MAJOR O'GORMAN

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7263, 24 January 1889, Page 6

MAJOR O'GORMAN

A London correspondent describes tne late Major O'Gorman thus: — Major O'Gorman, the announcement of whose death appeared in an obscure paragraph in "the morning newspapers, once hlled a large space in the House of Commons. He was by far the biggest man in it, and was prim est favorite. 1 "he humorist who protested that if he asked his neighbor to pass the salt everyone laughed had not nearly such grounds for complaint as Major O'Gorman. When he stood up the House began to laugh. If he coughed, it hilariously cheered. When he cried 'Hear, hear,' everybody roared. He was indescribably funny—the real Irishman in flesh and blood (and a good deal of both), whom Charles Lever used to draw, brought into close connection with the new field of Parliamentary affairs. He was a source of unfailing amusement to Air Disraeli, who, in the heyday of the Major's Parliamentary fame, yet led the House of Commons. It was a study to watch the Premier, with his eyeglass screwed in his eye and his face l-A-ing on new wrinkles with unwonted laughter, as he watched the Major in the ' paroxysm of his oratorical passion. Once the Major tobkrpart in a thrilling scene in which the other chief actor was Mr DisraelL It was thirteen years ago, the House Commons being then, as now, engaged in <.H*>n~..ng Irish affairs. A coercian Bill was under debate, and after a long taliMr Disraeli rose to wind it up. TheMajor bf»«. been dining, and had, after his manner, sat a long time after dinner. He was in more than usually pa.triotic mood, and on returning to the House, finding the Premier on his feet, he marked the concl_don of one of his sentences by a resonant "No!" Cries of *'Order 1" set the Major off with increased ferocity. He b_lowed " No. no, no I" like a bull of Basban. Mr Disraeli, always happy in retoxt, good-humoredly observed that if that ejaculation was to be taken as a reply the bon. memberwasp-ecludedfromtakin-fur-therpart m the proceedings. Then the Major lamped up, ana bellowed out, * I havo not spoken one word.' There was a fearful uproar, over which the Major rose superior till he was literally pulled down by the coat-tails. A few minutes later he was discovered sailing down the floor of the House in the direction of the table at which Mr Disraeli stood. There was an anxious moment, during which the common fear possessed the hearts of lookerson that the Brobdignagian Major was going to dispose of the fragile Premier by wall——; off with him under his arm. Mr Disraeli paused and looked at the threatening advancing figure, which, as soon as it had reached the gangway, turned off to the right and dropped heavily into a seat."