He is always so
radiantly, fascinatingly clean, the Honourable Arthur, simple,
frank, direct, sensible, and he bores me almost to tears.
The first orator was edifying his hearers with an explanation of the
drama of The Corsican Brothers, and his eloquence, unlike that of
the other speakers, was largely inspired by the hope of pennies. It
was a novel idea, and his interpretation was rendered very amusing
to us by the wholly original Yorkshire accent which he gave to the
French personages and places in the play.
An Irishman in black clerical garb held the next group together. He
was in some trouble, owing to a pig-headed and quarrelsome Scotchman
in the front rank, who objected to each statement that fell from his
lips, thus interfering seriously with the effect of his peroration.
If the Irishman had been more convincing, I suppose the crowd would
have silenced the scoffer, for these little matters of discipline
are always attended to by the audience; but the Scotchman's points
were too well taken; he was so trenchant, in fact, at times, that a
voice would cry, 'Coom up, Sandy, an' 'ave it all your own w'y,
boy!' The discussion continued as long as we were within hearing
distance, for the Irishman, though amiable and ignorant, was firm,
the 'unconquered Scot' was on his native heath of argument, and the
listeners were willing to give them both a hearing.
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