QUICKNESS OF REPARTEE

New Zealand Tablet, 19 September 1912, Page 62

QUICKNESS OF REPARTEE

In debate one of the greatest assets is quickness of repartee and the ability of being able to answer every heckler at a moment’s notice. It is this faculty that has won for Tim Healy his fame as a debater. On the stage, as well as the platform, the faculty is also valuable and most readers will have heard the story of the actor who in a performance of Richard 111., was interrupted, when he had concluded the famous line ‘ A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.’ by a person in the gallery shouting out: ‘Would an ass not do as well V ‘ Certainly,’ replied the actor, * come around to the stage door.’ In the House of Commons recently in the Home Rule debate, Sir Rufus Isaacs was loudly applauded for his quickness in squashing Sir John Lonsdale. One of the most unanswerable arguments for Home Rule is that the pressure of business in the House prevents the discussion of Imperial affairs. Sir Rufus- Isaacs was driving home this argument with force, and complained that the treatment of Irish local affairs prevented full discussion of Imperial matters of concern. At this point Sir John Lonsdale interrupted:

‘ Does the right hon. and learned gentleman know w that in 1911 only 40J hours of the time of this House were devoted to discussion of Irish affairs?’ >•• - ‘ Exactly,’ returned Sir Rufus without a moment’s hesitation, I do you consider that right ? Do you wish to perpetuate a system, which only gives annually 40| hours, to Irish affairs? Do you consider that fair.to Ireland ?’ - . The point was excellent, and shows once more the subtlety of the legal mind. - •