Or again, a Conservative is confronted with the question of old-age pensions. Precisely the same process takes place, and under the necessity of convincing himself, while endeavouring to convince and to please his audience, he will vow never to cease his efforts in support of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN until a general system of State pensions for the aged is established throughout the United Kingdom. * * * * * [Illustration: Sir William cultivates the "Celtic Fringe."] * * * * * So it is with votes of thanks and laudatory speeches of all kinds. If you have to move a vote of thanks to A., a politician whom you do not specially admire, the odds are about ten to one that you will describe him as a great statesman, a profound thinker, an eloquent orator, and the man of the future. All this may be due to your having embarked on a rhetorical period which required more words than you had prepared yourself to supply; and in the agitation of filling up the gap, and rounding off the period, you say what you had not the remotest intention of saying when you got on to your legs. Hence come in after years parallel columns, and aggravating charges of inconsistency. * * * * * It was roses, roses all the way. But that was some time ago in the case of Mr. ISAAC HOYLE, late Liberal Member for the Heywood Division of Lancashire. He was asked to support Mr. SNAPE the Liberal Candidate at this election, but he refused to "take any part in sending Mr. SNAPE to Parliament, charged with duties for which, as I think, his votes show he has no qualification." The receipt of this letter caused the greatest excitement in the Division, and at the Heywood Reform Club Mr. HOYLE'S portrait has been smashed to pieces and thrown out of the building. It is stated also that his subscriptions are being returned. Clearly a case of adding Hoyle to the flames of controversy. * * * * * Mr. THOMAS MILVAIN, the Conservative who vainly endeavoured to oust Sir WILFRID LAWSON from the Cockermouth Division, was once a great boxer--a heavy-weight champion amongst amateurs, if my memory serves me. In the course of his late contest he addressed a hostile meeting at Dearham. Many questions were put to him. One was, "What weight was ta when thoo was a boxer?" Mr. MILVAIN'S answer was, "I was 13 st. 8 lb. That was twenty-eight years ago, and I have not had the gloves on since." (_Laughter and cheers, and a Voice_: "_Would you like to have them on now?_") "I am quite prepared to give any of you a turn, if you want one." (_Great laughter and cheers._) * * * * * When a Candidate, heckled by enemies, finds All his efforts to keep the place still vain, Let him try one resource ere he pulls down the blinds, And conform to the model of MILVAIN.