Punch (80.1881)

February 5, 1881.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

51

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

extracted prom

THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

Monday Night, Jan. 24.—Regarded as an oratorical composition, I tight grip on his eye-glass, knowing fuU well that should he let it
Mr. Fohster's speech to-night was excellent. It had just enough of fall there wiU drop with 'it a tear. Mr. Gray, whom nature has
proof to justify the position taken up. More would have been gifted with peculiar vocal advantages for the task, gives sorrow
tedious, seeing that the world has been saturated with proof for ; tongue. He is addressing the House in general, and the Treasury
weeks; less would scarcely have been decent. There was a hearty, Bench in particular. "Let us," he says, with a tear in his voice,
honest, uncompromising ring all through. No cry of exultation, as i " adjourn till our little party is complete."

of a bloodhound long held in leash, at length slipped on its prey; It is the old old story told with more or less monotony of mourn-
but rather the tone of a man who has at last made up his mind to fulness since the time of Milton :—
do an undesirable and distasteful task, and who, having put his I <'< For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime,

hand to the plough, will certainly not look back. young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer."

Business done.—Bill for the Protection of Life and Property TT . » „ ,n 3 , -n r , „

(Ireland) brought in. Debate adjourned. I Here a moment m the full bloom and strength of Parliamentary

Tuesday, Midnight. — A feeling of gloom prevails among the
Gentlemen from Ireland. Mr. Healy is tearing his hair. The Rev.
Mr. Nelson sits aU in a lump by the Cross Benches with his hands
hanging limp before him, and his chin prone on his chest. Mr.
Dillon more tightly closes his lips, and Mr. O'Donnell keeps a

vigour; the next.

" Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears,
And slits the thin-spun life."

It was a touching moment, the grief of the Irish Members losing
nothing of its pathos by reason of contrast with the immobility of