New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-17
THE NERVES OF ENGLISH STATESMEN.

I have lust read with some amusement writes
correspondent grave description OF the attitude OF
Lord Randolph Churchill on the Treasury bench. lie
is compared with Disraeli for sphinx like immObty.
Unfortunately for this comparison, Lord Randolph Is
a nervous mana very nervous mainland the Earl OF
Bcaconsfeld was not 1t so happens the other night
was sitting opposite TO the Treasury bench for two
hours and the thing which impressed me above
ali others the nervousness Of the leader OF the
House. He came in after dinner he sat down in his
place and he almost Immediately assumed his normal
attitude The left hand raised TO u lips; the lett
elbow rested upon the right hand and that hand upon
the thigh. The fingers Of the left hand were very
actively employed upon the mustache 1t was stroked,
il was twisted at both ends IL seized in the middle
and forced the edge of the upper lip toward the
teeth 40 If tho object TO bite it, And this was
done over and again-nOt mechanically, from the
mere force of habit. but With varying degrees Of
energy corresu onding with the tension pro-
ducei bv agitated thought The noble lord turns to
the left TO speak a colleague, and the right hand
takes the place of the left IL continuing the manpnis-
ton of the musache After some minutes OF vigorous,
but apparcnty quite unconscious, devotion 10 the
mustache the nervous tension seems To De relaxed,
the hand Is withdrawn from the face both hands are
casnel for a time, and then the arms folded.
With casped hands folded arms, the speaker for the
time being listened to with apparent unconcern, but
il ia an assumed rather than natural immoblty of
feature To be sphinx like. 70 remind one OF Dsraei,
il ought to be the normal permanent aspect of
tenance always the same whoever Is speaking, what
ever happening and 1t ought not to be put simply
nv way of suggesting insensibity to telling arguments
or personal remarks The temporary character very
soon manifest for when the need for displaying cal
has passed the mnd taxes up another train
of thought and some magnetic influence operates upon
that nerve centre of the brain which brings of the
hands to the upper lip and the process described
renewed and repeated subject to suspension and in
terruption by any incident or circumstance which
necessitates a change of thought movement that
diverts the hand from the mustache.
While | making these observations, the new
leader was joined by thu deposed leader. Now, Sir W.
Hicks Beach has habit OF the same kind as Lord Is.
Churchill In moments Of abstraction he too applies
his delicate fingers the twisting and twirtng of the
mustaehe He had no sooner sat down by the SIDE OF
Lord H. Churchill and entered into conversation with
him than he assumed exactly the same attitude ana
for several min the leaders we're sitting SIDE
by side In confident a conference, each manipulating
the mustache with the left hand But there was
marked contrast between them. Sir Nj. HicksBeach
did not exhibit anything like the same amount OF ner
yousness In his there seemed TO be FAR less con-
necton between the movements OF the brain and the
movements OF the fngers-or the slow and easy move
ments OF the fingers indicated less nervous irritation
The MOVEMENTS were not so suggestive OF mental
excitement acting upon a sentative nervous system.
and they were not involuntary and perssteD' " 10
botray the influence the muscles Of q peri ted
and perturbsd mind Sir NJ. Beach soon let's has
mustaohe alone holds his head up, and lets you see
his eye twinkle and his face sufused with passing