One hundred years ago
YESTERDAY week, Dr Tanner in- sulted Mr Long in the lobby of the House of Commons. This is Mr Long's own account of the affair: — 'I had no intention whatever of offering the hon. Member any offence, or of wounding his feelings, or of saying anything that would in any way hurt him. I said: "Did not something go wrong with you in the division, Dr Tanner; what was it?" His answer was: "You are one of the Tories, ain't you?" My reply was: "Yes, certainly." To that he replied: "Then, I wish to God you would not speak to me. I have told you d—d Tories before not to speak to me. You have your own d—d lot, talk to them." To that I replied: "I beg your pardon, I was not aware that you did not wish to be spoken to;" to which he replied: "Well, I wish you would keep your d—d tongue in your lips and not make a d—d fool of yourself." He then retre- ated to the centre of the lobby, where he shouted: "That's a d—d snub for you." ' The Spectator, 23 July 1887
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