How the Attack was Received
(Our representative has been at great pains to elicit the views of leading Members of the House of Peers on the subject of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s attack.)
SURREY PHLEGM
A COOL-HEADED Marquess from Surrey
Said. “No change can be made in a hurry:
So I think we’re all right
If we only sit tight.
Look at me. Do I quail? No. Why worry?”
IN A NUTSHELL
An elderly Duke muttered “Pooh!
The Commons mean well it is true;
But they can’t legislate
Upon matters of weight:
Their blood’s not sufficiently blue.”
THE YOUNGER GENERATION SPEAKS
A juvenile Viscount said “What!
Abolish the Peers! Bally rot!
Why, if we shut up shop,
The whole show ’ud go pop.
You want brains? Well, that’s just what we’ve got.”
THE CRAVEN
A foolishly timorous peer
Quivered worse than a jelly with fear,
When a friend for a joke
These simple words spoke:
“Look out, Percy! The Premier’s here!”
THE WORRIED MOTORIST
Said an Earl, at his house in Pont Street, “Oh!
I don’t care a hang for the Veto.
I’ve bought a new car,
And I’m full up, so far.
Finding out all about the magneto.”
LANCASHIRE GRIT
There was a young lordling from Lancs,
Who scoffed at the Commons as cranks.
“And as for C-B,
He’s a rotter”, said he.
This encouraged the wavering ranks.