in the same evening. Mr. Asquith's grasp of Parliamentary method
increases daily. He is really a born Parliamentarian. It is certain that
he has made up his mind to go back to the bar when his time for retiring
from office comes; it will be a tremendous pity if he does. Such a man
is wasted before juries and in the pettiness of nisi prius. For the
moment, however, he sails before the wind. With his youthful--almost
boyish face--clean-shaven, fair and fresh--with his light brown hair
carefully combed, school-boy fashion, and with no more trace of white
than if he were playing football in a school gymnasium--he is a
wonderful example of early and precocious political fortune. There is in
his face a certain cheery cynicism--a combination of self-confidence and
perhaps of self-mockery, the attitude of most clear-sighted men towards
fortune, even when she is most smiling. At the outset Mr. Asquith had to
encounter an amendment from Mr. Chamberlain. It is needless to say that,
while the most Radical Government which ever existed is proposing
Radical legislation, the cue of Mr. Chamberlain will be now and then to
"go one better"--to use the American phrase; and accordingly here was an
amendment from Birmingham which went even further than the Bill of Mr.
Asquith. With gentle but effective ridicule Mr. Asquith, riddled the
Chamberlain amendment; but for the moment the amendment served the
purpose of delaying further progress with the Bill.

[Sidenote: Another surprise.]

And there was another surprise--actually a fourth Bill--also from the
Government Bench; and also proposing to make a further beneficial change
in the position of working men. Mr. Mundella wanted to get power for the
Board of Trade to regulate the hours of labour among poor railway men.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach--who burnt his fingers over Stationmaster
Hood--rushed up after Mr. Mundella had sate down--to claim a portion of