Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-25
The Blind Member of Parliament.

The visitor to the House of Commons
waiting at the door of the Strangers
Gallery and watching the members of
Parliament as they file in by the main
entrance will no doubt have his eye par
ticularly arrested by tall, fair-haired
young man, evidently blind, led up to the
door by youthful, petite lady with
sparkling eyes and blooming cheeks.
She will reluctantly leave him at the
door. The British Constitution would be
quite upset were woman to invade
the floor of the House of Commons after
the Chaplain's incarnation has been
heard, even SO far as to conduct her
blind husband to his seat, so she has to
consign him to a youth who stands wait
ing to lead the blind member to his
place. AS she turns away many a friend
~ face will smile and many pleasant
word attend her as she trips lightly UP
the stairway leading to the Ladies' Cage
near the roof of the house. The whisper
passes around: Zone day, perhaps not
far Oft, she will take her seat beside her
husband and remain there" And GER
tain 1t is that when ladies have the suf-
frage the first female member of Parlia-
ment will be the lady of whom l write
Mrs. Fawcett. Not one-half of the mem
bers of that body are so competent as
she to think deeply and speak finely on
matters of public policy, while nc. the
daintiest doll moving about London
drawing-rooms surpasses her in the care
of her household, her husband and her
child. The two whom I have mentioned
are as well-known figures as any who APP
proach the sacred precinct Of the Legis-
lature. The policemen bow low as they
pass; the doorkeeper, Mr.. White-the
most amiable Cerberus who ever guarded
an entrance-utters bis friendly welcome
The strangers ask who is that, but
dozen bystanders respond, professor
Fawcett." No one can look upon him
but he will see in his face the characters
OF courage, frankness and intelligence
He is six feet two inches in height, very
blonde, his light hair and complexion and
his smooth, beardless face giving him
something of the air of a boy. His
features are at once strongly marked and
regular. He narrowly escaped being
handsome, and his expression is very win
ming. His countenance is habitually Sc
passes over 1t. His smile is gentle
and winning. 1t is probable that no
blind man has ever before been able
to entel upon SO important political
career as Prof. Fawcett, who, yet under
forty years Of age, is the most influential
of the Independent Liberals in Parlia-
ment. From the moment that he took
his seat in that body he has been able
and this is unusual-to command the
closest attention of the House. He has
clear, fine voice, speaks with the utmost
t1uency, has none of the university in
tonation, and none of the hesitation and
uneasy attitudes of the average Parlia-
mentary speaker. He scorns all sub
terfuges, speaks honestly his whole
mind and comes to the point. At times
he is eloquent, and he is always interest
ing. He is known to be man of con-
victions. The usual English political
theory that you need not prove a thing
right in principle if you can show that
it for the time works without disaster
is one which Prof. Fawcett ignores. He
defends the right against the wrong with
little respect to consequences. He, Sir
Charles Dixie, P. A. Taylor and Auberon
Herbert are intimate friends, and are
looked upon as the four "irreconcilables
of the House of Commons. "-Harper's