The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-01-08
COMPLIMENTARY EYEGLASSES.
S.+. 6enconsheld q C0njurer WITH
the Article-By Its Means ne O0A~
triyed Theatrical E0ectS.

Few accessories of personal attire
have played a more interesting part
III parliamentary life than the simple
eycciaSs. The silk hat, as we Know
is int..s pcn>abie; member OF the
house Of commons often moves "i"
mas his being entirely by virtue OF ms
headcear; but the dexterous use OF the
parliamentary eyeglass has often pro
duced thrilling impressions, says the
Pail Mall Gazette.
The greatest conjurer in the use oil
this l;.;le article the historic leglsla-
tive chamber ever contained was the
late Lord Reaconsfield. 1t has often
heen said eff him that he was splen-
did actor. He certainly contri'eu ny
n sort Of dumb show with his eyegiass
to create striking theatrical effects,
and the manner in which he would
m,rare. when it suited him, to lose
.the thing in the folds of his clothing.
so that he could pause in his speech
while he fumbled for the missing artl-
clc-a momentary respite which gave
him time to think-waS frequent
subject ofmirth in the smoking
One incident of the kind will never
be forgotten by those who witnessed
it. Mr.. Disraeli, then prime MINISTER
was speaking with great solemnlty
on a question of foreign policy. he
had been several times noisily inter-
rupted by somewhat boisterous
Scotch representative, who threw out
ironical cheers without any relevant
application. At the third or fourth
attempt the great minister stopped
abruptly in the middle of sentence
There was dead silence in the crowd
ed house as members watched the
statesman slowly feel for his eyeglass,
mechanically adjust it to his eye, and
then, turning to the direction of the
interruption, gave the Highland gen
.tle,,aan one expressive look. Having
satisfied himself of the identity of the
offender. an expression came over
the prime minister's face which
seemed to say: 'Oh, it's you, is it?
Poor fellow. you don't know better!'
The eyeglass dropped with a clink
against the watch chain, and the speak
er resumed his remarks at the very
point of the broken sentence. That
honorable member had good reason
to remember the episode throughout
his parliamentary career. His col
leagues never allowed him to forget
it.
When Disraeli could find his eye
glass in hurry and fix it promptly
it was sure sign that he was annoyed
In the course of heated debate the
nrime minister was once reDe11inp an
attack made upon him by Mr.. Glad
stone. The veteran liberal leader
made some audible comment upon what
Disraei was saying, which in the ex-
citement of the moment Henry Chap
lin took upon himself to answer across
the floor of the house. Mr.. Chaplin
had not understood the point of Mr.
Gladstone's criticism, and his inter
ruption gave the old parliamentary
hand an opportunity of putting an
explanation which the prime minis
ter did not want. When it came te
his turn to resume his speech, he firm
1y placed his eyeglass, and, turning
almost viciously upon Mr.. Chaplin
(who, of course, sat on the ministerial
side), and looking hard at him, ex
claimed: s'Sir, am not obliged to my
right honorable friend for this inter.
Euption.'