The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-06-07
THE LATE JOHN STUART MILL.
HIS PERSONAL Appearance-His Parlia
mentary Life.

HIS Personal Appearance-His Parlia-
mehtary Life.
We clip the following in regard to
Englands great philosopher from the
New York Evening Post:
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
John Stuart Mill, whose death is
mourned to-day by the whole civilized
world, was man of peculiar and re-
markable presence. Slightly above
the middle height. with a slender
body and limbs, his face and head
marked him out even to strangers as a
man of high intellectual capacity. His
walk was most peculiar, and might
well be styled tripping" for he step
ped, as 1t were, on his toes alone, in
the manner of an elderly French dane
lngmaster. This, OF itself, would at
tract the notice of those unacquainted
with him, bat when they
looked at his face and forehead, cur.
oslty changed into interest. His fea-
lures We're delicately moulded, the
nose slightly aquiline, the eyes bright
and piercing, the mouth denoting
sweetness combined with unalterable
determination, the complexion re-
markedly clear and of rOseate hue, the
halr thin, inclined to red, and Urging
fast with the silver of age and earnest
thought. But the expansive forehead.
broad and lofty, told of the man even
before he opened his lips; and to listen
to his speeches or conversation was to
harken to Nestor himself, for he
spake as he wrote-tersely, logically,
clearly and vigorously.
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
HIS first appearance in the House of
Commons had almost the effect of a
Legislative revolution. No authority
had, previously, been more frequently
quoted III the British legislature than
himself; but when the deep thinker,
the lucid author and far seeing states
man stepped modestly but boldly into
that critical arena, small Legislators
feared and trembled. The real men-
the Brights, Disraelis and Gladstones
welcomed him aud listened to his
utterances as the teachings of a master.
The manner of his election was pecu-
liar. 1t was not the rich, the power
full, the educated who first nominated
and then elected him, but the hard
tolling artisans of the metropolis and
that, too, in the aristocratic
ster, under the very windows OF
buckingham Palace and the nobility.
John Stuart Mill had never asked nor
sought such an honor, and When the
requ1sltlon was made upon him by a
numerous body of the constituency. he
told them plainly: Gentlemen, if
you elect me as your representative
shall gladly serve but [ must decline
for myself all matters of electioneering.
and | Will not, on any account, canvass
a slngle elector." No writings could
be treer than his from anything like
demagoguery he was little known as a
public speaker at the time; his works
were profound" not popular :" he
could III no sense be regarded as an
available " Parliamentary candidate,
ana yet the workinSmen turned out in
mass from the various metropolitan
boroughS, canvassed for him with en-
thuSlasm, and carried him triumphant
~ into Parliament.
Seldom, indeed, if ever, has a new
and Hntrled member been 50 houored
III the House of Commons as was Nh.
Mill. The rule in that assembly with
regard to seats is first come first
served, the members selecting their
places each afternoon as they enter the
House, and retaining the same through
til" night. Precedent. however has
modified this custom III regard to emf
nent members Thus the statesmen of
tie Queens Cabinet, as we'll as 'sof
her Maiesty's opposition." occu-
~
the entire session, no out
slider presuming to trespass on those
sacred domains and Influential pri-
vate members also, such as Mr.. Bright,
the late Mr. Golden, John Arthur Roe
buck and a few others, have, by tacit
consent, been allowed to retain certain
places during successive years. When
John Stuart Mill entered the House of
Commons for the first time he chose
his seat Immediately behind that of
Mr.. Bright; and during the whole Of
his Parliamentary career nobody else
ever presumed to occupy the position
thus selected. ''That is Mr.. Mills
seat, WAS quiet sufficient to deter any
thoughtless interloper.
A marked peculiarly of his was in
remaining uncovered from the time he
entered the building of the House of
Commons, seldom, II ever, wearing his
hat during the debates, or In the lob
bieS, r6ireShmCnt rooms or library
He was exceptional III this, for the
members usually sit with their hats on
during the debates, thereby declaring
that as representatives Of the sovereign
people they. Ill their own forum,
are sovereign During thirty years
acquaintance with English legislative
assemblies | have never yet seen any
member leave the House itself and
enter the lobby with uncovered head,
excepting Nir. Mill. His reason for
this was reasonable The interior of
the House Of Parliament was comfort
ably warmed and ventilated, and there
was no more necessity for wearing a
hat there than IN ones own drawing
room The other members were suffi-
GENTLY numerous to look after the CON
stitutional aspects of the question
and damage their health but he was
law unto himself
Mr.. Bright Informed me on one oc-
casion that the period during which
Mr. Mill was in Parliament was per-
haps the pleasantest part of his Par
liamentary career. He told me that
Mr.. Mill kept up a quiet and continu-
Gus running commentary on the differ
ent speakers III debate, giving names
of authors from whom they quoted,
with title of work, chapter, and Oft