Young and old took part in these paper-chases, Sir George White with grey hairs when Commander-in-Chief, and youths with growing down on their upper lip. One very noticeable thing about people in India is the way they keep young in spite of their years, taking part and interest in all that is going on, old ladies and gentlemen dance until the early hours with the best of the young ones, ride races, play tennis and racquets, in fact everything that is going.
One year Lord William offered a prize for a Ladies’ Steeplechase over the Calcutta Racecourse. There were many competitors, some coming from a distance to show what they could do.
When Lord William presented the prize of a beautiful silver inkstand to the winner, who happened to be a Mrs. Somebody he did not know, he expressed the hope that she would find it useful and persuade her to write long letters to her husband. This was unfortunate, as the lady and her husband had agreed to part. It was a most unusual thing for Lord Bill to make a faux pas.
The Simla Season of 1882 passed much in the usual way, a round of social gatherings and festivities. One character I must not fail to introduce to you, namely, Ponto, Lord William’s poodle; he appears in many photographs, and so he ought, being quite a personage; he lived with his master after he became Military Secretary in quite a palatial house called “Inverarm,” standing on the hill, not far from the Viceregal Lodge.
Ponto and his master were inseparable; there were times of course when he was not wanted which he failed to realise or appreciate, and in spite of the efforts of those who had instructions to keep him at home, searched Simla until he located his master, sitting proudly outside the door until he put in an appearance. Once Lord William left the house he was visiting by a different route, and Ponto sat on far into another day, when he was remonstrated with by the inhabitant of the bungalow at whose door he sat.
On another occasion Ponto broke away from custody and turned up in church at Simla during a marriage service; the church was very full, but Ponto managed to squeeze his way through amongst the multitude of legs, and gave a brisk “Wuff” of delighted greeting when he located his master. This affection at times was embarrassing, but as he meant it all in good part his master was obliged to accept it in the same spirit, while vowing he would find some other means of keeping Ponto at home. Both the latter and his master had many things in common, both admired beauty; if Lord William was sitting at luncheon and said in the usual conversational voice, “There goes a pretty girl,” Ponto would be up and off in a moment, on to a chair to gaze right and left out of the window, or to the door, to look out for the pretty girl. This was always a sure draw for Ponto, and used to amuse Lord William, showing him off.
Inverarm was like a museum for its many trophies of the chase and sport generally. Tables groaned under cups and beautiful silver. Some of Lord Bill’s silver bowls were remarkable for their delicate workmanship; he used often to lend them to people giving parties when they wanted to make a little splash. Indeed, so interesting and comfortable was the house that whenever there was an overflow from the Viceregal Lodge, which was not infrequent, Peterhoff being very circumscribed, the extra guests were put up at Inverarm.
One day when riding along the Mall, Lord William saw a doolie being carried along with a sick man inside; he asked the bearers who was inside, and being told a cavalry officer from the plains, and hearing they were going to take the invalid to an hotel, he told them to go straight to Inverarm, and escorted them to it, keeping the sick man until well again, doing everything possible for his comfort and to expedite his recovery. The individual in question was the present Sir Robert Baden-Powell, at that time in the 13th Hussars, now father of that most important and valuable institution the Boy Scouts.
No season either in Simla or Calcutta was allowed to pass without the children being catered for; the parties the Military Secretary gave for them were amongst the most delightful and eagerly looked forward to by the young folk, who all adored Lord Bill; he in his turn adored them. The vocabulary of children is so small and yet so sufficing. Bairns are very dramatic little persons, and their patois delightful. He would at any time give up an engagement for his own pleasure to go and amuse a sick child, telling them stories, taking them presents and flowers, and always being robbed of the one in his button-hole. He used to have great confidences and secrets with them, which children always enjoy. One small boy who had broken his leg and was much devoted to his delicate mother, wanted to give her something on her birthday as a great surprise, and could not make up his mind what it should be, as his saved pennies were not excessive. For days Lord William made suggestions, none of which were favoured, some being too costly, others she would not care for. Each visit Lord William paid he had some fresh list of suggestions. If the boy had decided on an elephant Lord Bill would have said he was sure he could get one for the money and procured it; but at last the boy had decided in his own mind, and joyfully told Lord William, saying, “I have found out what mother would like; it is a book she often reads. It got spoilt with the white ants eating it, and I want to give her another.”