Punch (102.1892)

March 26, 1892.]

PUNCH, OP THE LONDON CHAP IVA PL

155

ONE FOR HIM.

Major Spooneleigh. "And you Ride so well, and—er—you Drive so wonderfully well, and—er—you Dance so—er—

beautifully, and you—er—play lawn-tennis so—er—exquisitely, and—er—of course you FlSH also ? "

Mrs. Dasher. "Never for Compliments, I assure you; and certainly not in Shallow Waters !"

ESSENCE OE PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.
House of Commons, Monday, March 14.—Jackson turned up to-
night answering questions from Irish Members. This reminds us he's

Irish Secretary. Been so of
course since Parliament met;
hut quite forgotten it. Mention
this to the Speaker who looked
a little dull while Captain Price
was discoursing on Navy Affairs
in Committee of Supply. So
went up to have a little chat
with him in the Chair.

"My dear Toby," he said,
'' I don't know whether you
meant it, hut you've paid Jack-
son the highest compliment it
is possible to convey. When in
these times the Chief Secre-
tary so manages to conduct
business of his department that
he himself is temporarily for-
gotten, he's doing it surpas-
singly well. My big brother
Robert was once Chief Secre-
tary, though perhaps you for-
get that also. He resigned
because, as he said, there was
not enough work to keep an ac-
tive man going. That was long
time ago. I daresay you had
no chance of forgetting during
the last five years that Prince
Arthur wasChief Secretary ? "
Cannot claim to have invented
Chief Secretary. the compliment the Speaker

discerned; merely mentioning matter of fact; but, as he says, when
in these days a Chief Secretary manages to get himself forgotten,
the wheels at the Irish Office must be going pretty smoothly.
Jackson has not brought about this miraculous change by laying
himself out to flatter or court Irish Members. He is exactly the
same as he was when he filled office of Financial Secretary ; doubt-
less the same as when he looked after his tanyard in Yorkshire.
Goes straight to the point in simple unaffected business manner that
ruffles no sensibilities. Fancy he could tan a hide in such a way that
it would not feel any resentment.

A predecessor at the Irish Office who suc-
ceeded, in more troublesome times, in living
on peaceable terms with Irish Members,
was Campbell-Bannerman. Irish Mem-
bers, swift judges of character, taking
measure of both, came to conclusion no-
thing to be gained by rowing round them.
What killed Forster, and turned George
Treaoelyan's hair grey, made Campbell-
Bannerman smile—not an offensive
smile, but one of interested amuse-
ment. Jackson's sense of humour
not so keen, but his imperturba-
bility even more impregnable. If
Irish Member trailed his coat before
him, Jackson would say, " My dear
fellow, won't you get cold ? Let
me help you on with your coat."

Squire of Malwood, a judge
on this particular point, says the
Markiss missed the greatest chance
he has had for six months in not
putting Jackson in place of Old
Morality.

'' Precious good thing for us,
Toby," says the Squire, " that he
didn't. Jackson the very model