The Irish standard., 1896-08-15
mensely, had splendid memory, i.
clear and a logicM mind, and he coul'

mensely, had splendid memory, q
/ clear and a logicM mind, and he could
make a very able and very clear and
cogent speech. managed to give him
the few years of secure food and happi-
ness he had in the course of his life, for
| I got him employment as clerk in a
political organization with which i was
associated There in that employment
he died. When was under examine
| tion in the Parnell Commission q book
was put into my hand to identify GER
tain minutes. The dead past rose UP
before me, with it's sad and it's tender
and bitter memories. The minutes
were in the handwriting of this poor
fellow, who, by this time, had ceased to
knowing the gnawing OF hunger and the
WEAKNESS. of hope deferred
/ became, then, for some time, a
pretty constant attendant at these de-
batting clubs with the result that re-
sumed the thread of my interrupted
oratorical education, and that ac-
quired certain facility and rapidity in
speaking, and especially in answering
opponents. Gradually began once
more to take keen interest in the po-
litica] struggles of my own country
| an interest that had always been there.
but which the absorption and lonliness
of my life had given me no opportunity
of manifesting. The Home Rule move.
ment at this period was in it's early
stages, and the Irishmen of London
were beginning to organize themselves.
But as yet the movement was a very
weak one. The few meetings that were
held usually took place in either very
squalid halls or in i'll the parlor Of some
Irish publican of Nationalist views !
still remember many comic experiences
at this point of my existence. But
still, those of lis who took part in these
little gatherings helped to lay the foun-
dations of the great movement that
came later on. Personally at all events
/ look back on the work I did in these
modest little rooms. while I was OBJ
scure and unknown, as work to be
proud of-work which would not blot
out of my life, however Wretched the
surroundings and discouraging the Cir
cumstances under which it was under
taken. ,.., .a,...- .%.s. .l---.....
Finally was thrown into the polltl-
cal movement in London by my ac-
uuaintances with some ardent young
Scotchmen and Englishmen who were
vehement Radicals. One Of these-Sam
BENEFITS now, and has been for many
years, resident in the United States.
When knew him he was connected with
Scotch journal, had that curious mix
ture of ardor and shrewdness which is
so typically Scotch, was born organizer,
could be discouraged by no obstacle; was
at once visionary and calculating, Don
Quixote and a wire puller. He was main
ly responsible for the creation OF the Lam
beth Radical Club, body which COM
'prised but score or two Of members,
created a great noise in it's day, and made
things very hot indeed for the rather
lukewarm typerof EtDerals who then rep
resented the constituency Here, again,
got into the habit Of speaking frequent
"; and all this encouraged me in self
confidence, fand made me ready and fer
tile VIII.
|, had in the meantime: studied political
history a good deal in writing the biog-
raphy of Lord Beacons6eld-which pro-
| duced in 1876 in it's first edition. To pro-
duce that work L. had to read nearly forty
years of the chief debates in Hansard,
besides a multitude of other books [
have done good deal of hard work dur
ing my life, but this book on Lord Bea-
consfe.d was the hardest have ever
done. Many times worked twenty hours
out of the twenty-four-going to bed at
O'Clock in the morning and resuming
work at o'clock-=four hours afterwards.
When / was approaching the end of the
book in the second edition which I
was reduced to such a pitiful state of
nervousness that felt that book was a
nightmare and horror fraught with q
special curse.
Such was my position in 1880. had
as can be seen, gone through great deal
of experience; had seen the darkest as
we'll as some of the bright sides of life;
and If had not lost all my hopes it was
because of a certain elasticity of my ma
ture. But, curiously enough, although
was keenly interested in the struggle Of
my country. [ had no desire whatever to
become all Irish member. of Parliament,
had read much and seen much of the
misery which had pursued unerring reg
ularity those who had tried to serve Ire
lard. had seen too many, even in my
own time, go down in poverty or despair,
and sometimes in dishoror, to have any
illusions as to what the position of a mem
Der of parliment involved. T had, besides,
a repugnance / have never been able to
overcome to depend on politics for my
livelihood, and my professional position
at this epoch was not yet sufficiently as
sured to make me feel certain Of being
independent Of pecuniary assistance. But
a series OF accidents dragged me into the
struggle. found through letters that I
was still remembered in Galway, and that
there were echoes of those far-off school,
boy orations of mine; and, possibly, the
small reputation which nd come to me
from my biography of Lord Beaconsfield
had also revived the memory Of me. And
then an intimate friend Of mine-the one
who most deeply influenced my early life
was, for reasons ! cannot stop to tell.
and, in any case, it is we'll not to tell just
yet, unavailable for the constituency;
and, in short, friends and townsmen 1iy-
ing in London came to me with letters
from Galway to say that if went there
i was certain of being returned.
But then came the question of election
expenses. TWAS calculated that it would
cost at least a couple of hundred pounds,
a large sum to me at that period. How
ever, I vas owed a considerable sum from
q cheap edition Of my biography Of Lord
Beaconsfeld which was then being issued
and was also allowed something for.
- or fTylrh iffa,,o h