Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/142

 of anecdotes alone made such gatherings memorable. Another Irish Chief Justice, Lord Killanin—better known as Judge Morris—famous for his stories and brogue, shed his wit at these parties in a manner never to be forgotten. It is regrettable that the telling of anecdotes has somewhat gone out of vogue, and the younger generation will never know how such jewels sparkled in the hands of the lapidary. Who having heard can forget Lord Killanin telling his inimitable tales of legal life, among them the story of a poor Irishman about to be tried for moonlighting and his indignation when his counsel asked him what defence he wished to make? "An’ is ut a difince ye'd be afther havin' me make? Shure an don't I be tellin' ye the foreman of the jury is me cousin Mike O’Grady—begorrah, that's me difince!"

A breakfast-party in the House of Commons on Coronation morning was an unusual form of entertainment. Host and guests in full levee dress at that early hour made a remarkable spectacle, which was further accentuated by peers, trailing clouds of glory, hurrying across to the Abbey. After breakfast Marconi and H. H. were photographed together on the Terrace by Sir Benjamin Stone. The portrait appeared in the Italian papers with the inscription; "His Majesty King Edward of England and Signor Guglielmo Marconi."

H. H. "liked a link," and felt a genuine pleasure when he found himself introducing two friends, "Body" and "Soul" by name, and thus forestalling the Last Day; and again when he had two Crimean veterans at the House, and introduced Colonel F. to the late General Sir Harry Rhodes Green with a cheery, "Well, I suppose you last met in the trenches before Sevastopol!" And so they had!