Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1910 — Stuck in Maiden Speech. [ARTICLE]

Stuck in Maiden Speech.

Of the many members of Parliament who have broken down in their maiden speeches there is no more dlstreesing Instance than that of Gibson Craig in 1837, thus graphically described by Disraeli: “Gibson Craig, of whom the Whigs had hopes, rose, stared like a stuck pig and said nothing. His friends cheered, he stammered, all cheered; then there was a dead and awful pause, and then he sat down, and that was his performance.” Another breakdown In a maiden speech was by a happy thought turned Into a success, says the London Chronicle. This was by Lord Ashley, who was a stanch supporter of a bill to grant the services of counsel to prisoners Indicted for high treason, but when he rose to make his maiden speech he found himself devoid of language. The house cheered encouragement. At last he managed to blurt out: “If, Mr. Speaker, sir, I, whe now rise only to give my opinion on the bill, am so confounded that I am unable to express what I proposed to ray, what must be the condition of that man who without assistance In pleading for his life and is apprehensive of being deprived of it?** The elaborate speech he had prepared would have been less effective. Is there another example of perfect waste equal to the bark of a dog?