Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/47

 He dropped the glass of brandy and fell into the arms of some fellow-members. He was carried out to the back of the Speaker's chair and died a few hours later. This was Mr Wallace, one of the members for Edinburgh, who made an immense but short-lived reputation in the House by his witty and audacious speeches.

From the commencement, H. H. was an advocate of votes being given to women of property, and he was one of the backers of the Conciliation Bill. He was totally opposed to Militancy, and thought with many others that the women's cause was seriously injured by its adoption. H. H. was one day attending a banquet at the Guildhall when one of the beautiful stained glass windows was broken by a suffragette. Some splinters of glass fell upon him, slightly cutting his head. Christabel Pankhurst made the amende honorable by a charming letter of apology.

After a demonstration made in the House of Commons, it became necessary to close the Ladies' Gallery to all except personal relatives of honourable Members, who were responsible for their good behaviour. The closing of the Gallery entailed much hardship on many women genuinely interested in politics, who were thus debarred from listening to debates.

Many were the devices adopted by obliging members to establish "cousinships" with their fair friends who wanted tickets for the Ladies' Gallery. The most ingenuous excuse offered in exculpation was that of Mr Dudley Ward, the good-looking young member for Southampton, who explained gravely that both his guests had promised to be sisters to him.

It was impossible to be with H. H. in the House without realizing how deeply he loved every stone