Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, August 13, 1892Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, August 13, 1892
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
_House of Commons, Thursday, August 4._--New Parliament met to-day
in great force. Ambition stirs noble minds in different ways. Some
embark on Parliamentary life with determination to outshine BRIGHT or
GLADSTONE in field of oratory. Others will not be pacified till they
emulate PITT. Others again aim at the lofty pedestal on which stands
through the ages the man who is first in his place, on first day, of
first Session, of new Parliament. Exciting race to-day. At night,
both BIGWOOD and SPENCER (not BOBBY, who has affairs of graver State
to look to just now) sailed in together. At a quarter to ten SAVORY
turned up, sermon in hand, and found he was forestalled.
"What, MOORE of them!" cried SAVORY. "The bane of my life."
"Yes," said LOGAN, arriving a few minutes later; "wherever there's one
SAVORY you're sure to find MOORE, and in this case they precede you."
Six minutes later DIXON-HARTLAND arrived, mopping his forehead. When
he found others on spot, pretended he'd only looked in accidentally.
"Passing by, you know; thought I'd see how old place looked." But it
wouldn't do. Other men, especially BIGWOOD, saw through it all. Then
DIXON HARTLAND grew anecdotal. Told fabulous story about imaginary
Scotch Member, who, at opening of Parliament of 1880, brought down his
plaid, a stoup of whiskey, and a thimbleful of oatmeal. Camped out all
night in Palace Yard, and staggered into House as soon as doors were
opened.
"That beats you, BIGWOOD," the Evesham Banker said, with a tartness of
voice that betrayed his chagrin.
Rest of the 665 Members content to look in later. By one o'clock House
full, Lobby overflowing. Difficult to move through the close ranks,
and yet there were many gaps. Ranks of old House more than decimated.
"There they go," said my young but fiery friend FURNISS, whom I came
upon in corner of Lobby, rapidly sketching with blurred eyesight.
"Who go?" I asked, remembering with a start I had left my gold-nobbed
stick in the corner by the Post Office.
"The Members we shall miss," he sobbed, lingering fondly over the
truculent curl of HERMON-HODGE's moustache.
But if gone are some familiar faces, others come back. Glad to see
MACFARLANE in his old place below Gangway, and to find him later in
old seat in smoking-room. MACFARLANE didn't often speak in debate,
but usually had something to say. Was a Home-Ruler long before the
majority found salvation. Remember across the years how he put
whole case in crisp sentence when he adjured the deaf Government of
the day "not to attempt to enforce Greenwich-time at Dublin." If
BRIGHT had said that, or DIZZY, or Mr. G., the happy phrase would
have echoed down the corridors of time. But it was only an Irish
Member; MACFARLANE, then Member for Carlow. So it passed
unnoticed--unremembered rather than forgotten.
_Business done._--Speaker elected. ARTHUR WELLESLEY PEEL for the
fourth time. House evidently under impression it can't have too much
of good thing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account