The Morning Herald

THE DUKE'S DISCIPLINE.

The following story, says the London Vanity Fair, is true: The late Duke of Wellington was accustomed during the latter years of his life to drive himself about in a curricle, a habit which caused his family considerable uneasiness since, from his increasing years and failing vision, it seemed probable that he would meet with some accident. The duke's well-known character, however, was such that nobody dared to hint such a thing to him, and all the round about methods taken to induce him to abandon his charioteering having failed, he was left to enjoy its pleasures in peace. What rendered this so extremely dangerous was his habit of going off suddenly to sleep which brought him so many hairbreadth escapes that at last it was arranged for some member of the family to accompany him whenever it could be done without awakening his suspicions. One day his second son, Lord Charles, contrived to be honored with the perilous invitation. After driving a certain distance along the road, the duke went off into a nap, and one of the reins fell from his hands, while he kept hold of the other, still feeling the horses' mouths with it. The result was that the animals were gradually edged toward a deep and steep ravine which bordered the road. Lord Charles, watching things meantime, and praying that his father might, as he had done many times before, awake in time to prevent the else inevitable smash. The duke, however, continued to nod and to pull, until at last, as the horses were on the very edge of the ditch, Lord Charles seized the fallen rein, and giving it a pluck, pulled them short round into the road again. With a sharp turn the duke awoke, and seeing the rein in his son's hand, asked angrily, "what are you doing with the reins, sir?"
"Well, sir," replied Lord Charles, "the horses were going straight over the edge, and I just pulled them off it to prevent being smashed to pieces."
The duke looked at him sternly, and said, "I'll trouble you to mind your own business."