_Home of Commons, Monday, May 15._--Mr. G. reminded of advance of time
by appearance on Parliamentary scene of new generations. All remember
when JOEY C. arrived from Birmingham, and have watched his meteoric
flight from level of Provincial Mayor to loftiest height of
Parliamentary position. Only the other week Mr. G. was paying
well-deserved compliment to a younger CHAMBERLAIN making his maiden
speech; to-day he has a kindly, fatherly word of friendly recognition
of maiden speech of youngest CAVENDISH. No mere compliment this,
extorted by old associations and personal predilections. Young VICTOR
went about his work in style reminiscent of middle-aged HARTINGTON.
Abstained from oratorical effort. Neither exordium nor peroration.
Got some business in hand, and plodded on till it was finished. Modest
mien, simple, unaffected manner, instantly won friendly attention of
crowded House.
"_Ay de mi!_ TOBY," said Mr. G. "These things make me think I'm not so
young as I was."
"Younger Sir," I said. "Pup and dog, I've known you twenty years;
heard most of your speeches in that time; honestly declare that for
lightness of touch, swiftness of attack, wariness of defence, not to
speak of eloquence, I've never heard you excel some of your speeches
this Session."
"Well, well, TOBY," said Mr. G., blushing in fashion never learned by
youth of to-day, "that's due to your too friendly way of looking at
things. What I was about to say is, that ever since I entered public
life I have always known a CAVENDISH to the fore. Ministries may rise
and fall; the CAVENDISHES remain. Curious thing is they have not--at
least in recent times--personally a passion for politics, as PITT had,
or such as, in some degree, influences me. They would, if they had
their own way, be out of it.
[Illustration: THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE'S HOLIDAY DREAM.]
But the CAVENDISHES have had their place in English public life
throughout the Century, and, it being their duty to fill it, they fill
it. Young VICTOR'S speech on Friday night carried me back over space
of thirty-four years. I remember another CAVENDISH coming out. He
moved resolution which defeated DERBY'S Government in 1859. I remember
the difficulty we had in bringing him up to the scratch. It was BRIGHT
who finally succeeded. BRIGHT always had great opinion of HARTINGTON'S
ability, a view, as we have seen, amply justified. A great deal has
happened since 1859, and now here's another CAVENDISH moving another
Amendment, and, oddly enough"--here Mr. G.'s face wrinkled into smile
of delighted humour--"it's ME who would be turned out of office if the
Amendment were carried."
[Illustration: Victor, or Vig-Tory-ish, Cavendish.