me
will ever be connected with Majuba carries off the palm for the largest
in the Upper House. The new Member for ---- will, in due course, owe his
Parliamentary fame to the extraordinary heels of his boots, if nothing
else, just as the late Lord Hardwicke's reputation was due to the
mysterious shine of his hat.

"But, judging from the illustrated papers, M.P.'s all wear spats, new
trousers every day (for they never have a crease), the most
beautifully-fitting coats, and white hats with black bands round them.
Why are they drawn so?" asked the Pen.

"Excuse the familiar vulgar rejoinder--Ask me another."

"I hear it said that you never caricature women."

"What rot! Have I not worked in illustrating the Members of the Houses
of Parliament for years, to say nothing of Judges and--their wives?"

"I mean young women."

"Oh, really I have no time to answer these questions; here are a bundle
of my unpublished caricatures; take them and be off."

CHAPTER VI.

PARLIAMENTARY CONFESSIONS.

Gladstone and Disraeli--A Contrast--An unauthenticated Incident--Lord
Beaconsfield's last Visit to the House of Commons--My Serious
Sketch--Historical--Mr. Gladstone--His Portraits--What he thought of
the Artists--Sir J. E. Millais--Frank Holl--The Despatch
Boxes--Impressions--Disraeli--Dan O'Connell--Procedure--American
Wit--Toys--Wine--Pressure--Sandwich Soiree--The G.O.M. dines with
"Toby, M.P."--Walking--Quivering--My Desk--An Interview--Political
Caricaturists--Signature in Sycamore--Scenes in the Commons--Joseph
Gillis Biggar--My Double--Scenes--Divisions--Puck--Sir R.
Temple--Charles Stewart Parnell--A Study--Quick Changes--His Fall--Room
15--The last Time I saw him--Lord Randolph Churchill--His Youth--His
Height--His Fickleness--His Hair--His Health--His Fall--Lord
Iddesleigh--Sir Stafford and Mr. Gladstone--Bradlaugh--His Youth--His
Parents--His Tactics--His Fight--His Extinction--John Bright--Jacob
Bright--Sir Isaac Holden--Lord Derby--A Political Prophecy--A Lucky
Guess--My Confession in the _Times_--The Joke that Failed--The
Seer--Fair Play--I deny being a Conservative--I am
Encouraged--Chaff--Reprimanded--Misprinted--Misunderstood.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE INNER LOBBY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.]

[Illustration:
1. Dr. Tanner
2. Rt. Hon. A. Akers-Douglas
3. Lord A. Hill
4. G. Cavendish-Bentinck
5. J. A. Pin