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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  12,  1896 
Mr.  Chamberlain  as  a  Speaker. 
Some  time  last  summer  a  casual  visitor  to  Birmingham  recorded  in 
these  columns  what  he  evidently  felt  as  a  stroke  of  unexpected  good 
fortune  on  his  part,  or  rather  a  double  stroke,  for  first  he  seems  to  have 
smuggled  bimBelf  into  the  grand  town  hall  on  the  occasion  of  a  great 
speech  by  the  city’s  famous  parliamentary  representative,  and  then  the 
next  day  met  him  in  his  garden.  It  is  not  easy  to  gather  from  the  little 
narrative  with  which  he  was  most  pleased — the  speech  or  the  garden. 
The  occasion  of  the  former  he  describes  as  a  sight  that  he  would  not  like 
to  have  missed — “  A  quiet,  cool,  pale  faced  man,  holding  a  packed 
audience  of  thousands  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  drawing  cheers  and 
laughter  alternately  with  indescribable  nonchalance.”  The  clear 
incisive  utterance  and  consummate  ease  of  the  speaker  seems  to  have 
impressed  the  Londoner,  for  he  says  Mr.  Chamberlain  could  have  kept 
his  cigar  going  all  the  time,  as  he  did  during  his  after-dinner  speech  in 
celebration  of  a  great  show  in  the  Aston  Park  grounds  about  twenty 
years  ago.  But  our  narrator  did  not  tell  the  whole  story  of  that 
episode,  perhaps  he  did  not  know  it,  and  it  is  just  possible  that  the 
right  honourable  gentleman  himself  may  not  know  everything  in 
connection  with  his  utterances  on  that  occasion. 
It  was  somewhat  in  this  wise.  A  chairman  was  required  to  preside 
at  the  festive  board,  and  he  must  be  a  local  notability.  Mr.  Chamber¬ 
lain’s  name  and  fame  had  then  spread  far  beyond  the  hounds  of  the 
fine  city  which  he  has  served  so  well,  often  as  chief  magistrate, 
and  for  which  he  has  done  so  much.  Some  of  the  London  horticulturists 
expressed  a  desire  that  he,  as  Mayor,  might  preside  over  them.  But 
those  days  were  not  as  these  are,  and  the  party  bogey  stood  in  the  way 
of  the  invitation.  It  seems  all  very  absurd  ;  but  common  sense  pre¬ 
vailed,  and  what  is  known  as  the  cigar  speech  was  delivered  to  the 
delight  of  all  who  were  present.  At  the  close  of  the  proceedings  one  of 
the  chief  opponents  of  the  proposition  to  invite  the  popular  leader 
was  bantered  not  a  little,  and  then  compelled  to  answer  the 
question.  “What  do  you  think  of  Chamberlain  now  ?  ”  “  Well,  you 
see,  we  had  to  consider,  and - ”  “  Oh,  hang  considering,  what  do  you 
think  of  him  now?"  Then  came  the  emphatic  verdict.  “If  I  must 
say  what  I  really  think,  it  is  that  I  think  he’s  a  stunner."  The  party 
shell  was  broken  by  the  genial  persuasiveness  of  the  skilled  dialectician, 
and  the  man  was  found  behind  it  speaking  from  the  dictates  of  his 
heart. 
It  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  what  can  only  be  said  of  few 
men — namely,  that  in  the  manner  of  his  speeches  he  never  disappoints. 
Anyone  is  at  liberty  to  disagree  with  their  purport,  though  it  may  not 
always  be  particularly  discreet  to  openly  challenge  him  at  the  time  ; 
but  in  style,  character,  and  finish  they  command  attention  and  evoke 
admiration.  One  of  the  greatest  compliments  perhaps  ever  paid  to  Mr. 
Chamberlain  as  a  speaker  was  by  a  gardener  and  political  opponent. 
The  right  honourable  gentleman  had  been  delivering  a  series  of 
speeches  in  one  of  our  largest  towns.  The  gardener  was  asked  if  he 
had  been  to  hear  him.  The  reply  was,  “  Yes,  but  I  shall  not  go  again  ;  ” 
and  went  on  to  say,  “  he  is  the  most  persuasive  and  captivating  speaker 
I  have  ever  heard,  but  I  don’t  intend  that  he  shall  convert  me.” 
A  speech  that  would  have  pleased  this  gardener,  and  all  gardeners, 
was  that  which  the  right  honourable  gentleman  delivered  in  his 
capacity  of  Chairman  at  one  of  the  anniversary  dinners  of  the  Gardeners’ 
Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  On  this  occasion  the  speaker  revealed 
his  love  for  the  art  from  which  he  derives  so  much  pleasure.  Among 
other  remarks  he  said,  “  We  may  differ  greatly  on  many  questions,  but 
we  are  all  united  in  our  interest  in  and  our  love  of  horticulture.  Our 
favourite  pursuit  has  afforded  rest  for  and  brought  happiness  to  many 
of  the  greatest  and  wisest  in  the  land.  Statesmen  have  found  recreation 
in  it  ;  philosophers  have  commended  it ;  doctors  have  prescribed  it ; 
lawyers  have  advocated  it ;  and  poets  have  sung  its  praises.  ...  I 
claim,  for  all  that  concerns  the  cultivation  of  flowers,  that  it  satisfies  that 
love  of  natural  beauty  that  is  inherent  in  the  human  breast  ;  that  it 
cultivates  our  intelligence  and  powers  of  observation,  and  at  the  same 
time  provides  variety  and  excitement  by  the  constant  novelty  which 
results  from  the  attention  we  give  to  it.  And  while  it  does  all  these 
good  things  it  is,  I  believe,  the  most  unselfish  of  pleasures,  for  it  is 
enjoyed  the  most  in  the  largest  company ;  and,  unlike  some  other 
amusements  to  which  the  race  is  prone,  ours  inspires  no  evil  passions, 
inflictB  no  pain,  and  causes  injury  to  no  man  either  in  his  character,  in 
his  health,  or  in  his  estate.” 
True  and  eloquent  words  are  those,  and  the  speaker  went  on  to  note 
the  way  in  which  gardeners  ministered  to  the  happiness  of  life— an 
occupation  though  interesting,  yet  not  too  highly  paid,  with  few  prizes 
in  store— and  therefore  it  was  difficult  for  the  most  thrifty  in  the 
profession  to  make  adequate  provision  for  the  eventualities  of  life.  On 
those  grounds  he  pleaded  for  the  Institution,  and  hoped  in  time  that  it 
would  meet  all  claims,  and  no  deserving  applicant  he  turned  away, 
concluding  his  appeal  by  saying,  “  I  feel  assured  we  shall  all  take  the 
greater  pleasure  in  our  pursuit  if  we  know  that  those  who  have  grown 
grey  in  our  service  will  not  suffer  want  or  dishonour  in  their  declining 
years.” 
The  response  was  excellent,  for  the  Secretary  announced  that  the 
contributions  to  the  Institution  in  connection  with  the  dinner  amounted 
to  £1400,  including  50  guineas  from  the  Chairman  and  10  guineas  from 
Mrs.  Chamberlain.  Replying  to  the  toast  of  his  health,  the  Chairman 
spoke  in  lighter  strain,  and  his  words  are  too  good  and  characteristic  to 
be  omitted  here.  It  is  a  delightful  blending  of  the  gardener  and 
politician  to  which  no  possible  exception  can  be  made.  Here  is  the 
blend  : — “  Gentlemen,  I  claim  to  be  one  of  your  body.  I  have  taken 
great  interest  in  gardening  for  more  than  thirty  years.  During  that 
time  I  have  grown,  or  attempted  to  grow,  everything,  from  Dandelious 
to  Orchids,  and  I  chiefly  pride  myself  on  Dandelions.  (Laughter.)  But 
I  can  assure  you  that  in  my  devotion  to  this  pursuit  I  have  had  my 
reward.  During  many  years  my  business  has  been  the  business  of 
politics,  and  my  pleasure  has  been  the  pleasure  of  gardening.  I  some¬ 
times  think  a  parallel  or  an  analogy  might  be  drawn  between  the  two 
pursuits.  The  progress  of  political  ideas  and  the  growth  of  flowers 
have  something  in  common — they  both  require  ventilation.  (Laughter.) 
But  I  don’t  think  the  parallel  ends  there.  It  is  certain  that  they  both 
very  often  succeed  best  in  1  heat.’  Then  you  know  that  in  gardening  we 
are  troubled  greatly  by  obstructive  insects,  which  we  call  ‘  thrips,’  ‘  red 
spider,’  ‘  mealy  bug,’  and  the  ‘  Orchid  devil.’  (Great  laughter.)  Well, 
if  you  have  read  your  newspapers,  you  must  be  aware  that  we  politicians 
are  also  troubled  with  insects  (laughter),  although  I  should  be  very 
sorry  here  to  have  to  mention  their  names.  Gentlemen,  you  will  readily 
undei stand  that,  having  derived  much  advantage  and  pleasure  from  the 
pursuit  of  gardening,  I  am  delighted  to  have  an  opportunity  for  helping, 
however  humbly,  to  provide  in  some  measure  for  those  who  are  also 
engaged  in  it,  but  under  less  fortunate  circumstances.” 
Mr.  Chamberlain  as  a  Gardener. 
It  is  now  made  clear  that  Mr.  Chamberlain  is  devoted  to  gardening 
and  animated  with  the  best  wishes  for  those  who  engaged  in  it,  and  it  is 
well  known  that  he  has  a  strong  desire  to  help  and  encourage  those  who 
show  a  disposition  to  help  themselves  in  making  some  provision  for  the 
future.  Those  young  gardeners  in  his  employment,  as  well  as  others  of 
his  servants,  stand  the  highest  in  the  master’s  estimation  who  leave  not 
less  than  Is.  a  week  of  their  wages  to  accumulate  till  the  end  of  the  year. 
Then,  of  course,  there  would  be  £2  12s.  for  those  who  did  so  ;  only  it 
grows  in  that  time  like  a  thrifty  plant,  and  each  man  who  is  thus 
provident  has  an  equal  amount  added  to  his  little  store,  while  all 
domestic  servants  are  rewarded  for  their  thrift  in  the  same  excellent 
way,  whatever  may  be  the  extent  of  the  savings  from  the  wages  earned 
during  the  year.  There  is  nothing  compulsory  about  the  plan,  every 
servant  is  free  to  benefit  by  it  or  not,  and  the  more  who  do  so,  and  the 
greater  the  amount  thus  reserved,  the  greater  the  satisfaction  of  the 
master  of  Highbury  in  adding  the  bonuses. 
It  must  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  any  young  gardeners,  or  other 
servants  who  are  diligent  in  saving,  but  not  diligent  in  other  ways — i.e , 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  have  any  special  consideration  shown  to 
them.  Mr.  Chamberlain  is  a  considerate  employer,  closely  observant, 
practical,  firm,  and  just — scrupulously  so  to  his  dependents,  but  also, 
and  most  properly,  just  to  himself.  There  can  be  no  such  thing  as 
currying  favour  by  falling  in  with  his  ^esire  in  the  plan  that  he  haB 
devised  for  their  benefit,  while  their  shortcomings  in  other  respects  are 
in  the  least  overlooked.  Every  man’s  character  is  in  his  own  keeping, 
and  his  progress  depends  on  his  own  efforts,  conduct,  prudence,  and 
judgment,  and  while  thrift  betokens  prudence  in  one  direction,  not  less 
so  does  the  proper  discharge  of  duty  on  the  other.  Given  competence, 
trustworthiness,  uprightness  in  character,  then,  and  not  till  then,  will 
evidence  of  thought  and  thrift  be  considered  in  promotion  and  reward 
that  follow  to  the  more  deserving.  Highbury,  it  will  be  perceived,  is  a 
good  school  for  young  gardeners.  They  can  learn  much  there  profession¬ 
ally,  besides  acquiring  habits  of  thought  and  carefulness  that  may  be  of 
untold  benefit  to  them  in  after  life. 
The  Mansion  and  Conservatory. 
So  much  for  the  “  master,”  his  tastes,  and  methods  ;  now  let  us  glance 
at  his  home  and  garden.  It  is  necessary  to  say  that  everything  is  of 
Mr.  Chamberlain’s  own  making,  and  justly  proud  may  he  be  of  what  he 
