CHAPTER XI.
A MAN WITH A FUTURE Mr.Dalmaine first turned his attention to politics at the time when the question of popular education was to the front in British politics.
It was an excellent opportunity for would-be legislators conscious of rhetorical gifts and only waiting for some safe, simple subject whereon to exercise them.

Both safe and simple was the topic which all and sundry were then called upon to discuss; it was impossible not to have views on education (have we not all been educated ?), and delightfully easy to support them by prophecy.

Never had the vaticinating style of oratory a greater vogue.

Never was a richer occasion for the utterance of wisdom such as recommends itself to the British public.
Mr.Dalmaine understood the tastes and habits of that public as well as most men of his standing.

After one abortive attempt to enter Parliament, he gained his seat for Vauxhall at the election of 1874, and from the day of his success he steadily applied himself to the political profession.