DOI issue:
June 4, 1881
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17750#0263
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256
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
[June 4, 1881.
witty things, has a little conundrum on this matter of the douceur
of Sir Frederick Roberts :—"What is the difference_ between
Randolph's authority and Randolph himself ? " " One is Vanity
Fair and the other Unfair Vanity."
The Soda-and-Brandy was, regarded seriously, a somewhat sad
affair. Lord Hartington is young and strong, and if he thinks it
worth while to catch and crush a moth, the effort gives him no
trouble. But for Randolph, after spending an agreeable evening
in the service of his country else-
where, to come in at two o'clock
in the morning, and begin to
bait Gladstone, who had been
already sitting, with brief inter-
mission, for nine hours, strenu-
ously wrestling with the Com-
mittee in moulding his Budget
scheme—for Randolph to do
this, suggests reflections which
perhaps it would not be polite
to reflect.
Business done.—Budget Bill
considered in Committee.
Tuesday.—Heard somewhere
of "the good man struggling
with adversity." Saw him this
afternoon standing at the Table
L'Enfant Terrible (reciting). "My le§* audarms contorting
name is Eandolph " &c in fearful fashion. Adversity
lord S-l-sb-rij. " He 'a a wonderful 011 tne Benches below the Gang-
Bo-o-y ! And he's alive, alive, alive 11" YaJ opposite, exceedingly enjoy-
ing the struggling. Mr. Forster,
not perhaps the most passionately beloved man in the House. A
trifie too self-assertive and self-satisfied. At first House not insen-
sible to certain enjoyment in seeing him wrestling with the Irish
Members. He undertook the post of Chief Secretary with so mani-
festly light a heart, and with such cheery determination to show
Great Britain and Ireland how the thing was to be done. Also some
secret chuckling at the spectacle of Mr. Biggar, with his thumb
in the arm-hole of his waistcoat, calmly advising Mr. Forster to
retire from a post for which he is "notor'usly unfit."
Things are past a joke now. The sympathy of the House entirely
with Mr. Forster, as he makes an indignant stand against the
violent vituperation and unmannerly attacks made upon him night
after night. They do him no harm in the estimation of those who
hear and see. There may or may not be something in the case which
Irish Members desire to present. What is certain is it will never be
listened to from the men who assume to represent Ireland under the
leadership of Mr. Parnell. They have so often shown themselves
incapable of distinguishing between fact and fancy, truth and
Boasting the Police Forco-ter.
deliberate lying, that men with other business to attend to cannot
spare time to listen on the chance of hearing a few facts.
AH very weU this, and very true. But hard for Mr. Forster to
take this philosophical view, and to sit unmoved whilst Mr.
0 Donnell slowly gimlets him, and Mr. Healy, lying in wait
behind a corner, heaves half a brick at him, and then runs off to
shelter himself behind "Privilege." To-day he has it out with
them.. He trembles in every limb with honest indignation, whilst
the Irish Members sit and watch him as the audience in a theatre sit
aa«t watch the champion dancer who gyrates for their amusement. , - .......
ihe Chief Secretary's will may be law at the Castle; but there is and then dexterously balancing it as another conjuror might balance a
sweet revenge to be taken at Westminster. j feather on his nose, he said a few words amidst thunderous applause.
Business done—Mi. Forster baited by Irish Members. , Business done— Committee on Land Bill.
Wednesday.—With twenty minutes to six comes Mr. Biggar. He
has not been in the House throughout the Sitting, and business has
gone on without distraction. The unfortunate Members who have
Bills on the Orders which they might get advanced by a stage, know
very well what he means. H they didn't, they would soon learn.
As soon as a quarter to six strikes and Debate stopped, Speaker
rises and proposes to go through the Orders. Reads out title of Bill.
"I object," says Mr. Biggar. Another Bill and another objection,
sometimes shared with Mr. Warton, with occasional stray bits for
Mr. Healt. But the guiding spirit is Joseph Gillis, by the side of
whom Mr. Warton becomes monotonous and common-place. Many
efforts made from time to time to inveigle J. B. from the precincts of
the House at this hour. All failures. Joseph's eagle eye flashes
through the strategy, and calmly he advances to a seat above the
Gangway, placing himself directly under the Speaker's left ear—
"just as if he were the knot in the rope," says Alderman Fowler,
who in his time has been a Sheriff.
Business done.—Nothing particular.
Thursday.—Great and graceful entry by Mr. Ecrotd, just elected
for Preston. The whole business dramatically arranged. New man
introduced by Law and
Order: Law, Sir John
Holker ; Order, Colonel
Stanley. Sir John ad-
vances towards the table
with all the languid grace
that is part of his Par-
liamentary manner. Poli-
tics have always been quite
too-too for honest Jack.
If they would only let him
run amuck at the enemy,
Parliamentary life might
be endurable. But what
with talk about expedi-
ency and references to re-
sponsibility, Jack thinks
Parliamentary life scarce
worth living. Sometimes
comes down after dinner, Sheriff Thames Water-low objecting to Thames
and if no one on the front Biver Bill,
bench, has a little dash in,
taking care to clear out before Northcote or any of them come
down with their "What's this?" their "Dear me!" and their
" Now, really, don't you think, Holker ? " Sir John got rid of his
charge as if it were a badly-backed brief, sheering off when he had
come near enough to point out the Mace to the new-comer. Then
strolling off with the look of half-sleepy, wholly ineffable weariness
that is so touching.
Mr. Ecroyd simply delightful. Tories cheered like mad. Alder-
man Fowler kept it up till his face looked like " the purple-headed
mountain " of which the poet sings. Mr. Ecroyd accepted atten-
tions with due measure of dignity and satisfaction. Advancing with
light and graceful step he impartially turned his head to right and
left, changing the expression of his face with great skill. He had
" A tear for those who love him,
A smile for those who hate."
Impossible to say which was better done, the smile that he turned
towards the silent Liberals, or the softening expression of unalterable
regard and friendly protection which he bestowed upon the elated
Conservatives.
Business done.—House got into Committee on the Land Bill.
Friday Night— This Government not going to be beaten by the
last in anything. Stafford Northcote made a great hit with his
Confidence Trick. Gladstone determined to show that he is an
equal adept in juggling.
Selected the Hat Trick for the performance. In some respects not
quite so striking as the Confidence Trick, which required the audi-
ence to produce Six Millions out of their own pockets and hand it to
the conjuror. Mr. Gladstone wanted nobody's money. The only
article he desired to borrow was a hat, and this was obligingly
furnished by the Solicitor - General. Performance com-
menced at six o'clock precisely. House crowded ; pit full;
boxes bursting; strangers turned away in hundreds from the
Gallery. The Premier got up and stood before the table holding
out his hand to show that there was no deception. People roared
with applause, and demanded an encore. Premier again rose, hold-
ing out his hand as before, again demonstrating that there was no
deception. Now there were cries of " Hat! Hat! " Gladstone sat
down again. Solicitor-General handed up his hat. Premier put it
on his head, or rather on half his head, for it would not go on farther,
256
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
[June 4, 1881.
witty things, has a little conundrum on this matter of the douceur
of Sir Frederick Roberts :—"What is the difference_ between
Randolph's authority and Randolph himself ? " " One is Vanity
Fair and the other Unfair Vanity."
The Soda-and-Brandy was, regarded seriously, a somewhat sad
affair. Lord Hartington is young and strong, and if he thinks it
worth while to catch and crush a moth, the effort gives him no
trouble. But for Randolph, after spending an agreeable evening
in the service of his country else-
where, to come in at two o'clock
in the morning, and begin to
bait Gladstone, who had been
already sitting, with brief inter-
mission, for nine hours, strenu-
ously wrestling with the Com-
mittee in moulding his Budget
scheme—for Randolph to do
this, suggests reflections which
perhaps it would not be polite
to reflect.
Business done.—Budget Bill
considered in Committee.
Tuesday.—Heard somewhere
of "the good man struggling
with adversity." Saw him this
afternoon standing at the Table
L'Enfant Terrible (reciting). "My le§* audarms contorting
name is Eandolph " &c in fearful fashion. Adversity
lord S-l-sb-rij. " He 'a a wonderful 011 tne Benches below the Gang-
Bo-o-y ! And he's alive, alive, alive 11" YaJ opposite, exceedingly enjoy-
ing the struggling. Mr. Forster,
not perhaps the most passionately beloved man in the House. A
trifie too self-assertive and self-satisfied. At first House not insen-
sible to certain enjoyment in seeing him wrestling with the Irish
Members. He undertook the post of Chief Secretary with so mani-
festly light a heart, and with such cheery determination to show
Great Britain and Ireland how the thing was to be done. Also some
secret chuckling at the spectacle of Mr. Biggar, with his thumb
in the arm-hole of his waistcoat, calmly advising Mr. Forster to
retire from a post for which he is "notor'usly unfit."
Things are past a joke now. The sympathy of the House entirely
with Mr. Forster, as he makes an indignant stand against the
violent vituperation and unmannerly attacks made upon him night
after night. They do him no harm in the estimation of those who
hear and see. There may or may not be something in the case which
Irish Members desire to present. What is certain is it will never be
listened to from the men who assume to represent Ireland under the
leadership of Mr. Parnell. They have so often shown themselves
incapable of distinguishing between fact and fancy, truth and
Boasting the Police Forco-ter.
deliberate lying, that men with other business to attend to cannot
spare time to listen on the chance of hearing a few facts.
AH very weU this, and very true. But hard for Mr. Forster to
take this philosophical view, and to sit unmoved whilst Mr.
0 Donnell slowly gimlets him, and Mr. Healy, lying in wait
behind a corner, heaves half a brick at him, and then runs off to
shelter himself behind "Privilege." To-day he has it out with
them.. He trembles in every limb with honest indignation, whilst
the Irish Members sit and watch him as the audience in a theatre sit
aa«t watch the champion dancer who gyrates for their amusement. , - .......
ihe Chief Secretary's will may be law at the Castle; but there is and then dexterously balancing it as another conjuror might balance a
sweet revenge to be taken at Westminster. j feather on his nose, he said a few words amidst thunderous applause.
Business done—Mi. Forster baited by Irish Members. , Business done— Committee on Land Bill.
Wednesday.—With twenty minutes to six comes Mr. Biggar. He
has not been in the House throughout the Sitting, and business has
gone on without distraction. The unfortunate Members who have
Bills on the Orders which they might get advanced by a stage, know
very well what he means. H they didn't, they would soon learn.
As soon as a quarter to six strikes and Debate stopped, Speaker
rises and proposes to go through the Orders. Reads out title of Bill.
"I object," says Mr. Biggar. Another Bill and another objection,
sometimes shared with Mr. Warton, with occasional stray bits for
Mr. Healt. But the guiding spirit is Joseph Gillis, by the side of
whom Mr. Warton becomes monotonous and common-place. Many
efforts made from time to time to inveigle J. B. from the precincts of
the House at this hour. All failures. Joseph's eagle eye flashes
through the strategy, and calmly he advances to a seat above the
Gangway, placing himself directly under the Speaker's left ear—
"just as if he were the knot in the rope," says Alderman Fowler,
who in his time has been a Sheriff.
Business done.—Nothing particular.
Thursday.—Great and graceful entry by Mr. Ecrotd, just elected
for Preston. The whole business dramatically arranged. New man
introduced by Law and
Order: Law, Sir John
Holker ; Order, Colonel
Stanley. Sir John ad-
vances towards the table
with all the languid grace
that is part of his Par-
liamentary manner. Poli-
tics have always been quite
too-too for honest Jack.
If they would only let him
run amuck at the enemy,
Parliamentary life might
be endurable. But what
with talk about expedi-
ency and references to re-
sponsibility, Jack thinks
Parliamentary life scarce
worth living. Sometimes
comes down after dinner, Sheriff Thames Water-low objecting to Thames
and if no one on the front Biver Bill,
bench, has a little dash in,
taking care to clear out before Northcote or any of them come
down with their "What's this?" their "Dear me!" and their
" Now, really, don't you think, Holker ? " Sir John got rid of his
charge as if it were a badly-backed brief, sheering off when he had
come near enough to point out the Mace to the new-comer. Then
strolling off with the look of half-sleepy, wholly ineffable weariness
that is so touching.
Mr. Ecroyd simply delightful. Tories cheered like mad. Alder-
man Fowler kept it up till his face looked like " the purple-headed
mountain " of which the poet sings. Mr. Ecroyd accepted atten-
tions with due measure of dignity and satisfaction. Advancing with
light and graceful step he impartially turned his head to right and
left, changing the expression of his face with great skill. He had
" A tear for those who love him,
A smile for those who hate."
Impossible to say which was better done, the smile that he turned
towards the silent Liberals, or the softening expression of unalterable
regard and friendly protection which he bestowed upon the elated
Conservatives.
Business done.—House got into Committee on the Land Bill.
Friday Night— This Government not going to be beaten by the
last in anything. Stafford Northcote made a great hit with his
Confidence Trick. Gladstone determined to show that he is an
equal adept in juggling.
Selected the Hat Trick for the performance. In some respects not
quite so striking as the Confidence Trick, which required the audi-
ence to produce Six Millions out of their own pockets and hand it to
the conjuror. Mr. Gladstone wanted nobody's money. The only
article he desired to borrow was a hat, and this was obligingly
furnished by the Solicitor - General. Performance com-
menced at six o'clock precisely. House crowded ; pit full;
boxes bursting; strangers turned away in hundreds from the
Gallery. The Premier got up and stood before the table holding
out his hand to show that there was no deception. People roared
with applause, and demanded an encore. Premier again rose, hold-
ing out his hand as before, again demonstrating that there was no
deception. Now there were cries of " Hat! Hat! " Gladstone sat
down again. Solicitor-General handed up his hat. Premier put it
on his head, or rather on half his head, for it would not go on farther,