A Sportsman 209 



Probably no American in private life was more 

 popular or better known in London than "Uncle 

 Sam," and I have spent many pleasant hours with 

 him in his apartments on Piccadilly, furnished and left 

 by the Duke of Portland before he inherited his pres- 

 ent rank. The attachment of Portland for "Uncle 

 Sam" was only exceeded by the affectionate regard 

 of Lord Rosebery, who would monopolize, as far 

 as he could, the association of "Uncle Sam" with 

 himself, and who had in his several residences in 

 country and town, apartments specially designated 

 with the name of Samuel Ward. 



"Here," said "Uncle Sam," pointing to his writing 

 table one day, "is where Marion Crawford wrote 

 his first book, of Mr. Isaacs. He had told me about 

 his experiences in India, and I was very much in- 

 terested in his accoimt of the character he met repre- 

 sented in his book of Mr. Isaacs, and I suggested 

 to him that he should write a book about him, and 

 that he should commence now; whereupon he sat 

 himself down at the table and started in, and be- 

 came so much interested in his work that he never 

 quit excepting to eat and sleep and take a little exer- 

 cise, and in about a week completed it and sent it to 

 print." 



One driving with "Uncle Sam" at the fashionable 

 hour in Hyde Park would readily perceive the vm- 

 limited attentions he would receive, and the appar- 

 ent rivalry' existing for recognition from this placid 

 gentleman of attractive presence. One night I was 

 with him in a stage box at Drury Lane Theatre, 

 which theatre he remarked he had not visited for 

 many years, since he was a young lad pursuing a line 



