Thursday.—Seems Brodrick didn't say at Farnham those naughty things about Mr. G. 'Tis true he had referred to failure of a popular local donkey to win a race owing to increasing infirmities, adding "it is quite time some of us should be turned out to grass." But he was not thinking of Mr. G. Of whom then was the Young Man thinking? Could it have been ——? But no, a thousand times no.
The Government Humorist.
("No, I'm hanged if I do.")
Certainly nothing in Mr. G.'s appearance to-night suggestive of desire or necessity for knocking-off work. Others may tire and turn fondly to contemplation of moor, river, or sea. Mr. G. thinks there's no place like London in mid-August, no scene so healthful or invigorating as House of Commons. Plunged in to-night on one of the interminable Amendments. A difficult job in hand. Had to accept Amendment which Solicitor-General and Attorney-General had an hour earlier been put up to show was impossible. Began by pummelling Prince Arthur; proceeded to make little of Henry James; turned aside to pink Joseph with sarcastic reference to inveterate love with which he is cherished in the bosom of his new friends the Tories; finished by throwing over Attorney-General with grace and dexterity that made experience rather pleasant than otherwise; and at a quarter to eight accepted an Amendment that had been moved at a quarter to six.
It was in conversation round this Debate that Solicitor-General, accused by Carson of knowing all about a certain point of law, delighted House by taking off wig, pitching it ceiling-high, deftly catching it, and observing with a wink at Speaker, "No, I'm hanged if I do."
Business done.—Report Stage Home-Rule Bill.
Friday Night.—Grouse to-morrow, Home-Rule Bill to-night. As Borthwick says, Home-Rule Bill is like partridge, at least to this extent, that, in course of a few months, its daily appearance on the table leads to sensation of palled palate. Truly, toujours perdrix is endurable by comparison with Always Home Rule. Members who remain bear up pretty bravely, but glance wistfully at the door through which have disappeared so many friends and companions dear, bound Northward. The holiday, even when it comes for us—the mere residuum, tasting grouse only from the bounty of our friends, who are not dead but gone before—will be but an interval in a prodigiously long Session. "I suppose you find the Autumn Session very popular," I said to Marjoribanks, who still wears a smile. "Yes," he said; "more especially with Members who have paired up to Christmas."
Business done.—Still harping on Home Rule.
| Transcriber's Note: Sundry damaged or missing punctuation has been repaired. The correction listed below is also indicated in the text by a dashed line at the appropriate place: Move the mouse over the word, and the original text appears. Page 73: 'break' corrected to 'brake'. "I'm over before you have put on the brake," |