The Sage.
"Yes, Toby," said the Sage, lighting another cigarette; "always well when you're going it hot for a Party to have some individual in it whom you can omit from general implication of infamous motives. Gives one high moral standpoint, doncha know. Thus, when I want to suggest that the Markiss is a mere tool in hands of Bismarck, I extol honest purposes of Old Morality; hint, you know, that he is not so sharp of perception as he might be; but that gives him the fuller claim upon our sympathy, seeing that he is yoked with a colleague of the natural depravity, and capable of the infinite iniquity, which marks the Markiss's relations with public affairs. The great thing, dear Toby, in public controversy is to assume an attitude of impartiality. When you have to suggest that a political adversary was privy to the putting-away of his grandmother, do it rather in sorrow than in anger, and if you can find or make an opportunity of saying at the same time a kind word for one of his colleagues, seize it. That's why we cheer Hartington to-night, and why the Tories sometimes admit that John Dillon's an honest man."
Business done.—Parnell moved rejection of Land Purchase Bill.
Tuesday.—Courtney on in his famous quick-change scene. One minute he is discovered in recesses of canopied chair as Speaker; the next is seated at table as Chairman of Committees. Speaker, everyone sorry to learn, is ill in bed. So Courtney doubles his part. Proceeding watched with profound interest from Strangers' Gallery. At ten minutes and ten seconds to Seven House in Committee of Supply. Courtney in Chair at table; Mace off the table; Tanner on his legs. As hand of clock falters over the numeral ten, Courtney gets up, says never a word, wheels to right out of Chair and marches to rear. Tanner stops midway in sentence and resumes seat. Sergeant-at-Arms bowing thrice advances, lifts Mace on to table, and retires. Stranger in Gallery wondering what has become of Courtney, appalled by discovering him in Speaker's Chair, quite a new man. On these occasions marks his swiftly varying condition by altered tone of voice. As Chairman of Committees, assumes piping treble voice, as Deputy-Chairman drops occasional observations in profound bass.
