Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-25

comes, remember you have all my conf
dence."
Looking back upon that day. Loder often
wondered at the caimness with which he
bore the uncertainty. To sit apparently IN
moved and wait without emotion for news
that mtght-chanse the whole tenor OF ones
action. would have tried the stoicism OF
the most experienced; 30 the novice IL was
well-night uncomfortable. And IL was under
these conditions. and sighting against these
odos, that he sat through the long after
noon In Chilcotes place. obeying the dictates
OF his chief But II the day was fraught with
difficulties for him. II was fraught with
dullness and disappointment for others:
Tor the undercurrent OF interest that had
stirred at the Easter adjournment and
risen with added force on this first day OF
the new session. was gradually but surely
threatened with extinction. as hour after
hour passed. bringing no suggestion of the
battle that had on every side been tacitly
expected. Slowly and Enthusiastically specu-
lation and dissatisfaction crept into the
atmosphere of the house. as moment sue
ceeded moment. and the opposition made
no sign Was Fraide Sinking the attack?
Or was he playing waiting gamer Again
and again the question arose, filling the air
with n passing flicker OF interest; but each
time 1t sprang UP only to die down again.
as the ordinary business of the day dragged
itself out.
Gradually. as the afternoon wore on, day
light began to fade. Loder. sitting rigidly
In Chilcote's place watched with suppressed
iuQuiEs tus races Oh the men who entered
through the constantly swinging doors; but
not one face. SO eagerly scanned carried
the message for which he waited Monoto-
nously and mechanically the time passed
The government. adopting a neutral atti-
tude. carefully skirted. all DANGEROUS sub
tects; while the opposition. acting under
Trades suggestion assisted rather than
hindered the program OF postponement. For
the moment the eagerly anticipated reas-
sembing threatened dismal failure: and it
was with a universal movement OF weari-
ness and relief that at last the house rose
to dine.
But there are possibilities so elastic
as those OF politics. At 7:S0 the house rose
In spirit of boredom and disappointment:
and at o'clock the Hobbies the dining
room, the entire space of the vast building.
was stirred into activity by the arrival OF
single Geographic message.
The new development for which Fralde
mad waited came indeed. but II came with A
force he had little anticipated With a
.nl I OF awe ana CONSERVATION men heard
ana repeated the astounding news that
while personally exercising his authority
on behalf of British traders-Sir Iyilllam
brice-Field, consul general at Meshed had
Deem nred at by a Russian officer and In
SANITY killed.
The interval Immediately following the
receipt OF this news was too confused for
detailed remembrance. Two ideas made
themselves slowly felt-a deep horror that
such an event could obtrude itself upon
our nigh civilization, and a strong personal
dlsmay that so honored. distinguished and
esteemed representative as Sir William
Br1ee-t1eld coeld have been allowed 70
meet death in so terrible a manner -
II was in the consciousness of this feeIing
the consciousness that In his own nerson
ne might voice. not only the feelings of his
party, out those of the whole country-that
delayed attack e
He stood silent for moment. as he had
done on an earlier occasion; but this time
MS motive was different. Reused h.vond
any FEELING of self-consciousness, he waited
ho,, ~ i IGN. Tor me full attention of the
mousse then quietly, but with seIf-possessed
hrmness, he moved the motion for adio,,ry-
ment. ~ ""Joui"-
Like match to train OF nowda- .ho
MoI1s SET lame to the excitement that had
smoidered for weeks: and In an atros,,hn-'a
OF stirring activity a scene Of encb ta,,.e
ana vital concentration as the ho1sa bss
rarely witnessed, he found fnspiratfon To-
MS great achievement. iOi
To give Loder's spaecb L. -
would be little short of futile. Tba g1f, Us Us
oratory is too fllusive too much O nnat.o
OF eye and voice and individuality. 10 al
Nv os al ;, Goio reproduction To those who
heard MN speak on that night of Anril IL
the speech VIII require no recalling. and
10 those who did not hear him there would
be no substitute in bare reproduction
In the moment of action II ua,ta,os
nothing to him that his previous prenarn
tons were TO a great extent rendered use
less by this news that had come with such
paralyZing effect. In the sweeping con-
seriousness of his own ability he found
added joy in the freedom IL opened up He
ceased to consider that by fate he was a
conservative. bound by traditional conven-
tionalities; in that great moment he knew
himself sufficiently a man to exercise
whatever individuality instinct prompted
He forgot the didactic methods by which
he had proposed to show knowledge of his
subject-both a past and a future fac
tor In European politics. With his own
strong appreciation of present things he
saw and grasped the vast present interest
lying beneath his hand.
For fifty minutes he held2the interest of
the house, speaking mistakenly, fearlessly,
commandingly on the immediate need OF
action. He unhesitatingly pointed out
that the news which had just reached Eng
land was not so much an appalling fact as
a sinister warning to those in whose keep
ing lay the safety of the country's inter-
ests. Lastly. with a fine touch of elo-
ouence he paid tribute to the steadfast
fidelity of such men as Sir William Brice-
Field. who, whatever political complica-
tions arise at home. pursue their duty
swervingly on the outposts of the en-
pire.
Cro be continued tomorrow