The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-19
HOUSE OF COMMONS ORATORY.
Some Recent Specimens Of "Bulls"
ona Mixed MetaDhOrS.


The house Of commons produces bulls
and mixed metaphors OF rare quality: in
fact, Great Britain's legislators appear to
keep in stock special brands Of these com.
modities. Here are a few samples:
One night during his last term as prime
minister Mr.. Gladstone rose to his feet
and calmly accused Conservative leader
of an astounding feat. He told the right
honorable gentleman that he shook his
head In the teeth of his own words."
Those words must have been very biting
ones.
b. L. Cohen, 81. p. on one occasion
told an opponent that the sheet anchor
of his argument is not one which lies in
the mouth Of this house.
AT the period when continual reference
was being made to the Gladstone umbrel-
Ia" Conservative orator in the course
OF debate informed the followers Of Mr.
Gladstone that I'VE also have an umbrella
which will soon be heard, and when 1t
speaks it viii be with no uncertain
sound
A couple OF nights later another mem
Der, seemingly in a spirit of emulation.
astonished q bewiidered house by ex.
claiming: Il see q vision loat before my
eyes-it is the car OF progress, rolling on
in its majesty. gnashing its teeth as IL
goes"' The honorable gentleman appears
10 have been quite carried away by that
vision Of . car.
Undoubtedly a combination OF excite
ment and nervousness accounts largely
for the glorious mixture some orators
pour out upon their listeners II was so
in the case Of the Scotch member whose
speech had drawn its slow length along
for nearly an hour. when suddenly he
startled the house by an eloquent out.
burst: ''Sr. look at the great cities OF
an;iQuity--whsre are they now7 Some
have persisted So completely that ii is
doubtful IL they ever existed" Then
there went up such A roar of laughter al
the house has rarely heard-and the ora
tor resumed his seat.
Here are a trio OF delightfully."- mixed
metaphors, which made the speaker al
most hold his sides with laughter The
subject under discussion was bimetailism,
and the intricate ramifieations OF ths
topic were intensified by three members.
who wished TO give instruction 10 their
feliow-legislstors The first orator let OF
this original aphorism: 'AIl along the
untrodden paths Of the past we discern
the footprints OF an unseen hand
Then there was a rush OF members to
leave the house, but those who remained
were charmed by another member describ-
ing several recent bye.eiectlons as
.fhaystack OF stra WIS. showing which way
the wind blows" Ten minutes later the
commons were sold-apparentiy quite in
error as il DID not In any way refer Ia
the debate-by the member for a north OF
England city that he had in his constit-
uency scores OF destitute children" OF
course. laughter loud and long greeted
this. whereupon the honorable member
FASTENED to explain that he did not mean
exactly wha, he had said.
Lord Curxon. when plain George Cur
zon. was once, and once only, known TO
hopslessly mix his metaphors. on the
occasion IN question he highly amused
the house of commons by saying. I'VE are
not Yet out Of the woods in South Africa.
and to re, eat the ship Of state requires
most careful steering
An Irish member. Mr.. Nurnaghan to
wit. delivered himself OF this delightful
remark. Il am net going 10 reiters;e what
was gosng 10 say" This ''buii'' brings
| 10 mind two strangely mixed metaphors
| uttered IN the house by another member
| from the Emerald Isle. William Field
On enc occasion he told the speaker
| that the tine has come. Indeed is rap
| Idly arriving. when etc. and another
| night ne informed parliament that. In
| certain eventuaiiues, "the population Of
| ireland VIII he declmstea by two shsrdsr'
| These two delightful expressions have
| made the honorable member famous at
| 81. Observation-Disclosures Mail.