Hound and Horn

"Stacey—tried very hard to understand him, because he was on the right side of the platform, but it was rather difficult. All economics and things like that. Must have been good, though, because he spoke against Scotney. And then young McDonald—started talking about women and was stopped by the bell. That's the way to treat the cads!

"But the ones I liked were O'Connor, Renouf, Witheford, and Mitchell. Now there are a bunch of fine speakers! Mitchell proved—proved by reason—and I'm all for reason, in moderation—that the Russian people today were ignorant, uncultured, cruel and barbarous. He proved it—but it really doesn't need proving, does it?—I mean, they must be utter cads—because—well, they're Russians, aren't they? And Witheford—I admired him tremendously. Scum comes to the top—good point, that. And his oratory was almost as good as O'Connor's. Now that was a speech—all that about starving the peasants—world revolution—pernicious propaganda undermining our constitution. Funny, though—I always thought Trotsky was all for this world revolution idea, and that was why he was kicked out. Must have been wrong, though. And Renouf, too, on religion—damned good point, that, I'm all for the Church—I mean, where would the Empire be without God? In the soup, sir—in the soup!

Placing of speakers? O'Connor first. Best rhetoric I've heard since 1914. Witheford next—I didn't put him first, because you know what he said about scum, eh? And Mitchell third. Definitely Pukka sahib.

"I haven't placed any more except Scotney. He's last. The cad—serves him damn well right.

"—R.L.M.