280 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CH. xi 



Hartington, he said to me in his gruff way, but with a 

 smile that turned up the corners of his mouth : " I see 

 you have been in very queer company lately." " Yes," 

 said I, " I am seeing life in all its aspects." 



On the evening of February 4th, 1889, a meeting 

 was held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, to pro- 

 test against the indignities heaped upon Mr. William 

 O'Brien. The Hall had rarely been so packed as it 

 was that night. I took the chair on the occasion and 

 expressed my opinion strongly, but not more strongly 

 than the occasion deserved ; for now, as then, my 

 whole nature revolts against the idea of harsh treat- 

 ment to political offenders, and that the treatment 

 was harsh, not to say brutal, especially in the case of 

 William O'Brien, there can be no shadow of doubt. 



