Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1890-03-01

portant Questions of the Day.
A walk of two minutes down Fleet
street brings us to tall new freestone
building labeled on the lamp THE Green
Dragon" and wearing the appearance of
public house and tavern, which it is.
Across the window is inscribed in per-
manent letters: 1.-THE Temple Discussion
Forum. Established 1861" And un-
derneath is posted up every morning
paper announcing the subject Of ths
evenings debate. and inviting strangers
20 enter and engage in the discussion.
This is the oldest. by more than CEN
tury, of the existing discussion forums,
md until recently was the most crowded
AMI most interesting of mem all.
A FASCINATING OLD ROOM
My knowledge of the place, even from
tradition, does not go beyond the period
when Mr. Ross, the veteran chairman,
guided its councils. "Old Ross" as he
was affectionately called by his disciples,
was a remarkable man in many ways
Not only was he an admirable speaker.
but. as chairman, he possessed great tact.
discernment and coolness, which were
sometimes put to the severest tests, as
shall presently show. He was a man Of
profound and varied knowledge, one OF
the best Greek scholars in the kingdom.
Il strong and graceful writer, and con-
tributor to several of the leading periodi-
Gals of London, including. think, This
Times. With all these qualities he pos.
sesSed another that eminently fitted him
for his post; he knew how to combine
che easy going ways of the bohemian
with the refinement Of a gentleman, to
genial and responsive yet dignified
end firm, to the most motley assembly,
it seems to me, that was ever gathered
together in one room.
1t was quite by accident that discov-
cred the place one evening many years
ago, when lodged into an open door
way to escape sudden shower Down
4 long passage was a leather padded
door with an oval glass window in it
marked Discussion Forum" l shall
never forget my surprise and delight
when found myself within, seated upon
a bench of adamantine hardness and
looked about on the quaint old room
1t was long and narrow and low between
decks like the cabin of a ship, and also
ike ship, it had forms, or settees, along
each wall behind a row of mahogany
tables, and above, near the ceiling, was
a row of square port holes for windows
Two centuries of SCOT and tobacco
smoke had dyed the floor, the walls and
ceiling, the wooden bottomed chairs and
forms, to nearly the same color as the
rude old fireplace. At the top of the
room, on a great mahogany and horse
hair throne, sat the chairman, Old Ross,
in his long gray beard like the figure of
Father Time, but with a glass Of steam
ing toddy before him instead Of the ira
ditional hour glass, and a very large pipe
between his teeth. Or the wall above
Old Ross hung a quaint old mirror.
lanked by fine portrait Of George
Washington on one side and on the
other by an elderly gentleman in the
costume of 1880 and wearing various
jeweled orders and decorations. The
further decorations of the wall were
limited to framed placards with various
inscriptions.
Here ale and stout were served in
huge pewter tankards. spirits in glasses.
hot water in antique metal pots with
lids, replenished now and then from a
steaming kettle on the hob. These deli
cacies were distributed by two perspir-
ing walters in draggled evening dress,
who flew about balancing trays OF
glasses and pewters in n wonderful
manner. and mumbling in undertones to
their customers
But if the room was fascinating. what
shall say of the people who sat smok-
ing at a score of tables, waiting for the
debate to begin? 1t was company tina:
would have delighted Hogarth and
thrown Layater into a frenzy. Such
variety of heads. of physiognomy and
make up, such strongly marked charac-
ter and clear cut individuality and Won
lerful clothes, one might go far to see
Here swell from Mayfair cheek by jowl
with bargernan from the docks, a col
pred student from the Temple, prosper
Ous merchant; opposite, n Strand shop
keeper, printer. a journalist, a lawyer.
IN a row.
The same diversity extended all round
the room, and there seemed to be no two
men alike. AS at the Cogers, there were
always many elderly men who looked
Is if they had passed their whole lives
lere, and much Of the speaking was by
hem Old Ross used generally to make
he opening speech himself at $50, and
BY 10 o'clock there was hardly a vacant
seat in the room. Later than 10 one
could not expect more than standing
room, and have known many to stand |
for half the evening listen
ng to the stirring speeches made by these
veteran statesmen when it happened tc |
De ''lield night" for the debates were |
>ften brilliant in those days and would i
nave done honor to the house of COM
mons at its best.
After the coup d'etat Of 1851 and the |
sudden leap of Prince Louis Napoleon |
nto the throne of France, the occupant |
If the famous horse hair throne in Fleet |
street called upon his little parliament to
consider what should be the attitude OF |
England toward the new emperor Their
which tasted for several |
evenings, and We're conducted with a
rood deal of acrinIony. came somehow
o the ears of the emperor, and Inc con
idered the matter sufficiently important |
o be referred to in diplomatic comnu
lication to the British government The |
oy of the 'house" when this news be |
anne known may be imagined. 1t was
proud day for Old Ross and his follow
RS. who never tired of alluding to 1t in |
heir speeches in after Wears. and tn. |
tradition of it will bs. handed down y,
ong as there is Green Dragon. Join
Lille in Harper's AaS&zIne.
Confirmed.