The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-05-19
PARLIAMENTARY BRAcERs,
Gladstone Had Mysterious Fiast,
when Intending to Make
speech.

perate assembly rs far as intoxicating
! liquors are concerned, but, neverthe.
less, there is a very frequent and steady
demand for piokme-ups during every
session of parliament.
As rule, there are three occasions
In the life of a parliamentary man when
he requires the Dutch courage" which
alcoholic pick-me-ups are designed TO
supply-frst, when, as a new member,
he timidly advances up the floor OF the
house to take the oath and his seat, the
second when he rises to make his maid
en- speech, and the third when he retires
from the house into the cold shades OF
oblivion.
The pick-me-ups of parliament are
not all compounded of intoxicating
liquors. Each member has his own pet
pick-me-up. and sometimes il takes
the form of an innocent lemon squash.
Mr.. Jesse Ceilings always fortifes him
self with one of these cooling drinks
when he intends 20 make a speech. A
strong soda and lemon cools his brain,
settles the stomach and puts him into a
fit and proper mood for parliamentary
warfare.
| In fact, the house of commons is so
much impressed with the importance of
temperance that 1t is contrary to the
standing rules for member while maxi
ing speech to drink anything stronger
| than water. This rule-teetotalers will
be sorry to hear--is more honored in
the breach than in the observance,
From the prime minister downward il
is broken with unfailing regularity.
When Mr.. Gladstone was In the house
of commons he was the principal Of
fender in this respect. Whenever he
intended to make n big speech he would
produce from the recesses of his ca
pacious pockets a small glass bottle
with wooden stopper filed with mys
terious compound looking like vaseline
or bears grease. As soon as this toilet
looking article appeared everybody
knew that the Grand Old Man was IL
fighting form. For in the "pomatun
pot''-as II was aptly called-was q
mysterious pick-me-up for renovatinl
the voice and trengthen;ng the lungs
What was it? Nobody knows to thi'
day. Mrs. Gladstone used to prepar,
ii with her own hands every time ''Wil
liam" wanted to make big speech. L
was believed to be a concoction of sher
ry, eggs and honey. but whatever the
ingredients, they proved splendit
pick-me-up for Mr.. Gladstone. On thi,
lubricant he could speak for hours a
a stretch. Every front benchman hal
his own peculiar pick-me-up. Sir vii
liam Harcourt derives strength and in
spiration from little light claret. Mr.
John Morley finds a tumbler of DIR,
sherry an excellent stimulant for tn,
voice and the imagination. while Mr.
Asquite contents himself with a sip o
distilled water.
The late Lord Beaconsield used t.
consume a bottle of '4s port on the occa
sion of great oratorical effort. Jus
before taking his seat in the house h,
would rush off to the refreshment bar
drink half bottle of his favorite brant
and then return to the bar at the con
clusion of his speech and finish the bot
tie. The late Lord Randolph Churchill
on the other hand, fortified himself wit
a big glass of brandy and soda, iron
which he drank copiously during tn
progress of an important speech.
The favorite pick-me-up of the Iris
and Scotch members is whisky an
water. On this stimulating fluid the
can crate with wonderful vitality. Thi
beverage on one occasion caused
scene in the house which has not ye
been forgotten.
After dining well and wisely the lat
Mai. O'Gorman came into the house on
night in the thick of an exciting debate
The major, a big, burly fellow, with III
true instincts of the fighting Irishmar
wanted TO take part in the fray. Lik
the Irishman at Donnybrook Fair h
yearned TO hit something. He spran
TO his feet and began furious attac
on one of the parties. Becoming
thirsty he asked friend to get him
glass of water, with something in il.
The friend returned with glass thre
parts fun of whisky. Al the first gul
the major went into a fl of sem-suffoca
ton. He yelled for more water an
less "catur." His friend responde
with more whisky. which the majo
quaffed and cried for more.
The newspapers next morning con
tanned the very significant headlines
"Dsorderly Speech in the House
Member Suspended. London Mail