New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-19
SIR CHARLES dixie AND THE ELEUSIS
From The Whitehall Repieic.

From The WhftehaH RerieD.
One would naturally expect uncOmpromising
iconoclast to be in aspect truculent and in manner
boorsh. We associate insenslbly revOlu-
ZIONIST" with such memories as RObespierre and
DantOn. OF Cromwell and Harrison. The world,
however is full of paradoxes. and among them
quite the most startling is the present UnderSecre
tary of State for Foreign Affairs, whose manner Is
whose whole bearing is that OF a straightforward
gentleman, and who is much too agreeable for a
Republican. One must not OF course Judge by ap-
pearances, and as you sit in ST Charless sanctuln
his mansion occupies n corner OF SlOane-st.-and
note that the walls are covered with the gruesome
mOustrosties Of Blake and StOthard you gain Just
q glimpse If the mental attitude OF this baronet,
who bears title yet protests against privilege OF
ell sorts. Lord Brougham. IN the year lsls, was
most ambitious of being enrolled a French citizen,
and lee applied, if | remember rightly, TO LOUIS
Blanc for Information as to how ne could become
attached to the great SOl-dislnt national brother
hood which took Tor its motto Liberty. Equality,
Fraternity" and, by the bye, eXempllhed the last
virtue by matchmaking certain members OF tne
Garde Muncipale in the streets of Paris LOuis
BlaEcs reply was: I" You must first resign your
peerage, then your pension afoer that You shall
be made French citizen" The conditions were
whether Sir Charles bikes patent OF barOnetcy
would under similar circumstances have stood IN
his way Rumor hath it, indeed that he would
prefer to be Citizen Dixie, and to toss up for the
Presidency of the British Republic with his friend
Mr.. Chamberlain.
clasm you cannot doubt If YOU talk with him Tor
five minutes. And yet he is much the reverse OF
narrow minded. 1t was late one evening toward
the end of the BeacOnsiield regime and he had
come up from the House tagged and hungry. 10
nv surprise, with his chop which he got through
with relish he swallowed nothing stronger than Il
tumbler-full of milk, democratic beverage which
aconaintance with the Republican working men"
SAID Sir Charles, "yOu will admit that they-and
q fortiorl their leaders-are of all the most candid
and the least unwilling TO recognize merit:
"They form, believe, small minority OF the
working class r
,;ob co. I bava NOT
statistics ready at hand but | believe that IN all
those trades where men work together and have
ample opportunities for conversing KadIcai prih-
cpes are progressing steadily and surely. Speak
ing within my own sphere OF observation, since tle
establishment of the Eleusis Club i'll Chelsea, the
progress of the wOrklngmcn III pOIItlcal education
has been extraordinary"
"The Eleusis is an told, well-managed insti-
tuition"
cit is in every way excellent. and has served in
a measure as a model for other clubs. You prob
ably know the building in the Kings Road it is
handsome, spacious, and roomy. Perhaps you VIII
not be prepared to learn that the men bullt IL WIN
their own hands. Night after night they labOred.
digging and levellng the printers and tail0rs, to-
gether with the other nOn-masonc craftsmen,
fetching and carrying. thereby rendering the work
of the carpenters and brlcklaycrS easier. ne
necessary funds may add, were mainly pro Vlded
hy three wOrkngmen, and in tile end, not only was
the club. house built and furnished, but a theatre
also which holds some six hundred people, and
has been used "A cOncert-room by such amateurs
as Lord Nonreagle, aud Messrs. Norman. GrosyenOr,
and spencer LytlcllOn ne l.eII itai'S VnJoJ an
evenings amusement at the Eleusls. what with
plays and songs. Rotations and lectures Ihey
have n capital modern library and cooperative
store of their own Whether you like or detest
Radicasm, you must own that such club Is a
boon to the vOrkngman."
"And how is he elected |"
"By the con mittee-but on probation. u boasts
now some 600 members and its electoral influence
can hardly be overestimated.
You remarked Just now that the Eleusis was a
model club. Has it been copied T.
"There are, as you may be aware. Radical or
Democratic clubs In almost every quarter OF Lon
don and in the provinces The .EIammersmith. like
the Eleusis boasts theatre. and the wives ana
daughters of the wOrknginen appreciate the per
formances within its walls more heartily tn IN
their husbands and fathers. In all these four clubs
the morale is AS high the sncerest Puritan could
wish They show a bright example to certain other
institutions one could name"