[Music: Sir M. Hicks Beach]
[Music: Rᵗ. Hon. J. Morley]
Members who have marked inflection, yet do not bridge over a large interval, include Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Mr. John Morley, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Mr. John Redmond, Mr. T. W. Russell, Sir William Anson, Mr. Keir Hardie, Lord Hugh Cecil, Sir James Fergusson, Mr. Richard Bell, and a host of others. Sir M. Hicks Beach has a calm, deliberate, dignified manner; his voice is clear and distinct, and it flows in easy cadences without effort. Few can compel more easily the attention of their audience. Mr. Morley's delivery is of a different type, and is even more telling on the platform than in the House. When occasionally induced to depart from a restrained attitude--which suits him best and which proves him the possessor of an exceedingly mild, pleasant, and sympathetic voice--his production inclines to "throatiness" and the carrying quality is diminished. Only to this extent is his delivery unequal, but his tones are usually slow and musical. His average notes run about D and E.
[Music: Sir E. Grey]
[Music: Rᵗ. Hon. A. Chamberlain]
Sir Edward Grey, the most prominent young man on the Liberal side, has a style of his own. His quiet voice is even more youthful than himself, and is used without forcing or visible effort. One never hears him "tear a passion to tatters." He reserves most of his speeches for big debates, and these are usually masterpieces of form, well thought out, and arranged in simple, telling language. Many points of resemblance have been discovered between Mr. Austen Chamberlain and his father. The resemblance in mannerism is, perhaps, more pronounced than similarity in voice. There is a distant echo of the elder statesman when the younger speaks, but Mr. A. Chamberlain's tones are not so clear as those of his "right honourable friend." His natural production is not so good; the voice is deeper and the articulation is less distinct. The relationship compels comparison, but that does not prevent the recognition of Mr. Austen Chamberlain as a telling speaker and a powerful debater. His dominant note is seldom much away from somewhere between C and D.
[Music: J. Redmond]
[Music: J. W. Russell]
Mr. John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Nationalist party, has none of those vocal extravagances which frequently characterize some of his followers. He has usually a well-set-out argument to lay before the House, and his full voice and plain utterance hold the attention. Mr. T. W. Russell is so earnest on any theme he attacks that his prevailing mood may be said to be vehemence. This forcible manner accounts for a large measure of his success on the platform, for even an English audience likes to be roused now and again. He separates his syllables after the Scotch fashion, and has thus a very distinct pronunciation, gesticulates a good deal, and rejoices in a clear, ringing voice of an average pitch.
[Music: Sir Wᵐ. Anson]
[Music: J. Keir Hardie]
Sir William Anson is academical in his style, with a rather quiet manner, indulging in little variation of any sort, and delighting in a precise, neatly-rounded sentence. Mr. Keir Hardie is chiefly concerned in saying what he has got to say in an earnest, determined sort of manner. He has a good voice, which he never forces. One peculiarity, which characterizes other speakers also, is the habit of running on with half-a-dozen words, then dropping the voice both in pitch and intensity, pausing, and again proceeding in the same manner. Due regard may not be had either to the conclusion of a sentence or the moods that have their recognised rise or fall. A habit such as this may serve a purpose in arresting the attention, but it is apt to become tiresome. Mr. Hardie speaks usually on D, constantly dropping his pitch a tone or more.
[Music: Lord H. Cecil]
Lord Hugh Cecil has the voice of the family--clear and ringing. He indulges in occasional upward progressions, on what notes it is impossible to say. Like many more brilliant men he has a number of habits all his own, chief of which is a wringing of the hands while speaking. He commonly adheres to D and E. The Cecils and the Balfours have all voices more or less resembling each other. None is heavy. The quality is resonant and ringing, the articulation in each case being very distinct. The late Marquis of Salisbury had a much mellower voice than his son Lord Hugh, though in later years it weakened very much.
[Music: Wᵐ. Jones]
Some of the Welsh voices in the House come nearest the singing or sustained manner. We have a notable instance in the speaking of Mr. W. Jones. Mr. Lloyd-George and Mr. W. Abraham (Rhondda Valley) display a like characteristic. Mr. Jones speaks less frequently than the House would desire. His Celtic spirit and cultivated intellect find expression in a voice which can go direct to the hearts of his audience. Hear him speak for the Penrhyn miners or champion Welsh nationality and institutions, and you hear the true orator, the man who, with his own soul moved, can move and persuade others. His voice seems to sing in a soft musical cadence, the manner being at the same time earnest, impassioned, and intense. Every syllable reaches his hearers. He roams over many notes, constantly covering an octave, and giving true inflection to every mood, to the accompaniment of natural and eloquent gestures. The above diagram gives a notion of the modulation, his true pitch being perhaps a little higher.
[Music: D. Lloyd-George]
Mr. Lloyd-George, one of the most skilful debaters and word-fencers in the House--a man destined to have a high place in the State, who has the word of the Prime Minister that he has risen high among Parliamentarians--possesses a flexible voice of light, clear, and pleasant quality. He articulates perfectly, and never minces his words one way or another. The voice is admirably adapted to the _rôle_ he plays, for he has no need of one to suit a heavy style. When in a practical mood he gets along on D and E, but at other times he bridges a considerable interval. Mr. Abraham might well be expected to sing a number of notes, seeing that he takes a part in the Eisteddfod. Like his leader, he indulges in a good deal of gesture.
[Music: Rᵗ. Hon. A. J. Balfour]
A number of individual styles remain to be mentioned. When the Prime Minister speaks we are conscious of listening to a great personality. His voice fills the chamber, and yet it is not a big, robust organ. It has that undefinable something in its timbre which one listens for in a first-class baritone's singing. It has the carrying quality in a great degree, and needs but little exertion because of the perfect articulation to which it gives sound. Mr. Balfour seldom speaks rapidly, and when he pauses abruptly his hearers may expect to receive a smart epigram, an ingeniously-turned phrase, or a surprising application of an interruption. He is one of the keenest fencers in the House, delighting to make even a small point against his opponents, though it be at the expense of a great deal of elaboration. He is a skilful reasoner--a dialectician of the highest order. These qualities naturally infer variety in speech, and Mr. Balfour's elocution, in the modern sense of the word, responds to the various moods efficiently, and yet without much overstraining. The note on which he does most speaking is somewhere between D and E, but he frequently ranges the octave from G to G.
[Music: Rᵗ. Hon. G. Wyndham]
Mr. George Wyndham, whose name has been cursed and blessed by Irish Nationalists, has great gifts of eloquence and a powerful, clear voice, which he uses with great effect. His delivery seems to improve each Session. The progress of the Irish Land Bill through the House last Session showed him to be master of the most intricate details of his subject, and his lucid expositions gained the admiration of all who heard him. D is the note on which he most frequently speaks, and the diagram illustrates a passage from his speech on the second reading of the Land Bill.
[Music: Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman]
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman makes himself heard to some effect by means of clear utterance rather than strong tones. Notwithstanding an occasional huskiness he is a pleasant speaker, and the English he uses in debate is above reproach. He is usually heard on E.
[Music: Rᵗt. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain]
Mr. Chamberlain's triumph is his debating power. The substance of his speeches almost overshadows the manner of delivery. In the case of the Prime Minister the manner, in addition to the substance, engrosses a large share of attention. Mr. Chamberlain is direct, trenchant, unsparing, when the occasion offers. He will not trouble over peddling points for their own sake. He must have a big issue or nothing, and heavy, slashing blows please him best. He is a sure-footed fighter. The manner in which he sometimes springs to the table with a bound proves it, apart from his reputation. To all appearance nervousness is not in his nature. His normal voice is soft, almost inclined to approach a thick quality, yet so admirably does he enunciate, so pleasing a variety is given to its tones, and so perfect a restraint is exercised, that never a syllable is lost in any part of the House. Every mood finds due expression. From vehemence he can return to pleasantry by an easy step.