THE SOUL OF AN M.P.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 3

THE SOUL OF AN M.P.

A FANTASY. (Bt Sapeho.) ■ "Recess privileges have now ceased."— Notification of the General Assembly Librarian. ', > "Throe cats have, been presented to tho General Assembly Library to keep the mice away."—News-item.- . ..", \ . . :■■ "Ah, well, it is nice to bo homo again, and I suppose wo may look forward to winter jest," said , , tho Social Statics, sottb'ng itself comfortably on tho large table in the library.where returned books awaited distribution.to their own shelves. "That is a great comfort: If one is , worked bard during fcho recess, one is allowed to rest in-peace during tho. whole session." "But you .not taken out very often thenp" asked a slim little volumo, smelling sweetly of printers' ink. "I thought one would work hardest during the. session, when all the, members are 'studyine social Questions." ■'■', ;.. . •■- . . V" i : . _"What aro. you?" asked the Statics, William Lβ Quoux's last novel, I presume?" (( My dear sir,".said the new book hastily. By no means. "Why. I am the very latest thing on economics by the very highest European authority.. They will bo sure to rush mo, unless, as T half suspect, there aro a dozen of me here: A legislator must read' me if to,keep abreast of the times." And every other, book on' the' , table laughed 60 heartily that the solid board shook. . Go to,-sleep,"-said the Statics, "you may. rest in noaco assured that, you will not bo disturbed for' many months. Dear infant :they have never heard of you. They don't want over to hear of you,. and if they did they'd run away.' The latest thing in economics by an. expert.. Quo djable—?" ■'■ '.Tour day is done," said a high-pitelKKl voice, 10. mo will these legislators come for accurate information, for clear impressions on all questions affecting' society, for light and guidance, and, when days are dark for comfort. They will always find me ready with words of wisdom and authority." "Your name?" asked the monograph, which was evidently much impressed. '■, .. - . "Holy Orders,", said the book, whose oovere showed signs of .'hard wear. ; I beg your ; -'pardon," ; the' , monograph spoke in a hushed voice. "You deal with those questions for the Churoh's point of -new? By His Graced the" Archbishop of Canterbury, I suppose?" ' ■ . - , "By Marie Corelli," snapped the ' book. They all read ,ine. ■ From Dr. Findlav to all read mo. Hence >Tew Zealand s advance among tho nations; henco the interest. take: : from:' Now Zealand; hence ;tho Dreadnought? , '.. ■■ "I ain nevertheless;inclined to think"—it was a gentlemanly , 'voice that I may claim to load;tha thoughts of our legis-, lators'on many : important matters, in questions of diplomacy, criminalogy, arid , police procedure. You' will.. find that when they want real, solid reading, Mr. '■ LoUisson, Mr. Laureneon, Mr.'.Oarroll, Mr. Hogg, and Mr. Baume, to mention a few among aU, turn to mo. Why even Mr. M'Nab—" ' •-' ■ ■■'. "Whatever Mr. M'Nab reads," began a solemn voice, the voice of. Silas Hocking "I ■hardly, think he reads the sensational stories' ot Mr. Lo Queux. A: dip into Imy paces would refresh him) and. he would find in. thtra nothing but,sober truth, .expressed ■ I'.hope mVk a certain; vivacity, designedthe unheeding, but.sober truth nevertheless. Consult the pages of that great book lying there, and you.OTU'.find that many a legislaim mteUe<;t appreciates my writings." , .But Lwas.once taken out-by. a member." —It was the insistent.voice'of themonocrar/b ,on economics that spoke,"-: "Mr. Ell , sent for '.me ( to go down to Cbristchurch.'" "lih,_ I believe I am right in'saying that page 1, is.stiU-.uncut," said the' Statics-u---nkindly,. grey covers of the slim volume blushed crimson. . > . ,',' Whi |t; do .n hey read cn? " it said fretfully. J.stiU- cannot believe that tney feed i ," Ab . :s6l - utel y." ;said a book of nistory related in an entertaining-and popular fashion. I thought :they would find me ligbt enough, but they don't, and as from time to time I am taken.out by some outsider, and-laid on the pages of that great book'whijo my name is rocordedj I always make a : point of readina what is written there, and I find nothing but novels agaiiist the signatures or our legislators. There are, I must admit, three notable exceptions, men who. read anything ' that comes;out about Napoleon Bonaparte,' and you know,.is tho next thing to fiction." c* .V I '^.!!- no need to.discuss it," said the Statics. "Wo have, heard the books upstairs talk during the session,-,talking to. each other during the quiet hours of earliest morning, when they are tired of sitting still and crampedso long, and wo-know that tho novels downstairsare skipping, about from one member to-another fast and furiously ". ■ ' "Still, you-know," said the history' slily,' there is one book from upstairs that goes out frequontly-'The Visits of Elizabeth? » _ j Thai bookupstairsl , . , cried Holy Orders indignantly. "Why it should, be downstairs with the fiction I Now if. I were there as literature it would be well. Some day I BHAH bo.". ..■ " : :• : .■: :■ . J

"Th.o visits' 6( Elizabeth; ,, .,«aid the Statics' sympathetically, "in tho .mind'of the Assembly worary, already counts as literature."- :_ WoU, you'll see," , said the lasfoiyj- turning, over to_ go: tos.sleep. "They are Retting three cats, to keep the .mice out of the library. Those cats won't be. wanted ■ downetairß, where the novels are."