FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



ripple which ever marked his place at the 

 Council Mess. He could bring his unusually keen 

 powers of observation to bear with all the more 

 effect, because he kept himself so well up-to-date 

 with respect to the movements of his time, 

 especially in connection with everything relating 

 to the country-side. 



He had a shrewd and ready wit with which 

 to drive a point home and a special aptitude for 

 the bestowal of a pretty compliment especially 

 when it found its application in one of the opposite 

 sex whose looks were on a par with the grace of 

 the compliment. The story of how effectively 

 he once brought his special gift to bear in the 

 presence of Royalty has oft been told, but I think 

 it is entitled to mention here, as it is so character- 

 istic an instance of that tactful readiness of reply 

 which so often sprang spontaneously from his 

 lips. At the Bath and West Show at St. Albans 

 in 1896, the Princess of Wales, who was being 

 shown round the Working Dairy by Mr. Gibbons, 

 observed with a smile, " The best butter, you 

 know, comes from Denmark." " Pardon me, 

 your Royal Highness," said the steward, with a 

 twinkle in his eye, " we think the best butter is 

 made in England, but we have to go to Denmark 

 for the best Princesses." The Prince of Wales 

 overhearing this, joined in with : " Ah, now you're 

 buttering her ! ' : 



His length of years, and the retention, until 

 within a comparatively short time of his death, 

 at the ripe age of 84, of his mental and physical 

 powers, go far to prove that hard work is not 

 incompatible with prolonged life, however full 



228 



