The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-11

0-ban Mr.. Gladstone introduced his
...o,d home rule bill on Feb. 10, 1898,
-. House of Commons was the scene
. an extraordinary scrimmage.
o7-be members" says one chronicler,
o.orrAd into the chamber in a pushing,
,,stIing. vociferating crowd. One
,,nite-haired member, of an age almost
.bot of the venerable Premier, was
,,rovn down under the feet of the
..ovd The Irish members engaged
!, tussle for places which resembled
football scrimmage." ''-'..
In that fierce struggle Mr.. Joseph
chamberlain, probably the strongest
onnonent of the bill, would have lost
HE seat had not his son Austen dashed
ahead through the crowd and kept it
until his father arrived. Austen, who
bacame Chancellor of the Exchequer
when his father and the preceding
chancellor, c. T. Ritchie, recently re-
signed from the cabinet, had just been
eIected a member of Parliament. 1t
was his first day in the House, but he
showed an astonishing ability to fight
for his own and his fathers interests.
"Behold a parallel" said an old
Liberal politician. He's keeping Joe's
seat warm now, but some day he will
sit in it by his own right. Keep your
eve on that young man. He's a chip
Of the old block, and some day he will
do great things"
Everybody remarked how wonder
fully the son resembled the father He
was his double. The same eye-glass,
the same orchid, the same immaculate
frock coat. spotlesS linen, and neat
necktie, the same spare, clean-cut,
cold expressionless face, the same
black hair brushed flat on the scalp as
if it were plastered down.
He's the very image of Joe," every
body said. will he be like him in
character and ability?"
Time proved. Three months after
he was elected a member of Parlia-
ment, Austen Chamberlain made his
maiden speech in the House of Com
mons on the home rule bill. 1t was a
brilliant speech, and everybody then
remarked how marvellously the son
resembed the father in expression.
mannerisms, style of speaking, and
trend of thought, as well as in face
and dress. Mr.. Gladstone, who for
years had been the fathers bitter polit-
triumph to pay both of them a pretty
compliment.
THE previous speakers" he said,
when replying on the whole debate
as Prime Minister "have evaded the
real point at issue. The only excep-
ton l remember was in the speech of
the Honorable member for East Wor-
cestershre, (Mr. Austen Chamberlain.
l will not embark on any elaborate
eul9gy on that speech. I will endeavor
to sum up in few words what 1 desire
10 say of it. 1t was a speech that must
have been dear and refreshing to a
fathers heart. 1t was a speech that
foretels a great career"
Mr. Gladstone was not wont to be
ELUSIVE in his praise. This compliment
of his rivetted public attention on Aus
ten Chamberlain from the start of his
career and led the public to expect
great things of him. 1t has not been
disappointed. He has shown great
ability in debate and in administration,
and fairly earned the successive gov
eminent positions to which he has been
appointed. Even his opponents have
never alleged that he was unfit, or that
he obtained his promotion merely be-
cause he was the son of his father.
Austen Chamberlain is the eldest son,
and has never married, although he is
now 40 years old. In that respect only
does he differ markedly from his
father, who had been twice widowed
when he reached that age.
There is a very strong bond of af-
lection and mutual respect between the
two men, The son still lives with his
father. Though he is a middle-aged
and wealthy statesman, he has never
set up an establishment of his own.
Both men find their greatest pleasure
and recreation in each others society.
They go to and from the House of
Commons together, arm in ARM twice
day when the House is in session;
they frequent the same club, the De-
Nonshire; they are both fond of an
evening together at the theater when
me House is not sitting; and they
ooth take great pains to elude the in
terviewer and hide their private life
from the gaze of the public.
IL is curious how little the public
knows of Joseph Chamberlain the
man. Because he is keen and cynical
IN debate hard hitter and a fearless
i9e' the impression has got abroad
mat he is Mephistophelian kind of
person His son Austen, having
ADOPTED the same public manner is
similarly judged Yet it would be
- III ~ llilu Two lileH Will NdilhCl
hearts and keener sympathies, two
men who love their fellow men in
more practical way. Their private
Aarlties in Birmingham and London
are countless.
GOOD fellows. both of EN-" was the
w verdict Of an old Birmingham artisan.
-. don agree with their politics. but
Gey We done a tremendous lot for this
Ky Joe was always good fellow
rom the time he entered the Town
Cguncll, when a mere boy. and Austen
axes after him.
81 remember when Joe first started
ou', away back in the seventies. to
raNe Birmingham a decent place.
mere was nothin' but dirt and nasti-
ness to live in. then-nothin but
s 9lIKs and smells The young uns
nsq off like flies. and the old folks
liked beef all the time. 1t was their
'ulg comfort in that ell of a place.
a but Joe got the worst streets pull
w. W. down and every place made de-
'''lO Night and day he went round