Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-02
The House of Commons.

ListenIag With the Prince of Wales to
the Famous Leaders in Parliament.
Robert Colyer's Lordon Letter to the Chicago
Tribune.
This ohspel-looking room-aye, solemn
and sacred-looking room-is most oddly and
inconvsniently arranged for the purposes of
q legislative body. 1t has long rows of
benches Running slengtnWise the hail. and on
these the members sit. There are no con-
veniences for books, papers or writing. In
instances during the debate on the vote of
censure, and which it is my intention to de-
Scribe Mr.. Gladstone wrote on ''blotting
pads resting on his knee, as did also Sir
Stafford Northcote and others. During MIR.
Goschen's he constantly stopped down to get
his MS. notes from his hat, which was on the
floor Just before him.
1t was we'll known that on this night was
to be probably the greatest debate of the
session, described by the prime minister as
historic bebate," and every inch of room,
except in the Peers gallery, was filled. The
Prince of Wales. who very seldom goes to
the House of Commons, had sent word he
was to be present, and seats were provided
in the 'distinguished visitors gallery" for
his royal highness and bis attendants
Through the active courtesy of a right hon
orable member, the Speaker sent me admis-
sion for the same gallery, and. on the other
side of low rail, sat next the royal prince
and near to NJ. Clemenceau. I was much in
terested during the entire debate in the apt
| and often very witty comments of the prince
upon the speakers and speeches, and in
watching the intelligent, black, fiery eyes of
the great French Radical. One might have
known Clemenceau was a Frenchman-cer-
tainly not an Eug,ishman-by his frequent
Struggling of his shoulders and his lavish use
of gestures did not go into the House
till after the dinner hour, and till just as it
was fast filling up. About nine O'Clock the
building was packed full in every part, the
ladies in their high gallery. behind the bars,
and to me the sight was really comioal.
About one-half of the gentlemen in the
building were in evening dress, and many of
the young lords were in very full evening
| dress-in short in the dress of ''mashers, "
with very low white aistcoats. The Prince
of Wales was in evening dress of the most
| exquisite texture and cut. The prince has a
name for being always most appropriately
attired.
Mr.. Gladstone looks careworn. His face
| bad an expression of trouble and anxiety l
| have never before seen it wear, He lolls
| upon the bench, never sitting upright. He
| was restless to degree all through the de-
| bate and, when not writing or moving about,
| he was playing with bits of paper between
thumb and fingers. Harrington, who sat
next to the Premier, was dressed in dark
| morning suit and was ''spra wled OUT upon
| the bench, with his hat half over his eyes
during ali the evening when not addressing
| the House. On the ministerial benches we're
| Mr. Fawcett, the blind Postmaster General,
| with his splendid, amiable, intent face. partly
| hid by his enormous blue speetaeles Sir VIM.
| Harcourt sat erect with high and mighty
mien 1t is quite likely that Sir William has
I fhon 0khar hnk bA 6naa
| manage to make an impression contrary to
| this He is one OF the most brilliant speak
ers I have ever heard in any part of the
| world He has a powerful physique, king
| " bearing and would be most impressive
personality and q strikingly handsome man
were it not for a certain indefinable peacock
| ish air and expression MIR. Chamberlain
was in evening dress, with his accustomed
lovely little ''buttonhole" bouquet in bis
I coat and looking for all the world as trim as
brand new yacht just rugged for trial trip
Mr. Chamberlain is as keen and trim of mind
as he is in appearance. Back of the minis
terial benches sat Mr.. Forster and Mr.. Co.
schen The latter is scholarly-looking and
is regarded as one of the most interesting
and 'tmeaty'' speakers in the House. He
prepares what he has to say with great care
and always brings something fresh to the
feast. He is in this sense the most "origi-
nal" of the political speakers of the country.
and his speeches are read by all classes. as
they are sure they will get that which has
been thoroughly thought out. Mr.. Forster
sat with bis head in his hands most of the
time and looked as if he were tired of the
discussion and wanted to go to sleep. He Is
q great angular, awkward body, who might
be taken in America as just arrived from
southern Indiana. His tan-colored hair and
beard are unkempt, and he gives one the i'm
preston that he ia lion and lamb or one
of the great Alps and an Italian flower gar
den rolled into one. He is as rugged as a
rock-bound coast He walks with unmeas-
ured unprecise step, and has somewhat the
motion of an elephant
On the front opposition bench the most
remarkable face is that of Mr. Gibson Next
to Mr. Chamberlain he is the youngest look
ing man fer his years in the House He has
O clean shaven face and snow white hair and
the delicate complexion of q youth of TWEEN
ty. He is quick moving and as spry and
alert as a lad And what may say of Sir
Stafford Northcote I could not damn even
with faint praise. He was ordained from all
eternity to be saved. He looks like good
man and he is good man. But the same
benedcent power that made him stgood"
certainly never did ordain that he should be
the leader of great political party. In his
case therefore, there has been some break
look and seem SO incapable last night He
looked and seemed as If he knew he was IN
capable.
The Bridgeport Homing Rigeon club ex-
fa Gw ofn ~ r1z frQr