"ME AND CHAMBERLAIN."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 14, 17 January 1903, Page 4

"ME AND CHAMBERLAIN."

A Birmingham working man has supplied the London Express with some rather interesting "cepy " in the shape of reminiscences of Mr Chamberlain aa a young man. It is evident from hie d«scriptfou that even in those early days the fa! are Colonial Secretary had that air of perfect selfpossession and calm self-confidence which at the present day is one of his most marked characteristics. When quite a young man Mr Chamberlain joined a debating club composed chiefly of working man, and became a frequent speaker at the meeting*, which were held io the parlour of a small public house. An interesting pictuie is given of bis per&OLal appearance atthattime. "He used to come in as smart as could be in a velvet coat and red tie, with his eyp-glaw, too, smooth fac, smooth hair, turn, set up—just like a wax figure he looked. You'd not think there was anything in him till he brgas to speak. He was a dandy get up if you like! His appearance was the subject of a good deal of chaff on the part of hit fellow members, but what to most men would have been a trying ordeal was gone through by young Chamberlain without a fl-cker. As he walked up the room in his immaculate clothts the working men would call out, ' Joey, who's yer hatter?' 'Oh, my! ain't be a dandy!' and so on. Mr Chamberlain, however, merely smiled and waited wbil* they chaffed. Rising to speak, he'd fixed hie eye-glass and look at them for awhile; then he says, quite pleasant and cool,• When you have bad your little amusement, gentlemen, we'll get to business, if yoa please.'" In manner and appearance except for the velvet coat and red lie—Mr Chamberlain was evidently much the same then as now, even down to the eye-gists. The working man relates that be " got quite smitten with" the young politician, and used to follow him around . the town, attending all his meetings, in order to learn politics. He recalls with eyident pride that on one occasion, when te asked Mr Chamberlain a question, the latter said, " My friend at the back of the room asks me " I us«d to go to the meetings so frequent," adds this fetvent disciple, " that I think he mußt have knewn me quite well by sight. Me aad Chamberlain always salutes each other when we meets."