Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/128

 H. H. had some strange stories to tell of the curious sights he had seen. Like all great tragedies it was not without a touch of comedy. One little incident will serve. It happened that immediately before the earthquake the proprietor of some hotel had taken the manager into the garden and given him a month's notice. No sooner had the words, "I shall not require your services any longer," fallen from his lips than the entire building collapsed in a heap. "Evidently not!" replied the manager, beneath a pile of debris.

In 1910, H. H. and his family broke fresh ground by visiting South America—that modern Tod Tiddler's ground where men may pick up gold and silver even unto this year of grace. The reasons that guided this choice were rather amusing. H. H. had been greatly diverted by hearing one of Kipling's songs.

When therefore the doctor who was attending Lady Heaton made a tentative suggestion of a winter voyage in South America, it was hailed with enthusiasm. Sir Owen Philips, the Chairman of the Royal Mail Steamers—best and kindest of friends and most popular of Members on both sides of the House—smoothed the way, and one rainy morning H. H. set sail in a "great steamer white and gold" for South America. The mixture of nationalities on board baffles description. There were men from every corner of the globe, all bent on doubling or tripling their not