, and was - till quite recently my property--(cheers)--and as His Highness - the Maharajah of Patiala was not fortunate enough to win on this - occasion, he and I--believe me I am quoting his feelings as well - as my own--were compensated to a great extent by the fact that the - much-coveted prize was won by one of my greatest supporters of the - Indian turf--(loud and continued cheers)--who struggled for many - years with crushing bad luck, but stayed the course, and eventually - has been rewarded for his pluck by having won the Viceroy’s - Cups two years in succession, and all the other big races this - season--(continued cheers). I may add that I hope he may live for - many years and carry off in the future several more prizes of the - Indian turf, and though His Highness the Maharajah of Patiala has - not yet won this most coveted prize, which, by the way, is no fault - of his own, he has spared no expense in trying to get together the - best horses money can buy--(hear, hear)--and has done all that a - sportsman could do to become a recipient of the Viceroy’s Cup, - but though Dame Fortune seems up to the present to frown upon his - endeavours in this particular direction, I prophesy that his time - will come when his wishes will be gratified, and nobody wishes - him this success more than myself--(cheers). He, at any rate, can - congratulate himself at this moment on possessing the best horse in - India, of which there can be no doubt, as our best authority out - here has declared officially that Sprig o’ Myrtle is at weight for - age and class, 8 lbs. in front of the invincible Highborn at a mile - and three quarters, and I only hope that authority is correct in - his estimation of this son of Trenton--(much laughter and cheers). - - “I am sorry to say I have been obliged to give up the game of - polo, but I still have a sneaking regard for the pursuit of - paper--(cheers)--and I hope, with the kind assistance of our - Honorary Secretary, we shall have some very pleasant paper-chases - this my last cold weather among you--(hear, hear). - - “Now, Gentlemen, I have come to the last phase or section referred - to, namely, that of social companion, and on this head I can say - nothing. It is needless for me to do so as your presence here - to-night fully justifies the many nice things the Chairman has said - about me. He is, as you doubtless know, one of my oldest friends; - he has known me longer almost than anybody present, and has always, - whether in weal or woe, extended the hand of true friendship - and hospitality to me ever since I first came to Calcutta in - 1875--(loud cheers). - - “Before I sit down, I must again thank you one and all for the - splendid reception you have given me this evening, and for the very - kind manner in which my friends have rallied round me to-night - and drunk my health, and I heartily wish to all of you the warm - farewell you have wished to me.” - -Lord William resumed his seat amid loud cheers, which were continued -for some time. - -Signatures recorded at the farewell dinner to Lord William Beresford -are reproduced here. - - SIGNATURES OF THE - GUESTS PRESENT AT THE - CALCUTTA BANQUET. - -[Illustration: (several signatures; page 1 of 10)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - -[Illustration: (several signatures)] - - -Having bid farewell to Calcutta, on his way down country, Lord Bill -managed to stay at Lucknow to see his horses run for the last time -in India. Good old Lucknow, where he had run many races and had some -glorious times. - -To send him away feeling happy his Mite won the Civil Service Cup and -pots of money; also another race the same day, namely, the Chutter -Munzil Purse; Vixen won the Horse Handicap on the third day; Negus -won the Derby on the fourth day. After this Lord William made his -final bow to India. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - HIS MARRIAGE - - First Visit to the Deepdene--Finds a Relation in His - Bedroom--Engagement to be Married Announced--School Treats--One New - Year’s Morning--King Edward VII Visits the Deepdene When Prince of - Wales--A Narrow Escape--“Tommy, Where Are You?”--Why Lord William - wore a Turban--Fast Trotters and Their Doings--Mishap on the Way - to the Derby--Racing in England--Racing Geography--Another Racing - Partnership--Accident While Hunting--Mr. Palmer to the Rescue--Lord - William Tells a Story Against Himself--A Son Born. - - -We now enter on the short third volume of Lord William’s life. He -landed in England during the spring of 1894, bringing with him -various faithful retainers, also some favourite horses and ponies. In -June of that year he paid his first visit to the Deepdene, Dorking, -as a guest of Lily Duchess of Marlborough, having been invited at -Lady Sarah Wilson’s suggestion to make up a party for Ascot races. - -It will be remembered that Lady Sarah was a sister of the 8th Duke of -Marlborough, whose widow was renting the Deepdene. - -Lord William was amused to find in his bachelor bedroom a print -of one of his relations, namely, Lord Marcus Gervais Beresford, -Archbishop of Armagh, Lord Primate of Ireland, whose eldest son -married Mary Annabella, sister of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, who -was first cousin to the author’s mother; Sir William’s mother -and author’s grandfather being brother and sister (_vide_ Burke, -Gooch-Vernon Harcourt); the author’s mother having been Miss Mary -Teresa Gooch, daughter of the Rev. William Gooch, Canon of York; she -having married Robert Calverly Bewicke-Bewicke, B.A., J.P., D.L., of -Coulby Manor, Yorkshire. - -It is interesting to note Lord William’s father married his beautiful -wife while on a visit to this self-same gentleman looking down from -the walls of the Deepdene. - -In September Lord William returned to India for a few months to -attend to some business and racing matters, after which he announced -his engagement to Lily Duchess of Marlborough, which came as a -surprise to most people. In India he was gradually becoming regarded -as a confirmed bachelor, though it seemed incredible that anyone who -was such an admirer of the fair sex and who was equally admired by -them in return should be able to escape; indeed, his having escaped -is only one more proof of his cool head and ability. - -It was not a long engagement, April 30th, 1895, was chosen for the -wedding; when Lilian Warren, daughter of Cicero Price, Commodore -of the U.S. Navy, married Lord William Beresford as her third -husband, the first having been Mr. Louis Hammersley of New York, an -exceedingly wealthy man who left his wife a large fortune. Secondly, -she married the 8th Duke of Marlborough, who died in 1892, but not -before the Duchess’s fortune had done much for Blenheim Palace. - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Russell, Baker Street_ - -LILY, DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH] - -Lord William and his bride made their vows at the Church of -St. George’s, Hanover Square, witnessed by crowds of friends. The -bridegroom was supported by his younger brother, Lord Marcus, as -best man. Her Grace was given away by her stepson the 9th Duke of -Marlborough. - -The Church was charmingly decorated with lilies of all sorts, a -pretty compliment to the bride’s name. - -The Duke of Cambridge sat beside Lord William and the United States -Ambassador and Mrs. Bayard beside the bride. When the service was -over Lord and Lady William Beresford drove to the bride’s house -in Carlton House Terrace, where they received the congratulations -of their many friends, all of whom did justice to the good things -provided for them. - -Later in the day the bride and bridegroom left the town for the -Deepdene, that lovely place being rented from Lord Francis Hope. It -stands on the eastern side of the old coaching road near Dorking. On -the north the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway winds. The -grounds around the house are amongst the most beautiful in England, -when the rhododendrons are in flower the gardens and grounds are a -blaze of colour and a delight. It is charmingly secluded and yet near -enough to the world to easily see as much of it as might be desired. -It was here, I believe, that Beaconsfield wrote his _Coningsby_. - -The original house was built in Charles I’s reign by the Hon. -Charles Howard, son of the Duke of Norfolk, but it was pulled down -and rebuilt by a descendant and eventually sold to a Mr. Hope, a -very rich art collector, whose daughter married the late Duke of -Newcastle, and at her death the Deepdene became the property of Lord -Francis Pelham-Clinton, a grandson of the Duke’s, who took the name -of Hope on succeeding to the estate; he leased the place to Lily -Duchess of Marlborough for twenty-one years, and it was there the -last few years of Lord William’s life were mostly spent. - -It seems a strange coincidence that Lord William’s wife should have -lived five years with her first husband, five years with the second -and five years with the third! - -It was a great pleasure to Lord William fixing up all his trophies -and treasures in their permanent home. The dining-room, the -billiard-room, the front hall and indeed every nook and corner were -filled with them, all having interesting histories of their own. - -An arcade runs round three sides of the lofty hall, above this there -is a gallery where guns, spears, assegais, antlers, racing cups, and -beautiful inlaid vases are arranged in profusion. Also regimental -trophies, of which he was fond and proud, for he loved his old -regiment. - -In the billiard-room there are many masterpieces of great value, -also in one corner stands a small easel in which reposes a picture -entitled “Bill wins,” below is an inscription, explaining the scene -at Curraghmore Steeplechases on April 30th, 1874, his wedding having -taken place exactly twenty-one years after on April 30th, 1895. - -[Illustration: THE DEEPDENE, DORKING] - -[Illustration: FRONT HALL AT THE DEEPDENE] - -One of the ambitions of Lord William’s life was to win the Derby, -and he began looking about him for likely winners; it did not take -him long to collect some useful horses, though I doubt very much -if his racing in England ever gave him as much pleasure as it did in -India. His wife was most interested in his horses and was as anxious -as he was that he should own the best. She was a kind-hearted woman -who did a great deal for the comfort and happiness of all around her, -the poor of Dorking are not likely to forget her or her husband, for -they closely associated themselves with all the local charities and -philanthropic undertakings. - -Nothing pleased Lord William better than to have a house full of -people; he loved to have some of the old 9th with him. It had been -hoped when he settled down to home-life he would take things more -easily, but he still continued to cram two or three days’ work into -one, just as he did in India, he had not yet found a day quite long -enough for all he wanted to do. - -On his birthday he always gave all the Dorking school children -a treat in the park at Deepdene, entertaining about 1800 of all -denominations, and surely no children were ever so entertained -before, no expense was spared that would add to their pleasure, and -he always took part in the proceedings himself, which added much to -the children’s pleasure, while, I believe, he enjoyed it himself -thoroughly; he loved to see children happy and hear them laugh. He -arranged their races, threw bags full of pennies to be scrambled -for, taking particular notice of any child, girl or boy, who after -striving was not strong enough to capture any pence amongst the -hustling crowd of eager bairns, these he used to reward with pennies -privately; he said he could not bear the look of disappointment on -their faces when time after time they failed. - -Lord William never imagined he could be imposed upon, with the -exception perhaps of a certain section of the racing fraternity, but -children managed to do it fairly successfully sometimes. - -One New Year’s morning, for instance, he had asked Mr. Palmer, -who attended to all his wife’s business when she was Duchess of -Marlborough (and afterwards to the time of her death) to breakfast -with him at nine o’clock. Arriving at the Deepdene and finding his -lordship had not finished dressing he went to his room to talk to him -until his toilet was completed. On entering he found Lord William -with the French windows open and a small crowd of children standing -outside uttering the time hallowed, “Wish you a happy New Year, sir,” -while the recipient of those kindly wishes was throwing occasional -shillings and sixpences to the expectant little crowd. Mr. Palmer -watched for a short time and then said, “Well, these kiddies are -getting the best of you.” “How?” asked Lord William. “Why,” said -Mr. Palmer, “in the first place, they go away and bring others, and -in the second, some of them have been up, gone, and come back again -without your noticing it, possibly may have been two or three times.” -“Oh, no!” replied Lord William, but he turned to one group who were -very fervent in their wishes for his happiness and asked, “How many -times have you been here this morning?” The reply came, “Only twice, -sir,” without a moment’s hesitation. He then turned to a group of -three boys, one somewhat older than the other two, and said to the -biggest, “If I give you a shilling, how will you divide it among the -three of you?” The boy considered for a moment and then replied, “I -would keep sixpence myself and give the other sixpence to the other -two.” - -Lord William foretold a great career for this specimen. While walking -into the dining-room Lord William said to Mr. Palmer, “I suppose some -of those kids have been too bright for me, but after all what does it -mean; I suppose I have given away a fiver and with that fiver I have -carried joy and satisfaction to many a child’s heart, better so than -losing fifty to some bookie. In the one case I do get something for -my money, in the latter case nothing.” - -In October, 1895, King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, stayed -with the Beresfords at Deepdene, others staying in the house at the -time were the Sassoons, Colonel Brabazon 10th Hussars, otherwise -known as “Beautiful Bwab” (he had some difficulty with his r’s), -Captain Holford, Lady Sarah Wilson and Mr. Winston Churchill, also, I -believe, Mr. Charles Moore. - -His Majesty enjoyed his visit. He was taken to see the Home Farm -where Lord William attended to his business and where he kept all his -horses except his racing stud; they were at Epsom, under the care of -Mr. Willson, who came from India with Lord William. The farm was a -delightful sunny spot and was occupied by Lord Bill’s head man and -his wife; occasionally his lordship had some cheery bachelor parties -there. The view was charming, looking over Boxhill and the North -Downs, sweeping the valley towards Reigate and Bletchingley. It was -on these downs that Bishop Wilberforce met his death in 1873; the -church there is a memorial to him. - -Soon after his marriage, Lord William had one of his many accidents -while driving a fast trotter named Hugh from Leatherhead. The only -other occupants being Lord Marcus and the groom Tommy Ryan, who came -from Curraghmore. The night was very dark and wet, but they were -thundering along at a very fast pace when Hugh shied violently, -upsetting the whole caboodle. When they began collecting themselves -Tommy was missing, so his master shouted out, “Tommy, where are you?” -From the other side of a wall came the answer, “I’m here, my lord, -on my head in a ditch.” The brothers were much amused. Amongst other -things Lord Bill’s head was cut, obliging him to appear at breakfast -next morning with it bandaged up; his mother who was staying there -at the time asked anxiously what was the matter, he wished to avoid -frightening her so told one of those useful white lies which oil the -wheels of life, saying quite coolly that he always wore a turban on a -certain anniversary of some event in India! which quite satisfied his -mother. - -A fast trotter or two for his buggy was considered a necessity, and -he brought his chestnut mare, Ilee, from India with him, he said -he could not part with her, she had so often saved his life by her -sagacity. She apparently did not leave her wisdom behind her in the -East, for one night when for a wonder Lord Bill was alone and driving -her home in the dark, as he turned into the lower drive at the -Deepdene and she was doing a little bit of her best, she suddenly -stopped dead, causing a bit of a splutter but probably saving Lord -William’s life, for, thinking he had returned, the lodge keeper had -put up the bar for the night across the drive blocking ingress or -egress without his permission and knowledge. - -Some of Lord William’s trotters did remarkable things; Harry, another -prodigy, he raced against a train between two stations on the -Brighton line, I believe it was between Burford and Dorking, for a -bet, of course, and ended in a dead-heat! It used to be quite a joke -amongst the people of Dorking when they heard one of the trotters -thundering down the road to shout out, “Clear the way for his -lordship,” all using their best endeavours to clear everything out of -his way. The Dorking people had taken him to their hearts, and they -were so proud of all his feats and doings. It must be recognised more -indulgence and latitude was allowed to his lordship than would be -extended to everybody, but that is just one of the remarkable things -about him, everybody succumbed to him, allowing licence that would -certainly not have been permitted to anybody else. - -Piloteer, a handsome grey trotter, won many prizes at Richmond, -Dublin and other places. I am able to give a good photo of him taken -just after winning one of his prizes. He was an Irish horse. - -During 1896 there were various hairbreadth escapes, without which -I am sure Lord Bill would have felt dull. While driving his coach -from Ascot to Bishopsgate when trying to pass some other coaches the -leaders stepped into a furze-bush and then bolted; if history tells -true the coach was upset, but of that I cannot speak with certainty, -but I do know for certain that all in the coach were full of praise -for the wonderful driving which had enabled them to escape unhurt. On -the coach at the time were Lord and Lady Marcus Beresford, that fine -old sportsman, Colonel Chaine, and his wife, Major Braithwaite and -Mrs. Featherstonhaugh. - -Another mishap occurred once going to the Derby, I think, if I -remember rightly, when some of the occupants were landed over a hedge -into a field. They were all men this time and one who was there told -me about it. I believe it happened when his lordship was racing -against young Mr. Fownes; at least that is how the tale was told to -me, but it was long ago and I hope I am not taking anybody’s name in -vain. - -Lord William’s coach was always one of the best turned out and horsed -at the Coaching and Four-in-hand Club meets. - -His first successful racing season after his return to this country -was 1896. He knew the business thoroughly from A to Z, to which -much of his success was due, for it is no use anybody saying in a -light-hearted way “I am going to race,” expecting to do wonderful -things because they know the points of a horse and have judged -the jumping at local agricultural shows; it not only spells -disappointment, but often financial disaster. No one unless they have -been behind the scenes or learnt by bitter experience can form any -idea of how much there is to know before there is even a possibility -of success. To begin with, and it is a big beginning, there are the -numerous authorities which it is wise and advantageous to keep in a -pleasant frame of mind, and under no circumstances bandy words with, -or argue; fancy arguing or bandying words with the Jockey Club for -instance, the National Hunt Committee, or the Turf Club of Ireland; -yet all have to be considered. Many are the rules, regulations, -and niceties in the way of etiquettes requiring digestion, all an -education in themselves. - -I had not grasped until Lord William explained it to me that -according to the rules of racing geography, Ireland, the Isle of Man, -and the Channel Islands are _not_ included in the expression Great -Britain, they are _only_ the United Kingdom. - -Another perplexing thing when you see “owner” in connection with a -horse’s name you rather naturally conclude the horse belongs to him, -but as a matter of fact it may mean almost anything, the horse may -only have been leased for his racing years, or he may be shared by -partners when presumably only half the horse belongs to “Owner.” -All of this was of course A B C to Lord William, and he knew every -race, its dates and distances, stakes and conditions by heart. He -considered Newmarket the best course in the world. - -Liverpool is a terror; if any of my readers are interested in -steeplechasing and have not been over the Aintree Course there, I -advise them to walk round and look at the jumps in cold blood, they -will wonder any horses or men can be found with pluck enough to face -them. No Beresford, as far as I know, has ever yet seen his colours -carried successfully in that much coveted prize, the Grand National -at Liverpool, though Lord Marcus got fairly near once with Chimney -Sweep, when he ran second to Captain Machell’s Reugny, ridden by -that splendid amateur Mr. J. Maunsell Richardson, in 1874, and again -in 1879, when Jackal carried the light blue and black cap, being -beaten by Mr. Garry Moore on the Liberator. A Liverpool which will -possibly for ever bear the unprecedented mark of four brothers, -namely the Beasleys, having mounts in the chase, and they all made -the course, “Tommy” Beasley coming home behind Lord Marcus’s horse. - -Some of the Irish courses are also formidable. At the modern -Leopardstown, for instance, where in the past there has been plenty -of grief. Punchestown is not quite so bad; Irish horses do well -there, they understand the kind of jumps. - -At the end of 1895, Lord William entered into partnership with Mr. -Pierre Lorillard, sharing a number of race-horses with him, amongst -the most successful being Paris III, which was bought in 1896 from -Mrs. White, who was I believe the widow of the Hon. James White so -successful in Australian racing. The horse had raced in England in -her name before being purchased by Lord William, but had done no -good, directly he appeared in Lord William’s colours he won the -popular Northamptonshire Stakes, value £925; now many years defunct. -Five horses ran, but Paris III won by six lengths; it was a popular -victory as he was favourite at 2 to 1. Cannon was up and the horse -carried 3 lbs. overweight, nevertheless he won easily; he also won -the Prince’s Handicap at Gatwick as well as the Lewes Handicap. -Amongst other horses owned at this time were Diakka, Myakka, Caiman, -and Nonsuch, sold later to the Prince of Wales, also Berzak, which -latter was a bitter disappointment, as he failed to stand his -preparation for the Derby. - -The partnership did not last long, as the doctors advised Mr. -Lorillard to give up racing for a time, but they had won twenty-seven -races before the partnership was dissolved. Lord William bought Mr. -Lorillard’s interest in the stable. - -In December, 1896, while out with the Warnham Stag Hounds, Lord -William met with a terrible accident, Mr. Palmer, who has already -been mentioned, happening to be out the same day on a horse he -had lately bought from his lordship; they were both crossing the -Gatwick racecourse after a check, there were some stiff railings -in front of them, which there was no occasion to jump as there was -an opening further down, but a lady riding in front cleared the -rails satisfactorily, that was quite enough, for Lord William must -of course follow; unfortunately either his horse slipped or took -off too late, turning a somersault over the railings, poor Lord -William beneath him dangerously near his heels, but he called out -to Mr. Palmer to sit on his horse’s head, when a most curious thing -happened. Mr. Palmer in his anxiety to get quickly to help his -lordship did not notice some wire netting under the broken fence, -over this he fell right on to the horse’s head, this so startled -him he got up without any kicking or plunging, releasing his rider. -Help was called, as evidently Lord William was badly hurt; on a -stretcher they carried the poor sufferer to a neighbouring house, -where he was examined, but in the stress and hurry a wrong diagnosis -was arrived at. Mr. Palmer telegraphed to London for a specialist, -and to his local doctor at Dorking, then a medical man who happened -to be present and Mr. Palmer took him home, where the local doctor -was awaiting them and shortly afterwards the specialist from town -arrived. It was then discovered that his pelvis had been broken, -so his suffering can be well imagined; they had been considerably -augmented I hear at the house he was first carried into with the -kindly but terribly mistaken endeavour to pull off his boots -instead of cutting them off. Mr. Palmer says he shall never forget -the agonies that were suffered and yet not a murmur or word of -impatience, not even a groan from the martyr. He was most anxious his -wife should not be shocked with the news, as an interesting event -was looked forward to in the early spring, and she was at the time -resting. The news was carefully kept from her until the doctors had -done their work. He was bound up and put to bed, where of course he -remained for some time hovering between life and death. One day when -his doctors hoped he had turned the corner and was going to recover, -they told him he was with luck going to recover, but that 99 out of a -100 with broken pelvis bones did not. As they were leaving the room -they heard Lord Bill laughing, seeing nothing to laugh at they asked -what amused him, he replied, “Oh nothing, I was only thinking of the -other 99 poor devils!” - -Certainly Lord William got about again after a time, but he was never -the same man, his pluck and spirit were still unquenchable, but his -powers of physical resistance were shattered. He tired more easily -and did not feel up to much exertion; he got up too soon, being -anxious to attend the funeral of his sister-in-law, Blanche Lady -Waterford, to whom he was greatly attached. This was February 22nd, -1897. Everybody tried to dissuade him, fearing it might throw him -back, but he would go. - -Lord William was at his best when telling stories against himself; -here is one of them. He had a party in the house for covert shooting, -he did not care very much for the sport himself, and had not done -much of it, though he enjoyed a day at the time. He used to leave -the arranging and managing of the shoots chiefly to Mr. Palmer. One -of these shooting parties was being arranged and he told Mr. Palmer -to bring his young son whom he was sure would enjoy a day with the -pheasants. The little lad was about twelve, and his name was Spencer, -he stood mostly by Lord William during the day. When he went home at -night having had a very happy day, he asked his father if he ought -not to write and thank Lord William for letting him see the shooting, -to which his father replied, “Certainly.” - -“What shall I say, father?” asked the boy. - -“Oh, you must write your own letter, you are quite old enough for -that,” so off he went, wrote the letter and posted it. - -Next morning when everybody was assembled at breakfast at the -Deepdene before another day’s shoot, Lord Bill entered holding a -letter in his hand, and after making some jokes about his own prowess -with the gun and he feared his merits were not fully appreciated by -his friends, said, “Listen to this, the opinion of one of my young -friends,” and he read: - - “DEAR LORD WILLIAM, - - I have enjoyed to-day very much, I think you shot very well. I - noticed you generally killed the birds with the second barrel. - - Your friend, - SPENCER PALMER.” - -The most successful of Lord William’s horses in 1896 were Diakka, -Peveril of the Peak Plate being his greatest triumph; Berzak the -Newmarket First Spring Two Year Old Stakes, and in the Clearwell -Stakes he ran a dead heat with Goletta, on whom odds were laid. -Nonsuch won two small races. - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM--IN OFFICIAL CAPACITY] - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM AND HIS SON BILLY] - -On February 4th, 1897, a son was born to the William Beresfords; -at first he was very delicate, no doubt owing to the anxiety his -mother suffered when Lord William had his accident in December, -1896, so small and delicate was he that he was put into an incubator -for a short time, fearing a breath might blow him away; now he is a -six-footer, so his nursing and care answered. He was named William -Warren de la Poer. Both parents were devoted to their child, who was -very like his father. When Lord William was driving his wife on the -coach and was going rather faster than she liked (she being very -nervous) and remonstrating he used to say, “Oh, I thought you would -be in a hurry to get back to the boy!” As the baby grew older Lord -Marcus used to tease its father by saying, “The child does not know -the difference between you and me,” but baby did and always chose to -go to Lord William. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - BRINGS TOD SLOAN TO ENGLAND - - - Engagement of Tod Sloan as Jockey--Beresford Family - Affection--Caiman Wins Classic Race--Democrat and His Races--A - Tip for the “Blues”--Accident to Sloan--His Downfall--Five Years’ - Racing and Winnings in Stakes Alone--Volodyovski Bought--At - Liverpool When Ambush II Won the Grand National - -We are now dealing with 1897, when Tod Sloan was introduced to the -British public by Lord William, who had been keeping an eye on the -lad’s performances in America, observing that in 1895 he had 442 -mounts, and won 132 races, in California four races being won in a -day. In consequence of this and what he was told of the lad, his -lordship sent a cable asking the jockey to come over here as he had -some useful horses to be ridden. The years 1897-1898-1899 and 1900 -were great for the Beresford stable. - -Sloan was for several years much in evidence, so it may be worth -while to pause a moment and introduce him to those of my readers -who have either forgotten or never known anything about him. His -real name was James Forman Sloan, when a very small boy he had been -adopted by people named Blauser, who thinking they were being witty, -called him “Toad,” because he was so tiny, this by degrees condensed -itself into Tod, and Tod Sloan it remained to the end of the chapter. - -In America Sloan had been riding for Mr. W. C. Whitney, who released -him to ride for Lord William, saying he should very likely be in -England himself before long. As a matter of fact he arrived at much -the same time as the jockey, and met Lord William for the first time -at Newmarket, where Sloan introduced him to his lordship, the outcome -of this introduction being they became partners. At this time Jakes -Pincus was training Lord William’s horses, later Huggins, who came -over with Mr. Lorillard, reigned in his stead. Pincus was another -American; he had not been long in this country, yet he was the man -who trained the only American horse that ever won the Derby, if my -memory is to be trusted. Iroquois was the horse. The man was a bit of -a jockey himself, I have been told. - -Mr. Cuthbert was secretary to Lord William’s stable at that time, -later I believe he went to Newmarket in the employ of Mr. George -Lambton. - -Sloan was one of those fortunate jockeys who can eat what they like -without putting on weight, very different from some other jockeys -of that date. Fred Archer, for instance, who had to breakfast off -hot castor oil and a slice of thin toast with a view to keeping his -weight down, he dared not dine with friends, as owing to dieting so -rigidly he felt he was a wet blanket at a feast. Poor fellow, in -his endeavours to ride 8 st. 7 lbs., he became a wreck very early -in life, the wonder was he lived as long as he did. It will be -remembered at the age of thirty he felt he had had enough and took -his own life. Though much liked and perhaps the most popular of -jockeys he was severe with his mounts. - -Sloan was fond of animals and gentle with them, Mornington Cannon -also, and they seem to have achieved equal success. Archer’s seat was -the opposite of Sloan’s, for he sat well back, while Sloan it was -introduced that peculiar monkey up a stick seat which became more -or less the fashion amongst the American jockeys. Archer was very, -very canny with his money, which at times used to annoy people, Sloan -on the other hand was too generous and let other people help him to -spend his earnings almost too freely. Cannon liked riding waiting -races, while Sloan liked to get away and come right through. There -was one occasion certainly when Cannon waited a little too long with -Flying Fox, not giving himself time to get home, but he was a good -judge of pace. - -Sloan’s seat used to be much commented on when first he came over to -this country, people thought he rode with very short stirrups, but -he did not really, it was the crouching along the neck of the horse -when going fast which gave him that appearance. He attributed much of -his success to this attitude as it gave less resistance to the wind, -therefore helpful to the horses. - -Sloan entirely agreed with me on one point, which I have already -expressed in my book _Women in the Hunting Field_, namely that horses -will not tread on you when down if they can possibly help it. _He_ -went so far as to say they “would not unless pulled into it.” - -Lord William used to say Sloan had no luck unless he was there, and -really it seemed like it. When Lord Bill lost a race he had been -hoping and expecting to win his face was a study, he had marvellous -self-control, and beyond growing very white showed no sign of feeling -and was always most generous to the unhappy and often equally -disappointed jockey. - -Lord William thought he had a great horse in St. Cloud II. I fear he -did not fulfil his owner’s expectations, though certainly he was a -great horse, but it was in size, he stood seventeen hands. - -The largest stakes Lord William ever went for was probably over -Sandia in the Cambridgeshire. Either St. Cloud or Sandia ought to -have won easily. Lord William and Sloan were under the impression -they had won with Sandia, but Mr. Robinson, the judge, was under the -impression they had not, but that is an old story now. At the time -there was a good deal of feeling about it. - -Sandia won the old Cambridgeshire in the Autumn of 1897, and Diakka -won the Duke of York Stakes at Kempton Park, for which he started -favourite. - -Lord William found time to go to York and help his brother, Lord -Charles, now Lord Beresford, who was standing in the Conservative -interest against Mr. Furniss. Lord Marcus also went to give a helping -hand. In Lord Beresford’s own book he gives some amusing accounts of -his brother’s smart and witty repartees to questions asked by the -electors. There was a good deal of excitement in the town at the -time. Lord Beresford won by eleven votes, rather a near thing. It -was too much for the poor Lord Mayor, he died the same night from -excitement and strain. - -The three brothers were very happy working together over this -election, the affection they had felt for one another in youth had -not been estranged, they were still devoted to one another, it was -always charming to hear them speak of their relatives. What does this -family affection spring from I wonder? It is not often met with; take -two well-known families the Scotch Gordons and the Irish Waterfords. -The Gordons according to their own account could as brothers never -agree, if one told a story of what he had done at cricket, racing, -or some such thing, and one of his brothers happened to be present -he would flatly contradict him, telling him he did not believe it, -and he was telling tarra-diddles; followed of course by a free fight, -very often even when staying in friends’ houses. Once speaking of -their quarrelsomeness Lord Granville Gordon, commonly called Granny, -said, “You know our family is not like the Beresfords one bit, they -are always full of praise of one another and inseparable. If you were -to say to Lord Marcus or Markey as we call him, ‘That was a great -thing you brought off the other day,’ the reply would certainly be -something of this sort, ‘Oh yes, but you should see my brother Bill, -he can do ten times better,’ or ‘You should see Charlie, no one can -touch him’; the same with Lord Charles, it is always how much better -his brothers could do things than himself.” - -An uncle of mine, the Rev. Francis Gooch, used to fish at Ford Abbey -in Northumberland by the kind permission of Lady Waterford. One day -when Lord Charles was up there and he was speaking to my uncle he -said, “Do you know my brother Bill?” The reply being in the negative -Lord Charles said, “Then bedad you don’t know the finest man in the -world.” It is really a beautiful and uncommon thing to have lived -through the great part of their allotted years, knowing each other -intimately, loving each other tenderly, without one spark of jealous -fault-finding, superiority, or littleness. The pity there are not -more families equally attached, they do not know what they miss; -looking back through the sketch book of their lives, that family -affection has added warmth and beautiful colouring to many of its -pictures, to be recalled and lived through again when the day is far -spent and night is near. - -In 1898 Lord William owned many winners entered in the name of one -or other of the two partners. Caiman as a two year old won the -Middle Park Plate, value £2775, Sloan riding; beating the Duke of -Westminster’s Flying Fox ridden by Mornington Cannon. I am able to -give a beautiful photograph of Caiman at the starting-post the day he -won this race. It will be noticed Sloan did not ride very short, as I -have already pointed out. It will also be noticed his hand is up to -his mouth, this was a habit or trick of his, he always put his hand -to his mouth when a horse was walking or in a very slow pace. Whether -he had any theories about it or not I do not know. - -[Illustration: TOD SLOAN IN LORD WILLIAM’S COLOURS] - -[Illustration: - -_Photo. Rouch_ - -CAIMAN AT THE POST FOR THE MIDDLE PARK PLATE THE DAY HE BEAT FLYING -FOX. TOD SLOAN IN LORD WILLIAM’S COLOURS] - -Flying Fox was a horse that stood out prominently in racing records, -not only as a triple crown winner, but as the horse that fetched the -highest price ever paid at a sale by auction for a racehorse, namely -£39,375, Kingsclere and Prince Palatine being bought by private -contract by Mr. J. B. Joel at £40,000, a price that would perhaps not -have been reached under the hammer. - -In the Two Thousand Guineas value £4250 Caiman only ran second, Sloan -up, Flying Fox winning this time, Cannon riding. For the St. Leger -at Doncaster value £4050 Flying Fox again won, Caiman second, both -ridden by the same jockey as in the previous races. - -In 1900 Caiman only won the Lingfield Park Stakes value £2420, his -wins, however, as a two year old in 1898 were £3557, as a three year -old £3884 and as a four year old £2420, making the pleasing total of -£9861. - -The chief races won in 1898 were the Clearwell Stakes and Middle -Park Plate by Caiman, Esher Stakes by Diakka, Thirty-fifth Biennial -at Ascot by Sandia, Exeter Stakes by Dominie. Mykka the Lancaster -Nursery First October Two Year Old Stakes, Prendergast Stakes, and -Sandown Great Sapling Plate. On September 30th, Sloan won the Bretby -Welter on Draco for Lord William by six lengths, the next race the -Scurry Nursery on Manatee, the next race again the Rous Memorial -Stakes on Landrail by three lengths, another on Libra, by two -lengths, the Newmarket St. Leger on Galashiels by a head, making five -wins and a second out of seven mounts, not a bad day for one stable. - -Huggins, who was training the horses, lived at Heath House, the -former home of the great Dawson trainers, “Mat,” and after him -his nephew George. Heath House will always remain most famous in -connection with the name of the uncle, as most of “Mat” Dawson’s -greatest classic efforts came from that home; for the late Lord -Falmouth, Duke of Portland, Lord Hastings of Melton fame, and lastly -crowned with the success of Lord Rosebery’s Ladas. - -The historic Democrat now came on the scenes in 1899. An American -bred horse, his sire being Sensation, his dam Equality. This handsome -and gentle chestnut with four white legs won no less than seven out -of eleven races as a two year old, worth £12,939, including the -Coventry Stakes at Ascot, the National Breeders’ Foal Stakes at -Sandown, and the Middle Park Plate and Dewhurst Plate. The light blue -and black cap was doing good business. - -A record of all Democrat’s races may be interesting: - - - TWO YEAR OLD RECORD, 1899 - - May 1st. Great Surrey Breeders’ Foal Plate, Epsom; 4th - (Sloan). - - May 5th. Royal Two Year Old Plate, Kempton Park; 2nd - (Sloan), £200. - - May 11th. Bedford Plate, Newmarket; 2nd (Sloan), £50. - - June 13th. Coventry Stakes, Ascot; 1st (Sloan), £1,826, beating - H.R.H. Prince of Wales’s horse, Diamond - Jubilee, ridden by Watts. - - July 1st. Hurst Park Foal Plate, Hurst Park; 1st (Sloan), - £1,135. - - July 15th. National Breeders’ Produce Stakes, Sandown Park; - 1st (Sloan), £4,357. - - Sept. 5th. Champagne Stakes, Doncaster; 1st (Sloan), £1,310. - - Sept. 29th. Rous Memorial Stakes, Newmarket; 1st (Sloan), - £568. - - Oct. 6th. The Imperial Stakes, Kempton Park; 2nd (Sloan), - £300. - - Oct 14th. Middle Park Plate, Newmarket; 1st (Sloan), - £2,305, beating Prince of Wales’s Diamond - Jubilee. - - Oct. 26th. The Dewhurst Plate, Newmarket, Houghton; - 1st (Sloan), £1,432; Prince of Wales’s Diamond - Jubilee 2nd. - - - THREE YEAR OLD RUNNING, 1900 - - May 30th. Epsom Derby. - Democrat ran but was not placed, the race being - won by Diamond Jubilee, but this time Sloan - was not riding Democrat, but one called Disguise - for another owner, and was severely reprimanded - for this breach of Rule 140, forbidding - crossing. - June 14th. The New Biennial, Ascot. Democrat not placed; - ridden by Weldon. Sloan rode the winner, - Courlan. - Oct. 9th. The Royal Stakes, Newmarket; 1st (L. Reiff), - £586. This was Democrat’s last win; he ran - later at Liverpool for the Autumn Cup, but was - not placed. - -I am under the impression that the last time Lord William’s colours -were seen on a racecourse was at Manchester, when his Billow II, bred -in Australia, won the Autumn Plate, ridden by Reiff. Jolly Tar won -six races in 1900. - -The year Democrat won the Coventry Stakes at Ascot (1899) Lord -William was standing outside the “Blues’” tent after luncheon talking -to some of his friends, amongst others Sir Claude de Crespigny, -discussing the merits of the different horses, when he was heard to -say apparently as much to himself as his friends, “It’s all very well -their making the Prince’s horse (Diamond Jubilee) favourite; mine -has just as good a chance of winning.” This was repeated to some of -the “Blues,” who had not been having a very good time over the Trial -Stakes, adding, the Royal horse is at evens and Bill’s at three’s, -they selected the latter and landed the long odds. After this they -told Sir Claude if he had another good tip like that for the next -day they hoped he would come and have luncheon again. - -Sloan was never a great admirer of Democrat, why I do not know, as -the horse proved himself one of the best of his years. - -Riding at Kempton in 1898 a horse reared over with Sloan, hurting -his pelvis bone. Seeing what pain the man was in and knowing from -experience something about it, Lord William said, “Your racing is -done for to-day, my little man.” “But,” said Sloan, “who then is -going to ride your Democrat?” Lord William replied, “I shall put -Cannon up.” This was anguish to Sloan, who was somewhat jealous of -Cannon, but he may have found consolation in the result, as the horse -did not win. His owner thought it was due to the change of jockey, -horses are very susceptible to any change of hands. - -Sloan always considered the greatest achievement of his life was -beating Flying Fox on Caiman in the Middle Park Plate, when Cannon, -as referred to earlier, waited just a little too long before letting -Flying Fox out, not leaving time to pick up and win. - -In 1899 Lord William won his first and only classic race with his -Sibola at Newmarket in the One Thousand, Sloan riding. There were -great rejoicings in the Beresford camp. Sibola ought to have won the -Oaks that year, but got a bad start. Some people thought it was due -to a fit of temper on Sloan’s part, others attributed the defeat to -Sloan, but giving other reasons; be that as it may, it was a great -disappointment to the horse’s owner. - -Sloan was altogether getting out of favour about now. At Ascot he -got himself mixed up with a waiter and a champagne bottle, resulting -in Lord William very kindly trying to pacify the piqued waiter. This -took some doing, but was eventually managed to the tune of several -hundreds, to save scandal and trouble. The Stewards enquired into the -matter and exonerated Sloan. In honesty to the jockey, I am pleased -to be able to state, when he found out what Lord William had done for -him, he insisted on the amount being deducted from his retaining fees. - -Lord William was undoubtedly Sloan’s best friend, being exceedingly -generous and kind to him, but latterly he gave his mounts to Weldon, -the two Reiffs, and others, being disappointed with Sloan and fearing -he had got into the hands of those not likely to improve him, and -certainly about that time a number of desperate American gamblers -graced this country with their presence and heavy ready money -investments which put temptation into a jockey’s way. If a jockey -only bets on his own mount all may be well, but unfortunately they -get tempted sometimes to bet on others, while such a thing has been -heard of as a jockey squaring or thinking he has squared the rest of -his confrères in the race; and then failed. - -The final blow came to Sloan over the Cambridgeshire of 1900, over -which there were many unpleasant stories afloat in connection with -his betting. It was a thousand pities, for he did so well when first -he came over to this country. Lord William was very pleased with his -riding, and many people had been most kind to him. - -At one time, I think it must have been at Doncaster in 1899, the -Prince of Wales told Lord William he should like Sloan to ride for -him during the coming season, however, circumstances forbade this. -Codoman was the horse Sloan was riding in the Cambridgeshire when he -got into trouble over betting. Lord William again did all he could -for Sloan, but the Jockey Club were firm and advised Sloan not to -apply for a licence to ride during 1901. Of course he was acting -against the rules in betting and he knew it, but I do not think -Sloan was alone by any manner of means in this misdemeanour; again, -I say the pity of it, for he was a great master of his method in the -saddle; he always maintained his crouching seat over the horse’s neck -that had much to do with his success. Unfortunately he was a perfect -idiot where his own real interests were concerned. Here again he was -not alone, many of us are quite brilliant in looking after other -people’s affairs and yet make shocking hashes of our own. - -It will, I think, have been clear to the readers all through these -chapters how very generous Lord William was to all who worked with or -for him; also indeed to many with absolutely no claim on his large -and kindly heart. Huggins, his trainer, was another recipient of his -open-handed generosity. At Newmarket he was a favourite amongst the -residents and Lord William had a great liking for him, but I doubt if -it is generally known that over and above other fees and charges Lord -William allowed him 10 per cent on _all stakes_ won. This would mean -a comfortable income if the stable was lucky. A glance at the value -of the stakes won between 1896 and 1900 will prove this. - - _Year._ _No. of wins._ _Value._ - 1896 12 £5,186 - 1897 13 7,867 - 1898 16 8,029 - 1899 69 42,736½ - 1900 48 24,522 - --- -------- - TOTAL 158 £88,340½ - -In giving the above I am leaning heavily on the safe side, as there -were some wins of which I do not know the value, so cannot count them -in the total. - -Lord William was still hoping to win the Derby, and believed at -last he was “going to do the trick” in 1901, for in 1900 he leased -from Lady Meux, a two year old horse named Volodyovski for his -racing career. For the comfort of my readers I may here state that -owing to the horse’s name being such a mouthful, and the difficulty -experienced by many in pronouncing it at all, he soon became known -as Voly, which will answer my purpose very well. This horse won five -races out of the last six he ran for Lord William, namely the Windsor -Castle Stakes, Rous Memorial at Goodwood, Newmarket Stud Produce -Stakes, Rous Memorial at Newmarket, other winners besides Caiman -being Jolly Tar and Jiffy II. - -It will be remembered it was Diamond Jubilee that prevented Lord -William heading the list of winners in 1900, and Flying Fox in 1899. -But as the following shows it was a near thing. - -1899, Duke of Westminster, 1st £43,965--Lord William 2nd £42,736½. -1900, Prince of Wales 1st £29,585--Lord William 2nd £24,585. - -Race meetings of all sorts and kinds attracted Lord William, whether -running horses of his own or not; he was present at Liverpool when -the Prince of Wales won with Ambush II, and his own horse Easter Ogue -ran seventh. The scene outside the weighing-room door as His Royal -Highness awaited the return of his winning horse baffles description; -it was difficult to keep a clear space for Anthony to dismount; all -were so anxious to congratulate the Prince. One of the earliest to -express his pleasure and to congratulate him was the subject of these -memories, and it so happened that the camera man managed to squeeze -into the small space and photograph the King as he met the horse, -just as he left Lord William. - -Always when flat racing was over Lord William turned his attention -to chasing, which he had liked from his earliest days. I remember -standing with him once in a crowd at a big “jump” meeting, and saying -to him, “I suppose you have always been too occupied to make a study -of the faces round you at one of these meetings?” He replied, “No -indeed, I have not been too occupied, but I do not like to look, -sometimes a race means so much to a man.” I remarked I thought a -certain friend standing near us, and owner of the favourite, was -looking rather pale and anxious, but he said, “Oh he’s all right, an -old hand at the game,” nevertheless when the favourite was over the -last fence I heard a big sigh and when the cheering began after the -horse had won by nearly a length the owner collapsed. I wonder what -would have happened if he had lost? Lord William told me afterwards -that if he had not won that race he would have been absolutely -ruined. The faces of a crowd on a racecourse, especially at a “jump” -meeting, is an interesting study and instructive. - -It is painful to watch the restless hands and nervous twitchings of -those to whom it means “up” or “down.” Some of course go who delight -in a fair race when the horses are not ridden to death, that is to -say never again able to meet such a supreme moment; people who have -nothing of any consequence in any of the races, or who, like the late -James Lowther, seldom or never bet at all. Then again there are the -curiously constituted folk who flock round the most dangerous jumps, -presumably, to witness any accident that may occur; some people revel -in seeing accidents. One man I have known now for many years, has -never to my knowledge, been moved to mirth unless someone has hurt -themselves, then he indulges in a waistcoat contortion which answers -for laughter, his mouth spreads slowly across his face, but his eyes -take no part in his merriment. - -Some of the accounts that appeared in the papers from time to -time relating to Lord William’s achievements were very funny. The -_Sporting Times_ some years ago referred to this in one of their -issues I am told, as follows: “Does Lord William Beresford read the -_Hornet_? Probably not, but if he does he must be surprised to find -that he is the third son of John, fourth Marquis of Waterloo. Why not -also first cousin of Viscount Vauxhall, and distantly related to the -Countess of Charing Cross?” - -Lord William’s health about now was causing some anxiety, and he was -persuaded to try Homburg where he had been benefited several times -before, but on this occasion he came back looking worse than when he -went. - -[Illustration: LORD WILLIAM AND LORD MARCUS BERESFORD] - -The last time I saw his lordship at Homburg, the Prince of Wales, Sir -George Wombwell and Colonel Stanley Clarke were being greatly amused -at some of his jokes, and the stories he was telling against himself. - -Shall we ever see his like again? - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - LAST YEARS - - “1900 ... and Feels It”--Affection for the 9th Lancers--Help for - a Brother Mason--Those Who Loved Him--Friends, not Sight-Seers--A - Treasured Gift--Sale of Horses at Newmarket--Purchasers and - Prices--Fate of Democrat--Volodyovski Wins the Derby--Too - Late--Fierce Ownership Dispute--The Law Settles It--Broken Head of - a small Beresford - - -During most of 1900 Lord William suffered at intervals from his old -complaint contracted in India, namely dysentery, and it was taking -all his strength away; that he was feeling very sadly I know, and on -a photograph he was signing for a friend he wrote “W. B., 1900, ... -and feels it.” - -At times he was observed sitting resting before dinner, a most -unusual thing for him to do. Unfortunately in December he ate some -game that was too high for his delicate state of health, this set -up peritonitis, and, in spite of the best advice and most tender -nursing, he passed away on the 28th December with a smile for those -around him, to the inexpressible grief of all who knew him well, and -the sincere regret of all who were lucky enough to have met him. - -The specialist, Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton, came down from town -several times to see the invalid, and at one time there seemed to be -a ray of hope, only to be dashed to the ground again, for the poor, -gallant, brave heart for the first time in his life failed him and -refused to work any longer. His last race was run, and surely the -prize must be his for his many acts of charity not only in kind, but -goodness and mercy. - -We all knew in his lifetime how generous he was, no begging letter -was ever left unanswered; none who begged, whether deserving or not, -received a harsh word from him; he was generous to a fault. He never -could resist anyone who said they had been in his old regiment the -9th Lancers, though I have grave doubts as to whether some of the -suppliants had ever been in the regiment at all. I know that some who -begged from him had a good deal of method in laying out their plan -of campaign, and waited until Mr. Palmer, who attended to business -matters, had gone home, before going to ask for Lord William, knowing -that if Mr. Palmer was there the case would be thoroughly enquired -into, while if they saw his lordship they knew they could work upon -his tender and kind heart. I have been told the following story is -true. - -Lord William was a Mason, and a brother Mason wanted to see him, and -as he had a favour to ask waited until Mr. Palmer had gone home, and -in the evening begged to see Lord William who at once interviewed his -brother Mason, a tradesman, who told a long tale with a plentiful use -of pocket-handkerchief to his eyes; he came away with a cheque for -£1000. - -Truly life is a book of many pages, not by any means easily read, and -it seems all wrong that such generosity should be imposed on, but -Lord William always said his sympathies were with all sinners, and he -liked to give everyone the benefit of a doubt. - -It does not fall to the lot of everyone to be so sincerely mourned, -for his wife adored him, his child loved him, his brothers and -relations loved him, his servants worshipped him, the old people -round Waterford and Curraghmore, to whom it was a red-letter day when -Lord William paid them a visit, which he enjoyed as much as they did; -the old pensioners at the Royal Hospital, Dublin, who had many times -been made happy by a visit from him. - -When the sad news became known, messages of sympathy and condolence -poured in from the highest in the land to some of the lowliest. - -It was not until after his death, when his papers were being attended -to, that the extent of his goodness and charity was fully known. - -I will not dwell on this sad time, for there is no language great -enough for the expression of our mental emotions, and no language -that can express the dignity of great grief. - -Lord William was laid to rest in the family vault at Clonagam Church, -and the whole route from the boat to the Clonagam was wonderful; -every little child wanted to pay a last tribute to their friend, the -road was packed and lined with those who _cared_, not sightseers. - -Among the four waggon loads of wreathes, crosses, and other -flower tokens of respect and affection, was one from his brother -Lord Charles, “In memory of lovable, chivalrous Bill, from his -broken-hearted brother, Charles.” - -Everyone mourned for Lord William, even the cabmen in London, Dublin -and elsewhere. The newspapers were full of “Our Bill” and amongst the -many touching references to his death, I think the following is one -of the nicest. - - - LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD - - _Born July 20th, 1847, died December 30th, 1900_ - - The old grey year is stricken down--and lying - (The days are dark, the trees stand gaunt and bare) - Stretches its hand and takes from us--while dying-- - One whom we ill could spare. - - Soldier and sportman, no fond hand could save you - From the old robber bearing you away, - England who once the cross for valour gave you, - Honours you with tears to-day. - - What is the epitaph which shall be found him? - Let this story of his lost life tell, - All hearts that knew him to-day around him - Whisp’ring, “Kind friend, farewell.” - - Erin, a vigil o’er her dead son keeping, - Now takes him softly, sadly to her breast, - Under her grassy mantle hides him sleeping, - And gives him his long rest. - BALLYHOOLEY. - - _Sporting Times_, January 5th, 1901. - - -Ballyhooley was really the _nom-de-plume_ of Mr. Bob Martin, who -wrote the Irish humorous songs for the Gaiety and was a great man -on the staff of the _Sporting Times_. In one of the weekly papers -appeared the following: - -“The regret of all for Lord William Beresford. A Bill that everyone -honoured, but alas none can meet.” - -In another paper someone signing themselves “Roy” wrote: - - A fearless soldier and a sportman bold, - Beloved by all; gallant to foe and friend, - Brave, true-hearted, as our knights of old, - A V.C. hero! noble to the end. - - _December_, 1900. - - -I always thought it was illuminating the way, though Lord William -never met his wife’s mother, he felt it would be a pleasure to her, -and his duty to write regularly giving account of his wife and son’s -doings, and so forth; ending in a sincere attachment on both sides, -and his mother-in-law heaped beautiful and costly presents on him, -sent from America. - -Speaking, or rather writing of presents reminds me that in a cabinet -where I keep my many treasures and presents collected during my -travels, there rests in one corner a much used and much mended -hunting crop bearing the inscription, “From Bill, Xmas 1889.” It -likewise has seen its last day’s hunting, for it is tender with age -and use, and too much valued to run any risks. I feel as if I could -write for weeks of all his kindness and loyal friendship, and then -not exhaust my memories of them. There is one more charming trait I -should like to mention, namely his great consideration and kindness -to his servants; when there had been a house full with many ladies’ -maids and valets he always asked if they had had a good time, and his -orders were that all the servants should have everything they wanted, -nothing was too good for them. One who had served him said to me -once, “It is a pleasure to do anything for him; he is the kindest -master and friend any servant ever had.” - -On January 23rd, 1901, Lord William’s horses were sold at Newmarket, -and it makes me sad to write of the break up of his stable; his -horses had been such a pleasure to him all his life and now they -were all to be scattered far and wide. Had he lived, many of them -would have changed hands at times, no doubt, in the ordinary course -of events, but he would have voiced the orders. Now even at the sale -there was a gloom, a sadness for the cheery voice that was gone. It -seems rather hard that we should be brought into this world without -our wishes being consulted, and hurried out of it without our wishes -being consulted, and as Emerson says, “We seem to be whipped through -the world hacks of invisible riders.” - -My readers may be interested to know who bought the horses and the -prices they fetched, so I give the list. See pages 322-3. - -Fifth on the list is good old Democrat, who still has quite a history -attached to him. Mr. Joel bought him for 910 guineas, and while his -property he ran his last race, at Kempton Park on May 11th, 1901, -ridden by Wood, but was not placed, after this he was kept in peace -and plenty until the autumn, when he again renewed his acquaintance -with Mr. Tattersall’s hammer on October 13th, then Mr. Marsh, the -trainer of the King’s horses, gave 290 guineas for him; chiefly I -fancy for old association’s sake; so the horse went to Egerton House -at Newmarket. One day the late Lord Kitchener was going round the -stable, and I think I am right in saying King Edward VII was there at -the time; when they came to Democrat Lord Kitchener remarked on his -good looks, and that he was the size and make for a man like himself -with long legs. “Yes, my lord,” said Mr. Marsh, “he would suit you to -take out to India as a charger if you will accept him as a gift.” - -Lord Kitchener was not a great horseman at any time, and liked -something very quiet so that he need pay no attention to his mount -and devote it all to the business in hand; this he explained to Mr. -Marsh, asking if he thought the horse was quiet enough, and was -reassured by being told Mr. Marsh’s daughter used often to ride him -when exercising on the heath. A few days later when Lord Kitchener -was speaking to the Duke of Portland about Mr. Marsh’s generous gift, -and expressing doubts about a race-horse being a suitable charger, -his Grace suggested Democrat being sent to Welbeck to be tried there -in the riding school with a view to his usefulness as a charger. The -horse’s manners were found to require very little polishing, so to -India he went, becoming a great favourite with his master. An unusual -end to a race-horse’s career, but a very happy and a most useful -one. When Mr. Marsh bought him he was no longer considered any use -for racing, no use for the stud to which so many race-horses go, -and I am not quite sure he was not just a wee bit gone in the wind. -However, this great winner of races after landing £12,939 in stakes -became Lord Kitchener’s favourite charger, and was ridden by him at -the Delhi Durbar and Coronation Procession of King Edward. Democrat -bore himself very proudly in India, winning several prizes at the -Indian Horse Shows. Lord Kitchener’s and Democrat’s name will go -down to history together, for in Calcutta there now stands a statue -of them sent out from England in 1913. A good and honourable man on -a good and honourable horse. I have been told that Democrat died in -India shortly before Lord Kitchener left the country. - - - HORSES IN TRAINING - - _Name._ _Sire._ _Dam._ _Purchaser._ _Guineas._ - Berzack, U.S.A. Sensation Belphœbe Lord Kesteven 320 - Billow II, Atlantic Tickle Mr. D. Cooper 380 - Australian - Caiman, U.S.A. Locochatchee Happy Day Mr. Marsh for 2,500 - Lord Wolverton - Jolly Tar, U.S.A. Sailor Prince Joy Mr. W. M. G. 2,200 - Singer - Democrat, U.S.A. Sensation Equality Mr. J. B. Joel 910 - Old Buck II, U.S.A. Sensation Magnetic Mr. R. Croker 300 - - - THREE YEAR OLDS - - Brelogue, U.S.A. Favordale Bibelot Mr. R. Croker 320 - Zip, U.S.A. Owas Telic Doe Mr. R. Gore 310 - Nahlband Wolf’s Crag Under the Mr. E. Dresden 1,500 - Rose - Bronzewing, U.S.A. Goldfinch Reclare Mr. J. Hare 320 - Alien, U.S.A. Henry of Kate Allen Mr. J. B. Joel 1,300 - Navarre - Teuton, U.S.A. Hanover Bessy Mr. R. Gore 210 - Hinckley - Yellow Bird, U.S.A. Goldfinch Miss Modred Lord Carnarvon 210 - Yap, U.S.A. Dandy Dinmont Lizzie Mr. S. B. Joel 410 - Choctaw, U.S.A. Onondaga Henrietta Mr. J. Widger 210 - Moorspate, U.S.A. Candlemas Belle B. Mr. E. Dresden 860 - Sweet Dixie, U.S.A. Sir Dixie Brenda Mr. R. Croker 200 - Fore Top, U.S.A. Top Gallant Flavia Mr. W. Lewison 45 - - - TWO YEAR OLDS - - The Buck Buckingham Compromise Lord Carnarvon 300 - Loveite St. Fruoquin Orle Mr. G. Faber 1,050 - Charles Lever, The Bard Equiporse Mr. R. Croker 100 - U.S.A. - Vendale, U.S.A. The Bard Water Lily Mr. R. Croker 160 - Albanian, U.S.A. The Bard Loot Mr. R. Croker 90 - Bay Filly, U.S.A. The Bard Roulette Mr. W. Smith 175 - Ouilla, U.S.A. The Bard Foxtail Mr. G. Farrar 115 - Drooping Martagon Penserose Capt. 55 - Featherstonhaugh - - BROOD MARES, ETC. - - Manister Diakka Tacitus Mr. J. A. McNeal 20 - Brown Yearling Worcester Manister H. Von Grundherr 7 - Famish Wolf Crag Cearalin Mr. G. Pritchard 20 - King Cophetua, Florizel II Cerealia J. D. Wordell 310 - Yearling Colt - Ch. Yearling Filly Amphion Philatelist Mr. H. King 12 - - - STEEPLECHASE HORSES IN TRAINING - - Lord Arrovale Tacitus Lady Arrovale Mr. Russel Monroe 380 - Servias St. Serf Ayesha Ayagile H. Escott 80 - Uncle Jack Ascetic Mayo Mr. Joel 3,000 - Harvesting Barkizan Harvest Moon H. Escott 175 - Brandon Carlton Miss Prim Mr. J. R. Eastwood 300 - Orange River Hackler Capri Mr. G. Parrott 150 - Patrick’s Ball Workington Duty Dance Lord Rothschild 310 - Waltager Saraband Alice Mr. G. Parrott 25 - Brown Study Tacitus Brown Beauty Major E. Loder 100 - - Grand Total £19,439 - -At King George’s coronation, Lord Kitchener rode another great -race-horse Moifaa, the Liverpool winner in 1904, while the property -of Mr. Spencer Gollan. The horse was afterwards sold to King Edward. - -When Derby time came round again in 1901, Volodyovski fulfilled Lord -William’s hopes and predictions, though, alas, not in his name, for -the rules of racing are that death cancels the lease of a horse, -therefore the luck of that Derby fell to Mr. W. C. Whitney, and I do -not think there was a soul on that racecourse, including Mr. Whitney -himself, who did not wish Lord William had been there, and the win -his. - -Some few weeks after Lord William’s death there was a good deal of -discussion and some heated arguments between Lady William and Lady -Meux as to the ownership of the horse, Lady William maintaining -it was her late husband’s horse and therefore now hers; Lady Meux -declared it was hers, and the Jockey Club were at last asked to -decide; they adopted the usual course of leaving the disputants -to have it settled by the law of the land. It came for hearing, -fortunately, before that fine old sporting Judge Grantham, I say -fortunately because he was perhaps in a position to give confidence -to both parties in his judgment, owing to his racing knowledge and -experience. He gave it as his opinion Lord William’s death cancelled -the lease of the horse. - -Lady Meux had bred Voly, being the only woman who has ever bred a -Derby winner, and she was so excited at his winning that the moment -he passed the winning-post she was out of her grand-stand box and -claimed the right not usual to ladies of entering the weighing-in -enclosure, and she then followed “Zee pet,” as she called him, -down the course, through the crowd to the saddling paddock a good -quarter of a mile away and then untied the little bit of blue and -brown ribbon mixed up in the horse’s headgear, which he had carried -throughout the race. While patting and caressing the horse she -excitedly exclaimed, “It is my horse and I want the ribbons for my -museum,” which I have not seen, but have been told it is a very -entertaining place full of a variety of interesting things, now in -the possession of Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, well known as Ladysmith -Lambton. - -Mr. Whitney’s colours were similar to Lord William’s, being the same -light blue jacket, but with a brown cap, which when at some distance -looked very like Lord William’s black. - -It may be wondered why in the course of these memories I have made -no mention of Lord Delaval, the youngest Beresford brother; it is -because he decided to seek fortune abroad and settled down in Mexico; -the reason for this exodus being to win the object of his affection -for his bride, which rested on whether he fulfilled his promise -to make a fortune first. It is tragic that when nearing the point -that he could return with his promise fulfilled, he was killed in a -railway accident in the United States on December 26th, 1906. - -With the usual Beresford spirit he had thrown his whole attention -and energy into his work, and when he died owned 196,000 acres with -nine miles of irrigation canals and several large reservoirs, having -quickly grasped that what caused failure so often on ranches was want -of water, without plenty of which cattle cannot thrive. - -Lord William’s eldest brother died in 1895 at the early age of -fifty-one; he had been ill a long time, the result of a hunting -accident. Lord Bill felt his death very much. Out of these devoted -brothers only two are left now, Lord Beresford and Lord Marcus. - -Reluctantly I lay down my pen, it has been a pleasure writing of our -dear friend, and living through some of the old times again. - -I like to remember my earliest experience in First Aid was in -patching up the head of a Beresford, a kinsman of Lord William’s and -mine, though at the time he was a very small boy aged about eight -years. A dear chubby-faced lad whose people lived at Bedale, not -far from my old home in Yorkshire. Little Walter Beresford and his -brother Henry, grandchildren of Admiral Sir John Beresford on their -father’s side and Lord Denman on their mother’s, came to play with my -young brother, and Walter took the opportunity to fall from top to -bottom of the cellar stone stairs while playing hide and seek, though -they were on forbidden ground. I was very proud of my work when I had -done patching up the poor little head, and remember how plucky the -lad was, but then he was a Beresford and what is born in the bread -comes out in the butter. I fear this is not a correct quotation, but -will do quite nicely. - -Lady William only survived her husband a few years. - - _Requiescat in pace._ - - - - -INDEX - - - Abbott, Mr., 94, 186, 266; - his unlucky horse, 224 - - Afghan Chief, The, 179 - - Agnew, Capt. Q., 266 - - Agnew, Mr. H. de C., 266 - - Agra Stable, The, 256 - - Alexander, Mr. R., 266 - - Ali Musjid Citadel, Storming of, 73 - - Allahabad, The thrice run race, 94 - - Allason, Major, 266 - - Allan, Mr. J. J., 266, 277 - - Althorp, Capt. K., 267 - - Amir of Afghanistan, 178, 179 - - Annandale, 54 - - Anderson, Mr. A. S., 266 - - Anderson, Mr. G. G., 266 - - Apcar, Mr. J. G., 252, 264, 267 - - Appleyard, General, 73 - - Apostolides, Mr. E. C., 267 - - Arbuthnot, Mr. J., 267 - - Archer, Fred, 163, 300 - - Ardagh, Col. J. C., C.I.E., 267 - - Arthur, Mr. A., 267 - - _Asian, The_, 57 - - Astley, Sir J., 163 - - Australian horses stampede, 160 - - - Baden-Powell, Lieut.-Gen. Sir R., 143 - - Badger, The pet, 26 - - Baker, Colonel Valentine (afterwards Baker Pasha), 29 - - Barclay, Mr. P. D., 267 - - Barrington, The Hon. (afterwards Sir) Eric, 8; - his story of the Tyrol accident, 9 - - Barlow, Mr. R., 267 - - Barnes, Mr. F. C., 267 - - Bates, Mr. R. G., 267 - - Beaconsfield, Lord, 96 - - Beasley, Capt. (“Tommy”), 14 - - Beaver, Col. P. K. L., 267 - - Bengal Tenancy Act, 177 - - Beresford, Lady Charles, 154, 156 - - Beresford, Lord Charles, 303; - meets Lord William at Curraghmore, 18, 19; - the “Brothers’ Race,” 42, 48 - - Beresford, Sir John, 326 - - Beresford, Lord Marcus, 234, 254, 285, 293, 302, 303; - meets Lord William at Curraghmore, 18; - Lord Marcus and the “Brothers’ Race,” 42; - Lord William, and the hall porter, 29 - - Beresford, Lord and Lady Marcus, 292 - - Beresford, Lady William (formerly Duchess of Marlborough), - marriage, 285; - disputes with Lady Meux, 324; - death of Lady William, 327 - - Beresford, Lord William-- - accidents to, 20, 81, 110, 147, 164, 187, 259, 290, 295; - an accomplished whip, 216; - active service, 70, 72, 80; - Annandale racecourse bought, 209; - anthrax at his stables, 248; - A.D.C. to Lord Northbrook, 51; - bad luck, 165; - farewell banquet at Calcutta, 266; - bull, 4; - at Bombay meets Lord Charles Beresford, 48; - at Bonn, 8; - a bribe, 221; - the “Brothers’ Race,” 42; - meets his brother again at Curraghmore, 18; - on Sir Redvers Buller’s Staff, 79; - bungalow nearer Viceregal Lodge, 143; - buys Myall King, 226; - a cab incident, 145; - Calcutta paper-chase, 259; - the Cambridgeshire, 302; - on castes of India, 107; - child and the gymkhana, the, 241; - calling with Mr. Charles Lascelles, 49; - and children, 144, 145; - children’s farewell party, 261; - and the children of Dorking, 287; - Cigar Race, The, 147; - a coaching adventure, 291; - commands irregular volunteer cavalry, 82; - a complaint, 225; - congratulated by the Prince of Wales, 90; - conjurer, discomfiture of, 238; - convalescence, 296; - “the courteous,” 126; - at Dr. Renau’s school, 4; - death, 317; - at the Amateur Dramatic Club, 119; - Dramatic Club, the Amateur, re-established, 118; - dines with his mother and the Prince of Wales, 92; - despatch carrying, 73; - disappears “en route,” 140; - and the dissatisfied subaltern, 239; - at Dorking, 283; - drives coach down barrack steps, 24; - Lady Dufferin’s scheme, 211; - at Durban, 80; - battles at Durban, 80; - at the Durbar, 61, 181; - faints at the Durbar, 61; - Durbar souvenirs, 183; - and the economical colonel, 208; - engaged to be married, 284; - at Eton, 4; - and Fleur-de-Lys, 136; - gazetted Colonel and K.C.I.E., 249; - Gloucester House mystery, 191; - guests at Calcutta banquet, 266; - the hall porter and the refrigerator, 29; - and the Hill and Frontier tribes, 69; - homesick, 198; - horse-training for the Durbar, 219 - inherits his money, 21; - invents the umbrella race, 148; - invents the Victoria Cross race, 147; - joins the 9th Lancers, 12; - last race in India, 282; - leaves England, 46; - loses a bet, and how he paid, 109; - Lord Rossmore and the intruder, 39; - and the Maitland-Beresford case, 93; - the man who thought he was King, 197; - marriage, 284; - as a Mason, 316; - match with Rothschild, 164; - methods, 220; - his memory, 218; - Military Secretary to three successive Viceroys, 123, 127, 129; - mistaken identity, 161, 233; - Mr. Moore’s speech at Calcutta banquet, 269; - and his mother-in-law, 319; - and the natives, 150; - paperchasing, 244; - parlour fireworks, 190; - a polo accident, 63; - and Ponto, 141; - and Ponto at the wedding, 142; - and the pony, 139; - a quiet corner, 118; - races with Captain McCalmont, 20; - the racing man, 168; - racing receipts, 311; - his racing reputation, 227; - racing rumours, 260; - racing troubles and worries, 166; - racing, 68, 201, 257, 293, 304, 308; - racing partners-- - Mr. Lorillard, his new partner, 294; - Durbangah, Maharajah of, 235; - Maharajah of Patiala, 251; - Mr. Monty Stewart, 132; - Mr. Whitney, a new partner, 300; - receives the V.C. from Queen Victoria, 90; - recommended for the V.C., 87; - regimental trophies, 286; - religion, 206; - relies on Mr. Palmer, 297; - rescues Mrs. Stuart Menzies, 148; - returns to India, 71, 88, 92; - returns to Ireland, 91; - “rules for the A.D.C.,” 229; - and the runaway carriage, 35; - and the runaway coach, 216; - saves the life of Dr. Perry, 10; - sells his stables, 187; - a serious accident, 295; - shares a bungalow with Captain Clayton, 48; - and soldier’s wife, 193; - some fast trotters, 291; - a son born, 298; - speech at Calcutta banquet, reply to, 275; - spelling, 6; - State functions, 169; - his tact, 113; - the Tattersall’s sale, 320; - the £1000 card, 21; - his three-year-old record, 306; - and Tod Sloan, 299; - on tour, 170; - his two-year-old records, 305; - a useful clerk, 221; - and viceregal tour programme, 184; - a war trophy, 85; - a well-liked man, 130; - what the _Hornet_ said, 313; - wins the name “Fighting Bill,” 79; - wins the V.C., 86; - with Sir Sam Browne, V.C., 72; - wrestles with Joseph Leeman, 40; - at York, 39; - - Beresford, Mr. W. M., 267 - - Beverley, the Hon. Mr. Justice, C.S., 267 - - Bignell, Mr. R., 267 - - Bombay, Government House dinner party, 206 - - Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, 216 - - Boteler, Mr. R., 267 - - Bourdillon, the Hon. J. A., C.S., 267 - - Bourke, Mr., 240 - - Brabazon, Capt., 289 - - Brackenbury, the Hon. Lieut.-General H., C.B., 267 - - Bradshaw, Surgeon-Major-General, 267 - - Brasier-Creagh, Capt., A.D.C., 267 - - Brassey, the Right Hon. the Lord, 267 - - Brock, Mr. C., 267 - - Brooke, Mr. W. R., C.I.E., 267 - - “Brothers’ Race,” The, 42 - - Browne, Lord Ulick, 57 - - Browne, Sir Sam, V.C., 72 - - Brunton, Sir Thomas Lauder, 315 - - Buck, Sir E., C.I.E., 267 - - Buckland, Mr. C. E., C.S., 267 - - Bulkeley, Capt. Rivers, rides the Prince of Wales’ horse, 34 - - Butler, Mr. A. L., 267 - - Burn, Capt., 232 - - Burmah Crisis, The, 203 - - Bythell, Capt., 267 - - - Cahir, 14 - - Calcutta race meeting, 165, 242, 253 - - Calcutta Sweepstake, 254 - - Calcutta Tent Club, 159 - - Cambridge, Duke of, 285 - - Campbell, Capt. the Rt. Hon. Ronald, The death of, 81 - - Campbell, Capt. I. M., D.S.O., 267 - - Campbell, General D. M. G., 36 - - Campbell, Mr. Alec, 267 - - Campbell, Mr. H. P., 267 - - Candy, Captain (“Sugar Candy”), 11; - horse jumps down a quarry, 25 - - Canning, Lady, 76 - - Canning, Viscount, 76 - - Cannon, Mornington, 301 - - Carrington, Lord, 35 - - Cavagnari, Sir Louis, 71 - - Cawnpore, The statue, 77; - the well, 76 - - Cetewayo, 78; - advances, 85; - retreats, 84; - taken prisoner, 79 - - Chaine, Col., 292 - - Chatterton, Col. F. W., 267 - - Chelmsford, Lord, 78, 81; - takes Cetewayo prisoner, 79 - - Chesney, Colonel, afterwards General Sir George, 116, 151 - - Cheylesmore, Lord, 5 - - Children’s parties at Simla, The, 143 - - Chisholme, Major J. J. Scott, 267 - - Christopher, Major, 267 - - China interposes, 204 - - Cigar Race, 147 - - Clarke, Colonel Stanley, 314 - - Clayton, Captain, 11; - the death of, 60; - Harrow and Capt. Clayton’s death, 64; - “In memoriam,” 63 - - Cleland, Colonel, wounded, 71 - - Clewer Sisters, The, 212 - - Clonagam Church, 317 - - Clonmell, Lord, 35 - - Collen, Major-General Sir E. H. H., K.C., I.E., 267 - - Colley, Colonel, afterwards Sir George, 52 - - Commander-in-Chief and the salutations, 215 - - Compton, Lord Alwyne, 156 - - Connaught, Duchess of, 155 - - Connaught, Duke of, 154 - - Connemara, Lord, 240 - - Cooking reform, 210 - - Cork, Earl of, 35 - - Cotton, the Hon. H. J. S., C.S.I., 267 - - Cotton, Mr. Ben, 216 - - Creagh, Mr. B. P., 267 - - Crespigny, Sir Claude de, 307 - - Croft, the Hon. Sir A., K.C.I.E., 267 - - Cubitt, Mr. J. E., 267 - - Cumberledge, Mr. F. H., 267 - - Cuningham, Mr. W. J., C.S.I., 267 - - Cunningham, Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. D. D., 267 - - Currie, Capt. J., 267 - - Curzon, the Hon. Major M., 267 - - Curraghmore, 2 - - Cuthbert, Mr., 300 - - - Dacca steamer incident, The, 77 - - Dalhousie, Lord, 76 - - Dangerfield, Mr. E., 267 - - Daniel, Mr. Linsay, 267 - - Davidson, Captain, 51 - - Dehra Races, The, 92 - - Delavel, Lord, 325 - - Devonshire, Duke of (then Lord Hartington), 163 - - Dickson, Mr. Geo., 267 - - Dickson, Mr. J. G., 267 - - Drawing-room reception, 144 - - Denman, Lord, 326 - - Dogcart mishap, The, 20 - - Dods, Mr. W., 267 - - Donkey, The, and the cock, 41 - - Doran, Major B. J. C., 267 - - Dufferin, Lady, 177; - her scheme to help Indian women, 210 - - Dufferin, Earl of, 177, 203, 272 - - Dunn, the jockey, 243; - in trouble again, 248 - - Durand, Mr., afterwards Sir Mortimer, 183, 234 - - Durand, Colonel, 278 - - Durbangah, Maharajah of, 162, 230; - becomes Lord W. Beresford’s racing partner, 235 - - Durbar, The, a huge crowd, 223 - - - Eddis, Mr. W. K., 267 - - Egerton, Sir Robert, 99 - - Ellis, Col. S. R., 267 - - Enter, Mr. K., 267 - - Evans, the Hon. Sir Griffith, K.C.I.E., 267 - - Evening, A festive, 200 - - Ezra, Mr. J. E. D., 267 - - - Famine, The Irish, 17 - - Fancy dress ball, 157 - - Fane, Sir Spencer Ponsonby, 149 - - Farewell Banquet, Calcutta, The, 266; - names of those present at, 266-9; - Mr. Moore’s speech at, 269; - Lord Bill replies, 275 - - Fenian, Lord W. B.’s horse, 30 - - Fenians’ threat to Lady Waterford, 17 - - Fenn, Surgeon-Col. E. H., C.I.E., 267 - - Fife, Captain, 19 - - Fitch, Mr., 236 - - Fitzgerald, Lord, 35 - - Fitzmaurice, 85 - - FitzWilliam, Hon. P. W., 34 - - Forbes, Mr. Archibald, 87 - - Ford Abbey, 76 - - Fordham, jockey, 163 - - Fownes, Mr., 292 - - Frere, Sir Bartle, 78 - - Fripps, Mr., 81 - - Furniss, Mr., 302 - - - Galbraith, Major-General W., C.B., 267 - - Gambrie, Col. G. R., 267 - - Gamble, Mr. R. A., 267 - - Game card of Lord de Grey, 154 - - Garraway, Capt. C. W., 267 - - Garth, Mr. G. L., 267 - - Garth, Mr. W., 267 - - Gasper, Mr., 202, 224; - death of, 249 - - Gladstone, Mr. A. S., 267 - - Gladstone, Mr. J. S., 267 - - Gladstone, Mr., 95 - - Godjack, Mr., 162 - - Gollan, Mr. Spencer, 324 - - Gooch, Rev. Francis, 303 - - Gordon, Capt., appointed Lord Ripon’s Private Secretary, 67 - - Gordons, The Scotch, 303 - - Gough, Capt. C. H. H., 267 - - Gough, Mr. G., 267 - - Grain, Corney, 199 - - Grantham, Mr. Justice, 324 - - Granville, Lord, 95 - - Gregory, Mr. E. H., 267 - - Gregson, Mr. C. B., 267 - - Grimston, Capt. R. E., A.D.C., 267 - - - Hadden, Mr. F. G., 268 - - Hamilton, Mr. F. S., C.S., 268 - - Hamilton, Mr. L. B., 268 - - Hammersley, Mr. Louis, 284 - - Hammersley, Mrs. See Lady William Beresford - - Harbord, the Hon. Charles, afterwards Lord Suffield, 156, 183, 232, 268 - - Harrington, Lord, 95 - - Harrow School and the death of Captain Clayton, 64 - - Hart, Mr. G. H. R., 188, 268 - - Hartington, Lord. See Duke of Devonshire - - Hartopp, Captain (Chicken), and the bath, 91 - - Harvey, Surgeon-Col. R., 268 - - Hastings, Lord, 29 - - Hay of Kinfauns, Lord, 199 - - Hayes, Mr. Horace, 92 - - Henderson, Mr. G. S., 268 - - Hensman, Mr. H., 268 - - Herat, 178 - - Herbert, Capt. L., 268 - - Herbert, Mr., 31 - - Hewett, Mr. J. P., C.S., C.I.E., 268 - - Hext, Capt. J., R.N., C.I.E., 268 - - Hext, Sir John (now Rear-Admiral), 216, 235, 247 - - Hills, Mr. A., 159, 268, 279 - - Hills, Mr. C. R., 268 - - Hodgson, Mr. G. C., 268 - - Holmes, Mr. W., C.S., 92, 268 - - _Hornet, The_, 313 - - Hope, Mr. G. W., 268 - - Horse Sale, The, 187 - - Howrah Bridge, 217 - - Huggins, Mr. (Lord William’s trainer), 300, 305, 310 - - Hunt, Col. J. L., 268 - - Huxley, Mr., 246 - - - Ilbert Bill, 123 - - Indian descent, 109 - - _Indian Planters’ Gazette_, 263 - - Indian Viceroy’s duties, An, 66 - - Irving, Mr. W. O. Bell, 268 - - Isandhlwana, Battle of, 78 - - - James, Mr. S. Harvey, C.S., 268 - - Jardine, Sir William, Bart., 268 - - Jarrett, Col. H. S., 268 - - Jenkins, Capt. A. E., 268 - - Jersey, Lord, 7 - - Jhind, The Rajah of, 101 - - Jockey Club, 293, 324 - - Jodhpore, Maharajah of, 162 - - Johnstone, Mr. C. Lawrie, 268 - - Jourdain, Mr. C. B., 268 - - Jowaki Expedition, The, 69 - - - Kabul, 71 - - Kempton, 308 - - Kennedy, H. E., Rear-Admiral George, 268 - - Keyes, General, sent with reinforcements against hill tribes, 69 - - Khyber Pass Retreat, The, 71 - - King, Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col. G., C.I.E., 268 - - King, Mr. D. W., 268 - - King-Harman, Col., 27 - - Kirk, Mr. H. A., 268 - - Kitchener, Earl, 320 - - Kooch Behar, H.H. the Maharajah of, G.C.I.E., 171, 258, 265, 268 - - - Ladies’ Steeplechase, 141 - - Lady’s curtsey, A, 116 - - Lambert, the Hon. Sir John, K.C.I.E., 268 - - Lambton, Mr. George, 300 - - Lance, Brigadier-General F., C.B., 268 - - Langford, Lord, 5 - - Lansdowne, Marchioness, 262 - - Lansdowne, Marquess of, 234, 238, 247, 272 - - Lascelles, The Hon. Charles, 11 - - Latimer, Mr. F. W., 268 - - Lawley, Hon. Miss, 156 - - Lawrence, Lord, 53, 97, 240 - - Leeman, M.P., Mr. Joseph, the wrestling match, 40 - - Legislative Council pass the Ilbert Bill, 123 - - Leigh, Sir Gerrard, 13 - - Lendal Bridge, 39, 40 - - Leslie, Mr. C. P., 1 - - Lethbridge, Brigade-Surgeon-Lieut.-Col., 268 - - Life in India, 158 - - Lister, Capt. G. C., A.D.C., 268 - - Lockhart, Sir Simon, 5 - - Lorillard, Mr. Pierre, becomes Lord William’s racing partner, 294 - - Louisa, daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothsey, 15 - - Lowther, Mr. James, 199, 313 - - Lucknow, 255 - - Ludlow, Col., 268 - - Lumsden, Mr. D. M., 268 - - Luson, Mr. H., 268 - - Lyall, Mr. A. A., 268 - - Lyall, the Hon. Mr. D. R., C.S.I., C.S., 268 - - Lyall, Mr. R. A., 268 - - Lytton, Lady, 52 - - Lytton, Earl, 272; - appointed Viceroy, 52; - appoints a Famine Commission, 68; - dissatisfies Government with his Afghan policy, 96; - his departure, 104; - investigates the Indian Famine, 67; - reviews the troops, 62; - sends troops against Hill tribes, 69 - - - McCalmont, General Sir Hugh (“The Smiler”), 7, 11 - - McDonnell, the Hon. W. F., 57 - - Macdougall, Captain, 232 - - Machell, Captain, 33 - - McInnes, Mr. H. H., 268 - - Mackellor, Mr. G. B., 268 - - Mackensie, Mr. D. F., 268 - - Mackenzie, Colonel Stewart, 11; - takes command, 71 - - McLeod, Mr. C. C., 268 - - Macleod, Mr. J. J., 268 - - Macnair, Mr. G. B., 268 - - Macpherson, the Hon. Justice W., C.S., 268 - - Maitland, Col., 268 - - Maitland, Mr. Kelly, 92 - - Maitland _v._ Beresford case, 93 - - Man who thought he was King, The, 197 - - Marlborough, 8th Duke of, 284 - - Marlborough, Lily, Duchess of, meets Lord W. B., 283; - is married to Lord Bill, 284 - - Marsh, Mr., 320 - - May-Boy’s serious accident, 17 - - Mayo, Lord, 240 - - Meerut Race Meeting, 214 - - Mehta, Mr. R. D., 268 - - Methuen, Lord, 4 - - Meux, Admiral Sir Hedworth, 325 - - Meux, Lady, 311, 324 - - Meyrick, Mr., 58 - - Middleton, Capt. Bay, 13 - - Miley, Col. J. A., 268 - - Military Secretary’s duties, 124; - pay, 129 - - Military Secretaries and their excuses for resignation, 135 - - Miller, Mr., 95 - - Mills, Mr. G., 268 - - Milton, Lord, A.D.C., 268 - - Minto, The present Lord, 7 - - Mistaken identity, 161 - - Moore, Mr. C. H., 7, 244, 268 - - Moore, Mr. Garret, 12 - - Muir, Capt. Charles, 80, 244 - - Muir, Mr. A. K., 268 - - Muir, Sir John, Bart., 268 - - Myall King, Death of, 262; - Record of, 264 - - Myers, Mr. Dudley B., 268 - - - Nabha, Rajah of, 238 - - National Hunt Committee, 293 - - New Year’s Day Festivals, 222 - - Newcastle, Duke of, 286 - - Nicknames, 11 - - Ninth Lancers on active service, 71 - - Northbrook, Lord, 51, 272 - - Norman, Mr. A. F., 268 - - Norris, the Hon. Justice, Q.C., 268 - - - Observation Hill, 97 - - _Oriental Sporting Magazine_, 57 - - O’Toole, Sergeant, rescues in time, 86; - is awarded V.C., 91 - - Overend, Mr. T. B. G., 268 - - Owen, Capt. “Roddy,” 12, 121, 231 - - - Paget, Lord Alfred, and the Bonnets, 28 - - Paget, Mr. H. E. C., 268 - - Palmer, Mr., 288, 295, 297 - - Paperchases, 137 - - Papillon, Capt. David, 138 - - Paris, Mr. G. B., 268 - - Parliament dissolved, 95 - - Parlour fireworks, 191 - - Patiala, Maharajah of, 280; - forms racing partnership with Lord William, 251 - - Pattison, Mr. F. E., 268 - - Patrie, Mr. J. M., 268 - - Paul, Col. St., 268 - - Paying calls in India, 50 - - Peacock, Mr. F. B., 268 - - Perinan, Mr. F. W., 268 - - Perry, Dr., gives supper night before holidays, 9; - his letters to Lord W. B.’s mother, Lady Waterford, 9 - - Peterhoff, the Viceregal house at Simla, 54 - - Peterson, Mr. C. D., 268 - - Pincus, Mr. Jakes (trainer), 300 - - Playfair, the Hon. Mr. P., 268 - - Poer, Charles William de la, 1 - - Poer, Delaval James de la, 1 - - Poer, John Henry de la, 1 - - Poer, Marcus Talbot de la, 1 - - Poer, William Leslie de la, 1 - - Poer, William Warren de la, son of Lord W. B., 298 - - Pollen, Capt. S. H., A.D.C., 268 - - Polo, The Christmas Day Match and its tragic sequel, 60; - at Hurlingham, 44 - - Ponies, The sale of the, 38 - - Portal, Mr. Gerry, 192, 199 - - Portland, Duke of, 321 - - Potato Incident, The, 14 - - Prickett, Mr. L. G., 269 - - Primrose, Mr. (now Right Hon. Sir Henry Primrose), 156 - - Prinsep, the Hon. Mr. Justice H. T., C.S., 269 - - Pritchard, the Hon. Sir C., K.C.I.E., C.S.I., 269 - - Probyn, Colonel Oliver, 138 - - - Race after the Amateur Dramatic Club Play, The, 120 - - Rajah’s bow to Lord Ripon, The, 102 - - Raleigh Club, 27; - the new Raleigh, 1916, 30 - - Ralli, Mr. John A., 161, 269 - - Ralli, Mr. T. D., 269 - - Rawal Pindi, 179; - the Durbar at, 179 - - Rawlinson, Mr. A. T., 269 - - Raye, Brigade-Surgeon D., 269 - - Religions of India, 56 - - Ripon, The Marquess of (then Lord de Grey), 96, 134, 154, 272; - arrives at Peterhoff, 99; - converses with Lord Lytton, 100; - has a trying time, 123; - leaves India, 172; - receives friends, 153; - a Roman Catholic, 110 - - “Ripon’s Good Night,” Lord, 172 - - Roberts, Major Ben, 57, 162 - - Roberts, Earl, 71, 205, 240 - - Rochfort, Capt. (now Sir Alex. Rochfort), 156 - - Rodocanachi, Mr. J., 269 - - Rosebery, Earl of, 35 - - Rossmore, Lord, 7 - - Ross, Mr., and why he called last, 51 - - Ross, Mr. R. M., 269 - - Rothschild, Mr. Leopold de, 163 - - Rustornjee, Mr. H. M., 269 - - Ryder, trainer and jockey, 133, 186; - his accident, 187 - - - Sanders, Surgeon-Major R. C., 269 - - Saunders, Mr. J. O’B., 269 - - Schiller, Mr. F. C., 269 - - Shakespeare, Mr. F., 269 - - St. Quinten, Major, 34, 156 - - Shaw, Colonel, of the London Fire Brigade, 29 - - Shepstone, Sir Theophilus, 78 - - Silk stockings, The, 117 - - Simson, Mr. A., 269 - - Simson, Mr. A. F., 269 - - Singh, Sirdar Preetum, 250 - - Sipi, The Fair, 149 - - Sloan, Tod (James Forman), is engaged by Lord W. B., 299; - in trouble, 301, 304, 308, 310 - - Smith-Dorrien, Mr., 34 - - _Sporting Times, The_, 318 - - Stampede at the Viceregal Procession, 103 - - Stedman, General E., C.B., 269 - - Steel, Mr. Robert, 269 - - Stewart, General Sir Donald, 118, 179 - - Stewart, Mr. F. G., 269 - - Stewart, Mr. C. D., 269 - - Stewart, Mr. J. L., 269 - - Stewart, Mr. J. R., 269 - - Stewart, Mr. Monty, forms racing partnership with Lord W. B., 132; - death of, 162 - - Stuart-Menzies, Mrs., a riding adventure, 149; - a souvenir, 319 - - Stuart, Mr. Harry, 269 - - Suffield, Lord. See Capt. Harbord - - Superstition, 237 - - - Table of W. B.’s horses sold, 322 - - Targett, Mr. W. H., 57, 269 - - Tattersall’s sale, 44, 320 - - Taylor, Capt. Clough, 137, 156 - - Taylor, Lady Elizabeth Clough, 156 - - Temple, Mr. G., 269 - - Thebaw, King, 203 - - Thomas, Mr. J. P., 269 - - Thomas, Mr. L. R., 269 - - Thomas, Mr. R. E. S., 269 - - Thomas, Mr. W. L., 269 - - Thompson, Colonel Meysey, 13 - - Thuillier, Colonel H. R., 269 - - Thunderstorm at Pindi, 181 - - Tingey, T., 68 - - Tollygunge meeting, 244 - - Toomay, Mr. J. A., 269 - - “Tower of Silence,” Bombay, 107 - - Trail, Mr. T., 269 - - Tremearne, Mr. Shirley, 269 - - Turf Club, Calcutta, The, 242 - - Turf Club of Ireland, 293 - - Turnbull, Mr. R., C.I.E., 269 - - Turner, Capt. J. G., 269 - - - Ulundi, King’s kraal, 83; - Battle of, 79 - - Umballa racing accident, 137 - - Umbrella race, 148 - - Umvaloosi, Valley of, 83 - - Upton, Mr. R. L., 269 - - - Valentia, Lord, 34 - - Viceregal House, The new, 209 - - Viceregal tour programme, 184 - - Viceroy’s Cup, The, 59 - - Viceroy’s duties, A, 105 - - Victoria, Queen, confers V.C. on Lord William, 90 - - Victoria Club Banquet, 58 - - Victoria Cross Race, 147 - - Vinall (jockey), 249, 265 - - Vincent, Mr. Claude, 269 - - Voeux, Captain Des, 121 - - - Wales, Prince of, The (afterwards King Edward VII), 33, 34, 51, 91, - 163, 271, 289, 314, 321 - - Walker, Major-General A., 269 - - Wallace, Sir Donald Mackenzie, 178 - - Waller, Mr. R. R., 269 - - Ward, Mr. G., 269 - - Warre, Dr., 5 - - Warre-Cornish, Dr., Vice-Provost of Eton, 5 - - Waterford, Lady Blanche, 297 - - Waterford, John Henry, Fourth Marquis, 1 - - Waterford’s, Lady Louisa, accident, 16 - - Waterford, The third Marquis and the flogging block, 7; - “The Mad Marquis,” 15 - - Waterfords, The, 303 - - Watts, Mr., 76 - - Webb, Captain, 162 - - Weekes (a jockey), 248 - - Weeks, Teddy, 133 - - Well at Cawnpore, 76 - - Wenlock, Lady, 154, 156 - - Wenlock, Lord, 154 - - West, Mr. J. D., 269 - - Western Indian Turf Club, The, 261 - - Westmorland, Lord, 35 - - Westmorland, Lady, 35 - - Wheal, Mr. John, 186 - - Wheler Club, The, 93 - - White, Major (afterwards Sir George White, V.C.), 124, 240 - - Whitney, Mr. W. C., becomes Lord William’s racing partner, 300 - - Wilkins, Mr. C. A., C.S., 269 - - Williams, Colonel and Mrs. Owen, 35 - - Williams, Capt. G. A., 269 - - Willson, Mr. (trainer), 248, 289 - - Wilson, Lady Sarah, 283 - - Wombwell, Sir George, 35, 314 - - Women of India, The, 150 - - Wood, Captain, 34, 225 - - Wood, Sir Evelyn, his fighting force, 82 - - Woods, Mr., 34 - - Woolmer, Captain, 258 - - - Yorke, The Hon. Alec, 8 - - Yorke, Hon. Elliot, 8 - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained; for example, - collar-bone, collarbone; body-guard, bodyguard; race-horse, - racehorse; affirmatory; undauntable; hebetude; horsy; tiffin. - - Pg ix: ‘Sporting Contempories’ replaced by ‘Sporting Contemporaries’. - Pg 10: ‘near Beresford’ replaced by ‘nearby, Beresford’. - Pg 60: ‘up unconcious’ replaced by ‘up unconscious’. - Pg 99: ‘aide-de-camps’ replaced by ‘aides-de-camp’. - Pg 103: ‘been ricochetting’ replaced by ‘been ricocheting’. - Pg 154: The handwritten column headings in this chart are names of - game animals. Two names are unclear, and are shown as ‘S???’ - and ‘K???’. Some numbers were also unclear; reasonable guesses - have been made. - Pg 200: ‘philanthrophy, while’ replaced by ‘philanthropy, while’. - Pg 218: “aide-de-camps’” replaced by “aides-de-camp’s”. - Pg 321: ‘to Indi as’ replaced by ‘to India as’. - - Index: ‘Fripp’ replaced by ‘Fripps’. - Index: ‘Goodijack’ replaced by ‘Godjack’. - Index: ‘Umvalovsi’ replaced by ‘Umvaloosi’. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lord William Beresford, V. 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