"The force of his personality is illustrated by the story -- true or false -- of his encounter with a drunken man at a meeting. This man, it appears, was of the opposite political party, and interrupted frequently. At last Mr. Gladstone fixed him with his eye, and spake these words: `May I request the gentleman who has, not once but repeatedly, interrupted my observations by his interjections, to extend to me that large measure of courtesy which, were I in his place and he in mine, I should most unhesitatingly extend to him.' It is said -- and I can well believe it -- that the man was sobered by the shock, and remained silent the rest of the evening." -- Bertrand Russell

That speech deserves to be memorized carefully, and the word "gentleman" needs to be pronounced with just the right degree of emphasis.

--- Joe Fineman    joe_f@verizon.net

||: The world goes its way past all who will not partake of its folly. :||