The Life of a Great Sportsman 



his political opponents were opponents in name only, because 

 as honest men having promised their votes to their party they 

 would not draw back from their word, yet in their hearts were 

 genuinely delighted when my brother won. 



From a political opponent, but evidently a personal friend, 

 I find the following : — 



" Hoburne, 



" Christchurch, Hants. 



" My dear Richardson, 



" Although I say with the National Anthem 'Con- 

 found your politics ' I cannot but write congratulations on your 

 victory. I shall be delighted to see you in the House. 



" Herbert Gardner." 



It was certainly but by a narrow majority of jj votes that 

 my brother was returned to Parliament in 1894, Dut a larger 

 number of voters polled at that bye-election than in the previous 

 two elections, and my brother received 655 more votes than at 

 his first attempt. A total of 8,677 votes were cast as against 

 7,609 in 1886 and 8,469 in 1892. Considering that the whole 

 electorate in that division of Lincolnshire consists of just 

 over 10,000 voters, it was an astonishing result, secured by a 

 thoroughly well-worked and conscientiously canvassed con- 

 stituency. 



In connection with this narrow majority of 77 ; at a dinner 

 given shortly after his election at Scunthorpe, near Brigg, and 

 referring to a rumour that a petition was to be presented 

 against his return to Parliament, the new member remarked, " I 

 have heard this cry of an objection being lodged years ago, 

 when a horse I rode ran a bit faster than another, and came in 

 first, but I've always 'weighed in' all right, and I have no 



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