These pessimistic effusions had no more effect upon Wauchope than water on a duck's back. He had given his word, the die was cast, and deliberately and systematically he carried out his resolution. Beginning at his own village of New Craighall--chiefly inhabited by the miners belonging to the coal-pits on his estate--he commenced his campaign in the schoolroom on 10th February 1890, his friend and neighbour Sir Charles Dalrymple acting as chairman. In the course of his speech, Sir Charles referred to the difficult task Colonel Wauchope had undertaken, but was of opinion that his experience in the army had taught him not to shrink from a task because it was difficult. Indeed, he thought that to Colonel Wauchope a task of difficulty was more attractive than an easy one. He was above all things plain-spoken and thorough, and if he made statements on public questions, they might be sure {114} that he would not have to answer them or explain them away at a subsequent period. It is not necessary we should follow his footsteps throughout the county on this first round of addresses to the electors, or of his second round the following year, when he again returned from Gibraltar, and finally in 1892 when the general election took place. His personal canvass too of nearly fifteen thousand electors was a remarkable experience, and was conducted by him with much tact. [Sidenote: Electioneering difficulties] It is needless to say these repeated appearances proved an excellent training for him in the art of public speaking. He addressed the electors on all subjects of public importance from Home Rule as the all-absorbing question of the day, to questions of Imperial and local interest. It must be admitted his early speeches bore the unmistakable signs of the amateur in platform oratory, and when too hard pressed by a pertinacious heckler he had sometimes to admit he was nonplussed, but that he would give the embarrassing question his full attention, and express his opinion on it when he had formed it. This want of experience told heavily against him, and frequently he had difficulty in getting a hearing, or in being able clearly to express his views on some of the topics dealt with. But a breakdown did not put him very much out; he always managed to please his audience before he was done, with some happy remark given with the utmost good-nature. His utterances, sometimes diffuse and incoherent at first, very soon grew in confidence as well as in clearness, and before the election was over there were few public speakers better able to command the attention of a large audience than Andrew Gilbert Wauchope of Niddrie.