Mironton, mironton, mirontaine!
Marlbrook s'en va-t'en guerre ...
Ne sais quand reviendra!
Ne sais quand reviendra!
Ne sais quand reviendra!
There is a sad last verse to the old ballad. But we all hope to see our Grandolph back again, bringing his sheaves with him in the shape of renewed health and strength. Business done.—Budget.
Thursday.—Don't Keir Hardie confided to House to-night the interesting fact that in particular he Don't Keir for the Royal Family, and is "indisposed to associate himself" with effort to do them special honour. Like old Eccles in Caste, he upbraids the baby in the cradle with being a young aristocrat. Yet there are limits even to his uncompromising Republicanism. The question before House is the presentation to Her Majesty of address of congratulation on birth of son of Duke and Duchess of York. "If I had the opportunity of meeting the parents," says Don't Keir, "I should be pleased to join in the ordinary congratulations of the occasion." He did not hesitate, standing in his place in Parliament as representative of the electors of 'Am, to add that he "had been delighted to learn that the child was a fairly healthy one." Beyond that, stern principle would not permit him to pass.
Note that he felt constrained to modify even this approval of proceedings at White Lodge by introduction of the word "fairly." Asquith, who knows all about it, seemed for moment inclined to resent this aspersion on the perfect soundness of the object of his recent attentions; on reflection he let it pass. Saunderson, of whom House has seen lamentably little of late, was under less complete self-restraint. When Don't Keir turned his attention upon Prince of Wales, proposing to appraise his value to the nation, Saunderson leaped to his feet, and moved that "the hon. Member be no longer heard."
A difficult moment this. The Motion being made, the Speaker must put it from the Chair. Many Members, whilst justly angered with Don't Keir's grotesque performance, would have felt bound to resent what might be construed as attempt to throttle free speech. There would have been long and angry debate; a succession of scenes; and Don't Keir Hardie would have been triumphantly advertised. Happily, though, strictly considered, irregularly, the Squire of Malwood interposed; expressed hope that Motion would not be persevered in. Saunderson perceiving his mistake acquiesced, and Don't Keir Hardie went on to final ignominious collapse. When in crowded House question put that Address be presented, a solitary cry of "No" answered the loud shout "Aye." House cleared for division; but when opportunity of taking final step presented itself, it turned out that Hardie Didn't Keir to take it.
"Now if this were France in the days when the Empire was tottering to its fall," said Sark, "I should suspect the secret police to have put up Don't Keir to play their game in stirring up embers of popularity of Imperial Family. In England to-day, of course, no necessity for such manœuvre. But if by outside influence the popularity the Prince of Wales has worked out for himself could be increased, Don't Keir Hardie's the man to do it."