umber. There is
therefore no necessity for Mr. Furniss to alter his prophecy at present.

"Your obedient servant,

"FAIR PLAY."

Other correspondents, less technical but strongly political, accused me
of being "an inspired Conservative spy." Others that I was an oracle
worth "rigging." And the Irish and Radical Press questioning my
impartiality, I published this letter:

"_To the Editor of the 'Manchester City News.'_

"Sir,--My attention has been called to a paragraph in your issue of July
23rd, stating that I am a Conservative, an assertion which has highly
amused those who know me well, for I am one of the strongest of Radicals
in some things and the hottest of Tories in others. I earnestly advocate
the claims of the working man, and sometimes I feel myself a Whig of the
old school. Whether I am a Tory, a Liberal or a Radical, troubles me
very little, but as you seem to take a kind interest in my political
opinions I should have preferred you to have styled me an Independent,
which I understand means nothing.

"HARRY FURNISS.

"Garrick Club, London."

But neither "Independent" nor humorous would the partisan
Press allow me to be. Certainly I was applauded by some for
having held steadfastly to my prophecy, despite temptations
which would have made Cassandra succumb. I was flattered
by being held up as an exception among the prophets. From
Mr. Gladstone to Mr. T. P. O'Connor politicians had prophesied
and were hopelessly wide of the mark. Mr. Chamberlain,
speaking at Birmingham that week, said, "The gravity of the
weighty man of the House of Commons, gentlemen, is a thing
to which there is no parallel in the world," and oh! so serious!

[Illustration: THE GOVERNMENT--BENCH BEFORE HOME RULE.
A rough Sketch made in the House.

Mr. W. E. Foster. Mr. Gladstone. Mr. John Bright.
Lord E. Fitzmaurice. Lord Hartington.]

"Prophets--at any rate political prophets--are chiefly distinguished
from other people by being always dull and nearly always wrong. To-day,
however, appears a brilliant exception to the almost universal rule,"
wrote one paper, and yet continued, "Mr. Furniss is simply within his
own ground as one of the shrewdest and best trained of living observers,
when he describes the newly