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Charles Philip Lazarus
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politics and public affairs
One of the most telling anecdotes told of C. P. Lazarus was this, as recorded in:
Jamaica Pie, being Tales of Past and Present,
by J B, Gleaner Co., 1943
Chapter XI Scintillae Curiae, pp 25-6
Scene. Court. On the Bench - The C[hief] J[ustice] [Sir Adam Gibb Ellis]
Registrar. "Call Charles Lazarus."
Policeman (to the corridor) " Charles Lazarus, Charles Lazarus, Charles Lazarus." (to the air) "Answer."
Enter Mr. Charles Lazarus, an ironfounder, in a good way of business. He wears a working man's blue overalls. He enters the witness box, is sworn, and gives evidence. Evidence ended, he prepares to leave the box.
C.J. "Mr. Lazarus."
C.L. (turning to Court) "Yes, your Honour."
C.J. "I observe, Mr. Lazarus, that you have not deemed it proper to put off your working clothes before coming to this Court."
C.L. (staring hard at the C.J.'s robes, and assuming an air of surprise and injured innocence) "I beg the court's pardon, but I see that your Honour is in his working clothes too."
(Sensation in Court.
But the C.J., being a very wise man, understands).
C.J. "Yes, I see. Thank you, Mr. Lazarus."
Jamaica Pie, being Tales of Past and Present,
by J B, Gleaner Co., 1943
Chapter XI Scintillae Curiae, pp 25-6
Scene. Court. On the Bench - The C[hief] J[ustice] [Sir Adam Gibb Ellis]
Registrar. "Call Charles Lazarus."
Policeman (to the corridor) " Charles Lazarus, Charles Lazarus, Charles Lazarus." (to the air) "Answer."
Enter Mr. Charles Lazarus, an ironfounder, in a good way of business. He wears a working man's blue overalls. He enters the witness box, is sworn, and gives evidence. Evidence ended, he prepares to leave the box.
C.J. "Mr. Lazarus."
C.L. (turning to Court) "Yes, your Honour."
C.J. "I observe, Mr. Lazarus, that you have not deemed it proper to put off your working clothes before coming to this Court."
C.L. (staring hard at the C.J.'s robes, and assuming an air of surprise and injured innocence) "I beg the court's pardon, but I see that your Honour is in his working clothes too."
(Sensation in Court.
But the C.J., being a very wise man, understands).
C.J. "Yes, I see. Thank you, Mr. Lazarus."
In her book on Devon House, Enid Shields comments thus on Lazarus - "In spite of all his achievements, Charles [Lazarus] was a rough diamond, but most amusing. Most anecdotes that are allegedly connected with Lazarus are unprintable."
She adds this
"Another delightful anecdote relates that Lazarus once sent the British government a bill for repairs on a naval ship: ‘One stud - 6 pence. Total amount for fitting above stud - 3 shillings. Total amount for knowing where to fit stud - £960.’ "
She adds this
"Another delightful anecdote relates that Lazarus once sent the British government a bill for repairs on a naval ship: ‘One stud - 6 pence. Total amount for fitting above stud - 3 shillings. Total amount for knowing where to fit stud - £960.’ "
- politics
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THE DAILY GLEANER, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1884
Crown Government, THE DERBY DESPATCHES INDlCTED Ringing Speeches and Unbounded Enthusiasm. Last evening the Town Hall was thronged with the residents and taxpayers of Kingston, who had assembled en masse to give expression to their opinion of the conduct of the Colonial Office in attempting to foist on the people of Jamaica the delusive constitution contained in the Derby despatches. ...................... To the Chairman of the Meeting. Dear Sir,— I very much regret I am unable to be present to-night in order to propose the resolution which only reached me at 3 o'clock p.m. to day. I feel very strongly on the subject of this resolution, and sincerely trust that it will fall into the hands of one who will not hesitate to express as forcibly as I think the matter deserves, the utter indignation which I am certain is rankling in the breast of every native of this country. It is only important responsibility which cannot be transferred to another that debars my being identified with you all to-night in one grand common interest, but I wish you to believe that whatever your determinations, I am prepared to share the responsibility. It is high time that the people of this country should have a substantial share in the management of their own affairs, and I am sanguine, if we do not do better, we cannot possibly do worse. I hold it as a principle, that having gone thus far, we do not intend to hang back, but must agitate unceasingly until we get what we deserve. Yours truly, CHAS. P. LAZARUS. |
THE NEW JAMAICA
Edgar Mayhew Bacon and Eugene Murray Aaron, 1890,
'Upon the reception of a despatch from Lord Derby, which did not promise to the people under the new constitution all the liberty of government which they sought, especially in questions of finance, there were numerous private and public meetings held in several parts of the island, and protests made against accepting anything less than a "definite, substantial and effective control over the financial affairs of the country." At a public meeting in Kingston a resolution was passed, protesting among other matters that "the governor's presence and power in the council has been in the past and will be in the future, unduly restrictive of the freedom of debate." '
Edgar Mayhew Bacon and Eugene Murray Aaron, 1890,
'Upon the reception of a despatch from Lord Derby, which did not promise to the people under the new constitution all the liberty of government which they sought, especially in questions of finance, there were numerous private and public meetings held in several parts of the island, and protests made against accepting anything less than a "definite, substantial and effective control over the financial affairs of the country." At a public meeting in Kingston a resolution was passed, protesting among other matters that "the governor's presence and power in the council has been in the past and will be in the future, unduly restrictive of the freedom of debate." '
1885 - the first local government elections since the Morant Bay 'Rebellion' in 1865 had led to the suspension of even limited representative government: [Jamaican constitutional developments]
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