The Romance of Madame Tussaud'sTussaud, John Theodore
History
The Romance of Madame Tussaud's
Tussaud, John Theodore
Madame Tussaud and Sons' Exhibition; Tussaud, Marie, 1761-1850; Waxworks
Our representative was forthwith sent to Dublin, and soon found himself
in possession of Kavanagh’s car. The good-humoured jarvey seemed glad to
be rid of the vehicle; anyhow, the price he asked was not a prohibitive
one.
One thing was particularly noticeable, namely, that the number on the
car differed from the number quoted in the newspaper accounts describing
it when taken by the police. It was discovered, however, that the
“Invincibles” had changed the number before the fateful journey. A
condition was made by Kavanagh that the pony which drew the car should
also be purchased, as he wished to have done with them both.
It took only a few hours to complete the transaction, and thereafter
Kavanagh drove the purchaser over the ground traversed by the assassins
in their endeavours to throw the police off the scent. This was a
voluntary act on the part of Kavanagh, and our representative was
curiously exercised at the time to understand why he imagined the trip
should interest him.
To facilitate transit the car was taken to pieces by a coach-builder
at Kingstown and wrapped in sacking, in the hope that it would not be
observed. It was then put on the night boat for Holyhead.
The pony found a home in stables belonging to the Exhibition, and soon
afterwards came to an untimely end from too little exercise and a too
liberal allowance of provender. Why we did not sell the pony for what it
might fetch is more than can be told to-day; it may be surmised that such
an expedient did not occur to our minds.
On the voyage across passengers whispered to each other that the Phœnix
Park car was on board, and on its arrival in London there appeared among
the latest telegrams in an evening paper: “Kavanagh’s car goes to Madame
Tussaud’s.” Evidently the Irish correspondents had wired the news of
which we ourselves had hoped to make a special announcement.
The car was soon put together, and placed on view at the Exhibition in
one of the rooms adjacent to the Chamber of Horrors, and in another part
of the Exhibition were shown the portraits of Lord Frederick Cavendish
and Mr. Burke.
After being exhibited many years the car was given to a gentleman who
manifested an interest in it. Its new owner had it renovated for his own
use as a private conveyance, and he might often have been seen driving it
in the streets of London, no one suspecting its notorious history.
[Illustration: CHARLES BRADLAUGH
English radical politician and advocate of secularism.]
Charles Bradlaugh sat many times to my father, and proved an entertaining
and patient subject, sincerely desirous that his portrait should be a
true representation of himself. He discussed the troubles he was then
passing through in the political arena over the oath, for which, after
much contention, he was permitted to substitute an affirmation.
I remember him in his comings and goings, wearing a frock-coat and silk
hat, tall and of commanding appearance, always affable and chatty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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