New-York tribune., 1906-12-17
LONDON NOTES.
Humors of the Lords-DcatA 4
Charlotte Brontgs Husbond
London, Decsmo~

London. DecsmsR
The Lords have been developing unusn>c,~.
talents for hurnor during the Education d.h.s.
1t was a dull. prosaic subject which thsy ~
discussing day after day. and the pesresses v,ss
In the gallery in strong force 10 hear yAsr.
They began with formal and stilted conv.rsat.o,
among themselves. and ended by TALKING 10 u.
ladies' gallery. They could not be 90 uns.u..e
to be serious much less downright dull wh~
the peeresses had left their bridge tables "A
needed light entertainment One dsbatsr Ar,
another has tried to be amusing and IN. be.n
rewarded with smiles from the gallery ana com.
pliments in the evening Il the peers Abor.a
under restraint in their hunor over the Edu.
cation bill with the full muster OF bishops and
with Lord Halifax's cleaning eyes upon than.
they felt licensed TO be funny as they uxsd
when the Land Tenure bill was carried to sec.
ond reading Lord Darlington set the bali ron.
ing IN what was subsequently, described by Lord
Onslow sporting speech. So long as 10
seemed unconsciously humorous the Lords h
Opposition Knocked him with merrinent, but a
soon his frank bonhomie uaderstood
they were laughing with him from sheer u.
uberance OF spirits. How could Il be otherwise
when he repelled the idea that he was striving
to do away with sport by referring to support
ers behind him man well known IN ths
hunting Aeld and celebrated for their prowess
with the rife and the shotgunl" His side
glance at Lord Courtney. Lord Everslsy and
other peers. who could hardly have hit nock
Of barns. pointed the test. and the grave Lord
Chancellor Joined the lords IN opposition In un-
restrained merrinnent.
The Duke OF Northumberland caught the n-
spiratfon OF this pleasantly for the benant Of
the peeresses. He described the noble lord. the
president Of the Board of Agriculture. a CON-
tray eiIar Oypr tha nfrv
and putting another fellows wares. He gave
this imitation Of Lord Carrington's commercial
manner on the road among farmers: Il have
a little article In my bag which you may Ike to
see II IS not an invention OF my frm IT In
another persons patent. but my firm has taken
IL up" This allusion TO the fact that the gov
ernnent had adopted a private members bill
was fair sally. and it was followed by oorn-
cal explanation OF the titled drummers lack Of
success IN finding customers among the farm
ers The seconder OF the vote OF thanks to
the Cabinet Minister had been careful TO add
that he did not agree with the bill; and this
minded the duke OF the Scottish revivaIisrs
fervid sermon, closing with the appeal Tor all
who wished TO go to Heaven TO stand up. When
q majority of the congregation had risen az tbs
minister's bidding and again seated themselves,
the alternative choice offered for all who
were bent upon going "to the other place.
After an awkward pause one man got his
feet with the exclamation: "T have no particular
leaning that way. but really do not like to see
you standing alone" It was old story with
out doubt. but It served the old Tory purpose Of
illustrating the attitude OF farmers toward an
unimportant bill. The lords were convulsed
with merriment. Lord Darlington laughing with
the Ioudest; and the peeresses went homo with
the impression that the legislative proceedings
were quite as amusing ono OF Mr. Shaws
comedies of Intellectual discussion"
Lord Crewe, as the leader OF the minority
the government benches IN the Education de-
bate. has played his part with fine variety.
Smooth hammered. flexible, tactfui, he has been
conciliatory. yet firm withal and his polished
sarcasms have been even more entertaining
than his pleasantries. Helpless in the presence
OF hostile majority OF prelatss and Tory peers
he has been armed with resources OF power out
side the privileged house. and his acrid criti-
cism of bigotry and intolerance has yelled his
contempt for opponents who ars unable 10
agree among themselves. A satirist. II he keeps
his temper and avoids vehemence. can be mora
amusing than a professional huInorist. and
Lord Crewe has been favorite with the peer
esses without commanding their sympathies Tor
his cause. In closing the debate for the third
reading OF the Education bill he affected tbs
manner OF a ragic comedian holding I'D the
mantle OF Cesar. showing what gaping rSn&
had been made in the principle OF public con-
troll. and addressing the Tory Lords scornfuls
as accessories to the crime. That good art.
and 1t was not carried too far. for IN the next
breath he declared that Cesar was not yet dead
and that he hoped he might be spared the neces-
sity for attending the funeral The peeresss'
were forced TO admire his literary skill and to
smile at the comic spirit OF his melodrara
Altogether there has been not q little wit and
effective irony In the gilded chamber. and even
the solemn Law Lords who have been hearns
the appeal of the West Riding case havs been
witnesses of a situation whimsical IN It's topsy-
turveydom. The law officers OF the Liberal
government have been arguing high and low In
favor of the legality Of the Education act. fer
which the Unionlst government was respon-
sible. and the discussion has turned upon the
single pivot whether Mr.. Balfour did what ne
meant TO do or unconsciously reversed hinnseiI
and did what he had no intention OF doihs'
The same ministers who have been occupiea
for twelve months In killing of that act arc
now concerned In proving that II was not dead
when they took up arms against It. This must
be accounted the most grotesQue farce IN Eng
lish politics.
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