The Dewy Morn by Richard Jefferies

At length Cornleigh Cornleigh rose and said:

"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen -- Upon this very important occasion, I -- I -- hum -- ha [‘think,' whispered the family solicitor behind him] -- I think -- the -- ah -- the [‘sympathies,' whisper] sympathies of all right-minded persons, to whichever party they [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ‘Hoo, hoo! ' will do for groans -- modern meetings do not groan, they ‘hoo, hoo! '] There is no doubt that in the future of this great country [hear, hear! ] -- textile fabrics very important -- commercial interest -- depend on knowledge of colour -- education of the eye -- practical value -- I -- I think -- hum -- ha -- ha -- that is [‘competition,' whisper] -- enable us to compete successfully with foreign artists, traders -- manufacturers -- they should be able to choose the right form, the right hue, and the right place. [Hear, hear! ] Connection between agriculture and commerce now -- now [‘admitted,' whisper] -- admitted, and the depression of farming [hear, hear! ] seen to be injurious, and to -- to [‘react,' whisper] -- react upon trade as in this town no doubt [hear, hear! from the tradesmen] -- most sincerely hope the worst time past -- the spending classes restricted -- money -- circulation, disastrous -- disastrous to working men. [Hoo, hoo, hoo! ] The object of this Society is to elevate the artistic ideas of the agricultural labourer [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] -- contemplation of art -- require surroundings -- support art manufacture. But incomparably the -- the -- the -- hum -- ha [‘highest influence,' whisper] -- the highest effect -- influence -- art is on the moral and social well-being of the community, and I, for one, Mr. Chairman, shall be delighted to forward the movement to the utmost of my power. [Hear, hear! ] This is not a political meeting [hoo, hoo, hoo! ], else I might be tempted to address you. In anticipation of the course of Parliamentary discussion -- not a good plan -- stupid to -- I mean awkward -- before subject well-threshed out. Still [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] -- still [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] -- still [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo, hoo! ] But [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] -- may be permitted, as appealing to the grand sympathies of Englishmen -- Englishmen -- to allude in the briefest possible manner to innovation -- I -- hum -- ha -- ha -- I -- the [‘From earliest times,' whisper] -- From earliest times the grand boast of the Englishman has been freedom -- freedom to express, and say what he likes, voting -- open air -- light of day [hear, hear! ] -- no sneaking behind anonymous [hear, hear! ] -- go to the poll like men -- honest men [hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] -- there can be no doubt -- I believe the Ballot Act to be demoralizing in its action on the people who have hitherto been accustomed -- accustomed -- I -- ah -- hum -- [‘atmosphere,' whisper] -- atmosphere of freedom! [Hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo! ] The time is coming when that measure, so obnoxious and so -- I -- I -- [‘injurious,' whisper] -- in its action -- must be -- repealed. [Hoo, hoo! -- hear, hear! -- hoo, hoo -- a rush towards the platform with difficulty repelled.] I -- I -- anxious to calm -- I am sincerely desirous [hoo, hoo! ] ever to promote the -- the -- ah -- beneficial -- and as I enjoy remarkable good health the late hours of the House of Commons not so -- ah -- ah -- I -- able to attend to my duties, and to vote [hoo, hoo! ] -- your interests -- acknowledging your very kind reception, I -- I -- ah -- " the speaker sat down in the midst of a perfect howl of hear, hear! and hoo, hoo!