New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
GLORIES OF LONDON.
SIR WALTER BESANTS LECIURE-LohD
ROSEBERY'S ORATORY-THE w
SOLVED PROBLEMS OF
MUNICIPAL LIFE.
MUNICIPAL LIFE.


London. December :
,,h.s ,oeetinr a. Queens Hall was a fine
.ws,h,,,,n If the English art of public speaking
and Of the fervor of municipal ps'rlotis'"-a" HWY
tradition Of the STORED past. but sentiment
which until recent years of political asi'a'o'' "''
been latent in the consciousness OF 'he i"e'''r0
lie 7, ,xas a demonstration ORGANIZED ny Inv
y,ndon Reform Union for the sake OF sViiuia'
ING nublic interest in the progressive lu'u'' -
vbat may no ficurativcly described as the Na'ioh
NJ London The method employed was hsen-
ious and adroit Sir Walter Besant VINO Nno"s
London better than anybody else Tor ne 10 '0"
engaged in expanding the old-time s"''' "
Stow and Strype into monumental envy
paedia Of the metropolis was asked 10 ue"Ne'
lecture on the historical glory OF inc a'''"'
town A discourse by an enthusiast """se p'"
In the metropolitan centre or the MODERN WIN
has been kinded into white flame by years y.
rrofound research and arduous labor was we"
calculated to appeal strongly TO men S 'iasii'a-
tons and 70 inspire public interest III the Hu'''''
rsl progress of Greater London When 'he ms
tor,cal student had finished his allotted task the
contemporary Statesman. who has taken keehcr
Interest than any other political leader in the
complex problems of the reorganization ana uni
fcation Of London government. was intrusted
with the responsible duty Of pointing the prac-
teal moral This was Of course Lord RoseDery'
the chairman Of the meeting
The announcement that Sir Walter Besani
Lord Rosebery. Sir Arthur Arnold ana canon
Scott Holland were to speak from the same plat
form on the greatness and glory or LONDON SUI
feed TO attract an audience of over -FOUR thou-
sand to the Queens Hall. Some of the conserV-
alive journals speak of it Radical mass
meeting called for the purpose of artifciahy
stimulating popular interest in Progressive poll
cies Certainly it was not an ordinary West End
audience we'll gloved and in evening dress
which crowded the spacious hail; hut it was an
intelligent and enthusiastic assemhlaee giad 10
he reminded of the historical traditions Of Lon
don and quick and eager to discern the points OF
Lord Roseberys pleasantries and the bearings of
his contentious comments on "this great prov
ince Of disjec;ed hut populous parshes"
great desert inhabited by neglected humanity
Never have l seen an English audience so deeply
interested in platform oratory or so responsive
10 historical "reminiscences argumenative appeals
and rapier-like thrusts Of wit.
SIR WALTER BEsANT's PLAIN WORDS.
Bic hrr,v. full bearded Sir Walter Besant is
not an orator: but fortunately. he knows it. and
dsarms criticism by his plan-spoken habit and
lack of Dretensions He did not on this occasion
make the mistake Of attempting to read |"
great assemblage carefully phrased essay on
historical! themes. II was a familiar talk. deiiV-
cred in an off hand genial way on subject SO
large and comprehensive that he could only
touch lightly upon some Of the salient points lie
had n roll OF printed notes which enabled him to
keen himself well in hand without impairing the
effect ~ fluent extemporaneous address; and
while the form was conversational and nuent'
he succeeded in interesting every in his his
md al in
with humor the most serious passages. 1t was an
admirable address dealing with London as an
ancient stronghold of civic liberty; as fghtins
town where a Lord Mayor had led an attack
against pirates and where citizens had defended
their historic bridge against Jack Cade and his
warriors: as mercantile metropolis with city
companies which were trade-unons in the best
sense Of not allowing had goods to be made or
sold: as the hospitahle home Of English literature
and science and as the natural centre Of mari
time energy and imperial enterprise.
That perhaps. will serve as concise summary |
of the political topics upon which he laid stress
hut il is hardly possible in these random COM |
ments to convey an accurate impression OF his |
fervid enthusiasm and his intense pride in the
glory and honor Of his fortress of
municipal liberty and the real centre of modern !
civilization.
When the tumultuous applause which followed /
his closing passage. with its n,elodious quotation
from Mr.. Rudyard Kipling's verse. had subsidized
Lord Rosebery. as the chairman OF the evening, !
rose TO move a vote of thanks to the lecturer. |
and incidentally to break lances with him in a !
humorous way and to offer polished exhibition |
OF the art Of public speaking As have listened !
during the last two years to Parliamentary de- /
bates carried in a hating way and in a con-
versational tone or TO the slow, deliberate and
labored flow Of after-dinner oratory have often !
found myself wondering whether ii is not a lost |
art. English public speaking, as rule, lacks the
charm of spontanei.y. simplicity and directness.
Some Of the best debaters IN the Commons are in
the habit of fumbng with their notes and clum
silly restating their propositions and remaking
their sentences as they so along; and the speeches
NJ the most popular OF the after-dinner orators
are smoky and smell OF the previous nights
lamp.
LORD ROSEBERY AS AN ORATOR
with Mr. Gladstone excluded orator now
v,rtua,,y Of the past and no longer to be reck-
orad with have regarded Mr.. Chamberlain as
.hs only superlatvely good debater in Para
uant Certainly his lucidity Of style is matchless
and there Is never a trace of hesitation or man
rar,sm. After him / would rank Lord Rosebery
az the second-best platform orator in England,
nd IN lightness Of touch and in sparkle of pleas
sn,rv he excels Mr.. Chamberlain. who lacks
.nontanetty of humor and is at his best when he
is fighting hard and facing his foes with his back
to the wall .
Earl Rosebery on this occasion had the graceful
duty of complimentng the lecturer. for whose
knirhthood he was responsible. ana then ne took
ADVANTAGE of the opportunity for gradually d.
verting the attention Of the audience from reml-
nisct noes Of Old London to the tasks and respon-
s;h;iities OF modern municipal craftsmanship
This was not done abruptly. There were several
delightful episodes like his account OF the cock
Dit OF the Old Whitehall Palace and his reference
q johnson and Savage. hungry boys starved
by that kind mother. London" walking around