A HOUSE OF APOLLO-TICIANS—AS SEEN BY THEMSELVES.
Turned out that Alpheus did not find opportunity of bringing in the foot measure. Dalziel raised question Appointment of Royal Duke to command at Aldershot; a ticklish subject for young Member to take up. Dalziel's manner excellent; gave tone to debate, happily preserved throughout; several times Alpheus Cleophas brought out foot-rule and shook it at Campbell-Bannerman. War Minister, naturally well up in strategy, had observed precaution of placing on his flank his Financial Secretary, Woodall, V.C. If there was any probing to be done that veteran would receive first onslaught. Thus assured, Campbell-Bannerman made admirable defence of a position held in advance to be shaky. Came out of Division Lobby with flying colours and majority of 117.
Business done.—Army Votes in Committee of Supply.
House of Lords, Tuesday.—Lords met to-day—at least Lord Denman and the Bishop of Ely did. They, facing each other from either side of otherwise empty chamber, heard Royal assent given to number of bills, and House adjourned for seven days. Don't know what we should have done this week in Lords but for Denman. Everyone else gone out of town. He still treads the burning deck, his plum-hued skull-cap giving touch of chastened colour to passages leading to and from the House. Severe taste might object that it is a little painful in conjunction with the brilliant red of the leather-covered benches. But whoever responsible for selection of that decoration should have thought of Denman's skull-cap. He was here yesterday; did quite a lot of business; moved Second Reading of his Woman's Suffrage Bill.
"My Lords," he said, rising from the seat which the burly figure of the Markiss usually fills, "I think there is an opportunity of making substantial progress with this important measure. If your Lordships will be so good as to suspend the Standing Orders, as has just been done in case of Naval Defence Amendment Bill, we could carry the measure through all the stages before your Lordships rise."
For all answer Kensington, on Woolsack in absence of Lord Chancellor pacing the battlements of his lordly castle at Deal, put the question that the Bill be read a second time; declared in same breath "the Not-Contents have it;" and so Denman and his little Bill contemptuously swept aside.