The Irish standard., 1905-07-01


we'll from his pedestal was grinning at
me. Cromwell never liked the Irish,
says Seumas MacManus in the New
York Evening Post.
l couldn't resist the temptation to
stop and shake my fist at him and say
some things about Drogheda and WeX-
ford Market Cross and a few other
places whose mention should have
made even a man of brass or bronze,
or whatever, vince. But his grin was
uninterrupted. So shook my fist
again and went on.
Before l reached that which l be-
lieve is known as the outer lobby
was held up there several times by po-
licemen who thirsted to know my bust
ness, and were deeply concerned to
learn if l had got a pass, or il not,
how l expected to get one-loolSing on
me with accusing eye the time. In
deed, when this had occurred thrice,
| began to harbor suspicious on my
self, and / searched my pockets to re-
assure myself that | was not carrying
bombs. Having discovered none, a
blissful calm fell on me. knew that
was a respectable man worthy Of
looking upon our great and wise legis-
lators at work upon the web of em-
pire which day in and day out is being
industriously spread to catch all un-
wary fies-and civilize them. From
the outside the House was to me very
imposing. Inside, having seen fair
number of members, the idea of impo-
sition was perhaps emphasized. Hith-
erto my only acquaintance of members
of Parliament was derived from the
angelic visits which one of them paid
to my little mountains, that thought
bowed their heads to him as he passed
amid the hosannas of a hoarse multi
| tude. l think the skies cracked on
these occasions; ] know that the
voices of many of our more important
! natives did. I know that then rated
members Of Parliament as something
more than gods, so something less than
God. dared not dream that should
speak to one and retain my faculties
unimpaired.
When, now, met the legislator with
his foot upon his native tiles, and for
an hour studied him in his native
haunts, regret to say that another of
the beautiful illusions of youth faded
away forever.
AS I struck the House at Week.
end, when, was told, the legislators
are always debated, and there is pract-
ically nothing doing, l dallied long in
the lobby studying human nature in
its undress state, and there 1t was ir-
resistibly brought home to me that
members Of Parliament, far from
striking me dumb, were mere men
such as one might bring in from the
by-ways any day. observed that
they blew their noses and scratched
their heads. and said things behind
their hands to one another, and went
| into corners to collogue just as NOR.
tails might. And when, having made
this discovery, found myself able to
breathe freely, appreciatively recalled
the statement of the poet, that en-
chantment increases direct ratio with
the square of the distance-or words
to that effect. said, it may transpire
that shall even find myself at ease
in heaven.
interestedly observed the diversity
of countenance that had been served
out to the members; the clean-cut face
and the rugged face; the dark face
and the open face; the fighting face
and the withdrawing one-which
proved to me that it takes all kinds to
make up House of Commons. But
chiefly I studied these faces in order
to appreciate the degree of intel
ligence requisite to legislator, and
contrary to my expectations, was not
struck dumb by any of them. Taking
them by and large, they would at a
vestry reflect credit upon most parish
es; but l must say that I saw some