Year: 1875

Charleston.


PROFESSOR FAwCErT AND HIS
WIFE. The visitor to the House Of
Commons, waiting at the door of the
strangers Gallery, and watching the
members of Parliament aS they file in
by the main entrances, will no doubt
have his eye particularly arrested bv
tall, fair-haired young man, evil
IDENTIFY blind, led up to the door BY d
Youthful petite lady with sparkling
eyes and blooming cheeks. She will
reluctantly leave him at the door.
The British Constitution would he
quite upset were a woman to invade
the floor of the House of Commons
after the chaplain's incantation had
been heard, even so far as to conduct
her blind husband to his seat, so she
has to consign him to a youth who
stands waiting lc lead the blind men,
her to his place. As she turns away
many a friendly face will smile and
manv a pleasant word attend her as
she trips lightly up the stairway lead
ing to the Ladies Cage, near the roof
of the House. The whisper passes
around, "One day, perhaps not far
of. she will take her sea; beside her
husblnd, and remain there" And
certain it is that when ladies have
tie suffrage. the first female member
Of Parliament will be the lady of
whom | write-NIrs. Fawcett. Not
one.half of the members of that body
are so competent as she to think deep
" AMI speak finely on matters of
public policy, while not the daintiest
live doll moving about London draw
ing-room surpasses her in the care of
her household, her husband, and her
child. The two whom ] have men
toned are as well-known figures as
any who approach the sacred pre-
cincts ofthe legislature The police
men bow low a. they pass; the crowd
in the lobby make path; the door
keeper, Mr.. White, the most amiable
Cerberus who ever guarded all en-
trance, utters his friendly welcome.
The strangers asks who is that, and a
dozen bv-s'anders respond, PRO
fessor Fawcert No one can look
upon him but he will see on his lace
the characters Of courage, frankness,
and intelligence. He is six feet two
inches in height, very blonde, his
light hair and complexion and his
smooth beardle;s IA giving him
something If the air of "A boy. His
features are at once strongly marked
and regular. He narrowly escaped
being handsome, and his expression
is very winning. His countenance
is habitually serene. and no cloud or
frown ever passes over it. His smile
i. gentle and winning. 1t is proba-
ble that no blind man has ever before
been able to enter upon so important
political career as Professor Fawcett,
who, yet under forty years age, is
the most influential of the independ-
ent Liberals in Parliament. From
the moment that he took his seat in
that body he has been able, and this
is unusual. to command the close at
tention of the House. He has a clear
fine voice, speaks with the utmost
auency. has none of the university
intonalion, and none OF the hesitation
or uneasy attitudes of the average
Parliamentary speaker He scorns
all subterfuges, speaks honestly his
whole mind, and comes to the point.
At times he is eloquent, and he is al
ways interesting. He is known to be
man of convictions. The usual
English political theory that you need
not prove thing right in principle if
YOU snow that it for the time works
without disaster is one which Profess
or Fawcett ignores. He defends the
right against the wrong, with little
respect to consequences. He, Sir
Charles Dixie, Z B. Taylor. and
Auberon Herbert are intimate friends,
and are looked upon as the four If
reconcilables of the House of Com
mons.-MoNCURE d. CONWAY, III