ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M. P.
House of Commons, Tuesday, Jan. 31st.—Back again in old place, with Speaker in Chair, Mace on table, and Serjeant-at-Arms on guard. Nothing changed except the Government. Some old familiar faces gone; others replace them. Same old bustle, hearty greeting, and effusive hand-shaking.
"There's only one thing," says Erskine, of Cardross, "that equals the hilarity of the opening of a New Session, and that is the joy with which the boys go off on the day of Prorogation."
Erskine been in the Chair by the cross-benches some years now. Naturally growing philosophical; insensibly cultivates habit of sententious speech.
"Wonder you can be so garrulous, Toby," he says, "considering the number of Speeches you hear in a Session. We take in eloquence at the pores, and I for one have no tendency toward exudation."
"Ah," I said, "perhaps that's the lack of exercise. Dear old Gosset! he was better off in that respect. Remember how he used to waltz up and down between doorway and table with Bradlaugh? A heavy partner, too, especially taken after dinner. But, on score of health, not by any means an undesirable variation on sedentary life."
"Well, well," said Erskine, whose forbears were out in '45, "we must hope for the best." And the gallant Scot's hand involuntarily sought the hilt of his sword as his keen eye roved over the Clan gathered below the Gangway.
A little odd at first to see Mr. G. on the Bench to the right of Speaker, Prince Arthur facing him on Opposition Bench. They seem to assume altered position quite naturally. Mr. G. looks pretty much as he has done any time these two years back. Eager, straight-backed, bright-eyed, smiling gaily in response to cheer that greets him from at present undivided majority.