The morning call., 1893-08-06

! drudgery to the delights of farming in thu
| Guildf0rd Hills. where he was fond o.
rearing fighting poultry and inventini
artistic spurs for their accommodation il
! NAMED at his post. an expert and accom-
| plished reporter.
1t was pleasure to hear Busy over {
social glass and cigar retail "reminiscences
| His fund of anecdote was inexhaastible
bis humor racy and his descriptive
touches full of character. He had vaguely
in his mind an intention to write hi:
memoirs but. like most busy journalists
he never found time. The utmost he
achieved was in fugitive articles OF remin.
iscenceS.
In many respects he could have thrown
fresh light on the characters of BeacOus
field and Palmerston. with whom he was
on as friendly terms as journalists are
likely to be with statesmen who require
their services without familiarltles. Sil
William Harcourt once remarked to
group OF expectant journalists when he
had nothing to say to the public. I'VE are
necessary to one another. gentlemen" and
that explains good deal. Disraeli had
liking for Nelson of the Times when he
wanted speech in extensO. and SO had
Mr.. Childers. 1t was George Busy who
once. by complaisance, drew speech oul
of Palmerston. Pam did not intend to
crate, but was gracious enough to oblige
the reporters who had travelled into the
country to catch his utterances.
George lived long enough TO be thankful
when Ministers are as mum as oysters. FOL
the flow of speech is like a cataract to-day
and the facilities of the telegraph are
Overwhelmingly abundant and ridiculously
cheap. In happy moments George was
known to be quite Indifferent how long an
illustriOus leader of Parliament harped
upon politics and policy. Once when the
dinner was good at Edinburgh Dlsraeli
Illuminated airy language at stretch for
several hours. terrifying himself with fire.
quent lbations from decanter at his side.
Some of the telegraph wires refused to
work on that occasion. and no paper got
the complete speech for the morning edi-
ton. George had also dined.
Quite change has come over the press
gallery since those early fifties. The very
old men who were barely tolerated in Par
Lament at the outset of their career have
all vanished. They were still active Jour-
nais.S when Busy entered. and now the
members Of the various stats are compar-
atively young, and many of them never
heard Bright or Gladstone at their best or
Beaconsfield at all. The gallery. as an
institution, has, however. 10 creased in cir
cumstance nightly. Perhaps 200 journal
lists have the right of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Summary-wrIterS. reporters, letter-wTlters,
sketch artists and foreign correspondents.
A comfortable club has been carved out OF
a former official residence. These rooms
look out on Palace Yard. close to West
minister Hall, and tight over the site Of the
old Star Chamber. Here is grateful recog-
milton by tie Government Of the fourth
estate OF the realm.
When George Busy took his first turn"
the custom was 10 carry supper in your
pocket. for the edibleS were scarce If not
home supplied. The janitor was supposed
to carry a pile OF sandwiches in his hat
and have gallon or two Of beer in DEM
John. Now most Sumptuous dinner is at
call, catered for by the contractors who
supply the Commons dining room. A
library and smOking-roOm. and desks for
The workers render the press gallery hab-
tues as comfortable in Parliament as
members themselves. The profession is
now little in danger OF being debauched
by TOD much luxury, but the cup of bliss
has not quite begun TO overflow, especially
rs emoluments all round do not keep pace
with outward circumstance. For the
shorthand writer, indeed. there were bet
ter rewards twenty years ago than to-day.
but the thinking journalist has still haI-
vest, and fame added.
DECAY MACKART