292 Life and Times of " The Druid" 



political events, and such a quick and ready- 

 power of repartee that he was much more than 

 a match for his two brothers, easily refuting 

 their arguments, and holding up their old, 

 high-dried Toryism to such exquisite ridicule 

 that on many occasions they lost their tempers, 

 so that their sisters had to intervene as peace- 

 makers. These discussions were my first 

 taste of politics, and so impressed was I by 

 Uncle Henry's readiness and ability that I 

 became a Liberal, and have remained one 

 ever since." 



II. 



" In those times there were public nomina- 

 tion days, which were almost as exciting and 

 interesting as the election days themselves. 

 In Carlisle, a large wooden platform used to 

 be erected for the hustings in the market 

 place, in front of the Town Hall, for the use 

 of the candidates, their proposers, seconders, 

 and principal supporters. The Blues or 

 Liberals were on the right hand side of the 

 hustings, and the Yellows or Conservatives 

 on the left. The audience, an immense 

 crowd holding all shades of political opinion, 



