The Dillon of the Future.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 13

The Dillon of the Future.

A THREE-YEAR-OLD SPEAKS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Dillon Junior, says the "Daily Mail," is a chip of the old block. The ex-leader •of the Irish race at home and abroad has ;a baby boy but three-years-old, and his visit to the House of Commons on Thurs«day night created a serious obstruction *of business in the gretest legislative assembly of the world, and led to his final ■expulsion, or what amounted to that. Mrs Dillon took him down to the House of Commons to see papa and all the other igreat men who deliberate upon the destinies of the Empire. The two went up into the ladies' gallery and Dillon Junior very soon became absorbed in the proceedings. It was all new and strange to- him ;and his curiosity geting the better of his judgment, he proceeded to question his mother upon various points in a louder tone than is permissible in the Chamber. He began at the beginning, did this andl inquired first of all who they were who were present. "Oh, what a lot of gentlemans! What a lot of gentlemans! Who are the gentlemans, mamma?" his little voice lisped. Mamma appreciated the gravity of the situation and tried to quell the youthful desire for knowledge. "Be quiet, dear, there's a good boy; hush now!" The remonstrance was enough for the moment; but the boy returned to the attack a little later. "Mamma, who are all these men P" he asked, with a LITTLE MORE IMPERATIVENESS. Mrs Dillon looked uneasy, for ' hon. members wer beginning to turn their eyes towards the ladies' gallery. The child went! on making remarks of a somewhat critical nature upon the august assembly.

and exclaimed, "Oh, mamma, there's Mr Sullivan!" The House was now all laughter. Mrs Dillon was having a very bad quarter of an hour, and the Speaker was wondering what he should do with this very self-asserting son of Erin. Dillon Junior was master of the House; he was the man of the moment. The Sergeant-at-Arms soon made up his mind. The business of the Commons must not be obstructed by children. He whispered something to one of his subordinates, but Mrs Dillon promptly took the cue and spared the boy the ignominy of ejectment from St. Stephen's so early in his career. She gathered up the pretty little bundle and burned away with him.