MR. CHAMBERLAIN TAKES HIS SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 778, 30 March 1910, Page 8

MR. CHAMBERLAIN TAKES HIS SEAT.

UNEXPECTED REAPPEARANCE. After an absence of three years Mr. Chamberlain unexpectedly reappeared to-day on the stage of ■ his former triumphs (writes the Parliamentary correspondent of. the "Manchester Guardian," on February 17), and in a hushed and almost empty House took the oath of allegiance. The secret of his intention bad, been carefully guarded. For some hours during the earlier part, of the day some hundreds of his fellow-members bad been crowding up to the tables, till at length nearly half of the total membership had completed the ceremony of initiation. . About four o'clock,. Mr. Austen Chamberlain- came in, and. for. a time remained... standing .. behind the Speaker's Cbair -conversing with the Whips and with Mr. Wing, the new memoer for. Grimsby. Very soon the opportunity for .which, the ■ group : had probably been waiting presented itself. Only one or two members remained in the Chamber, arid apart from the Press gallery the other parts of the House were almost deserted.. Following ou a quick succession'of messages which had been received and dispatched behind the. Chair, Mr. Fuller hurried forward to the .table,'and in an audible voice informed' the clerks of Mr. Chamberlain's* approach. A profound and expectant silence fell on the House. Members who had, been' about to take-the oath' suspended their intention'and quietly stood aside. Then the do'or was thrown open, and supported between'his son and • Lord Jlorpeth Mr. Chamberlain walked slowly and with much effort to a seat on the' Treasury Bench, looking, in the pathetic Homeric phrase as applied to the. shade of Patroclus,.' "exceedingly like unto himself,", for though broken in health, Mr.' Chamberlain, as all were glad to observe, is still very little altered in appearance. Though the old impetuous tire may have burned itself out, the indomitable .will maintains its sway, and 'subdues to . its, imperious • rule even the anxieties and apprehensions of bis latives. Nothing could have'been more touching than the tender assiduity with which, the son of the stricken statesman sought to. soften for his father lie rigours_ of this strange ordeal. Taking upon himself the duties usually fulfilled by the, Clerk of the House, Mr. Austen Chamberlain sat down by his father's side and.read. over to him the terms of the oath, which Mr. > Chamberlain in' turn made an effort to repeat. Then the son rose, and; advancing; to. the table inscribed the father's name and name of his., constituency on the roll, and once more .came back ' lo his father's side,-' bringing with him the book containing the ; freshly-written entry, to which he poiiited with a word of explanation. On' .the place thus indicated, Mr. Chamberlain carefuUy tracfed a cross. Little remained ' to' be done, but perhaps that was the ( most trying part of all. As-; -Siste'd' io_'his feet,';ythe newly-initiated mehiber 1 advanced to the Chair to make his bow.. to. the Speaker, to whom he was presented 'by Sir Courtehay Ilbert in the words, tremulously spoken, "Mr. .Chamberlain, West Birmingham." Like the Clerk,, the'. Speaker, found difficulty.in controlling his voice as with extended hand he bade the member for. West Birmingham welcome, and expressed his pleasure ■at seeing him back again. Unable as it seemed-to offer his right hand Mr. Chamberlain put up his* left, murmured a word of acknowledgment,' and a moment later, supported by : his son and Lord Morpeth, passed ont at the door < through: which he had' made "his '.dramatic entrance'.- '