DUKE DISLIKES EARLY OR LATE

It is related of the Duke of Wellington that he made an appointment with a city dignitary to meet at a certain hour on London Bridge. The dignitary was five minutes late, and finding the Duke watch in hand and angry, pleaded, “It is only five minutes, your grace.” “Only five minutes!” he replied; “five minutes’ unpunctuality would have, before now, lost me a battle.”

Next time the city magnate took care, as he thought, to be on the safe side. When the Duke appeared he greeted him rather triumphantly, “You see, your grace, I was five minutes before you this time.” “Shows how little you know time’s value,” said the old Field Marshal. “I am here to the moment. I cannot afford to waste five minutes.”

– Sunday at Home

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #10,183]

[Editor’s note: The Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wesley (1769-1852), was commander of the forces that defeated Napolean at Waterloo in June 1815. He was known as a man of decision, enforcer of discipline, common sense, attention to detail, and care for his soldiers.]

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.