However, it was a good fighting speech, and the
Tories had been so depressed by the bad speaking on their own side, and
by the solid bench opposite of cheering, snorting, defiant, but
distinctly practical Welshmen, that they were delighted, and cheered
admiringly.
[Sidenote: Olympian wrath.]
The intimates of Mr. Gladstone declare that composure is perhaps the
most remarkable of his many qualities. In the midst of a Cabinet crisis
he would hand you a postage-stamp as though it were the sole matter that
concerned him. But it is also said by his intimates that he has
possibilities of Olympian wrath which almost frighten people. He was
certainly roused to a passion by Lord Randolph--very much to the
advantage and delight of the House of Commons; for during the earlier
portion of the evening, and especially while the speech of Mr. Asquith
was being delivered, there was an impression that he did not look very
happy. It is known that he is still fondly devoted to the Church, and it
was suspected that though his convictions were settled on the necessity
of doing away with the Establishment in Wales, it was not the kind of
work to which he went with any zest.
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