Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-08-16

hand slides in and sliding mp to dif1eren
members in the Hnusc, tells them what il
foot, and then glides out again. Pres
eutlv others are seen qnietlv leaving one
by one, without any apparent concert
Some member then goes to the back o
| the Speakers chair and counts the mem.
hers present There are just forty witt
Mr.. Spcakt There are too many fol
the count to he attempted AS others may
drop in. Another leaves, and then anoth-
cr. and so on, until there are only thirty
two or thirty three left. The mcinbe: be
hind the chair then COMES forward aud
calls Mr.. Speakers attention to the fact
that there are not forty members present.
The orator drops down in the midst o
| his harangue; the clerk Of the table turns
Il threeliiinute sand glass the uoor keeper
rings his bed and when the sand in The
glass is run out. Mr.. Speaker proceed,
to count the members. and then, if forty
he not present, he declares the House ad
journed.
The cry of the doorkeepcr who goes
home which he always shouts out when
the House rises, is said to mean. .Whe
goes home with the Speaker to protec,
him = aud has decendcd down from those
troublous times when it was not safe loi
Mr.. Speaker to go home alone,
There is another curious ceremony
which is occasionally seen at the House
and, as it once led to laughablc scene. il
is worthy of notice. When her Majesty
gives her assent to bills, either in person OF
hy commission, Mr.. Speaker is sum
noncd to the House Of Peers The sum
nIoping officer is the Usher Of the Black
Rod. who. in tul court-drcss, marches in
gfand state with the black rnd on his
shoulder, to the door OF the House of Co H.
mons. On his approach the door is lock ed
by the ergeant- -ArIns. and to gain ad
mittance the usher has to knock three
times. which he does with grave solemn
ty The doc, is thrown open the door.
keeper walks to the bar and shouts Black
Rod. and the usher. accompanied by the
sergeant with the mace on his shoulder,
marches up to the table Of til" House. both
hoWlng as they advance. At the table the
usher holds his rod upright, delivers his
Summons, and then. still accompanied by
the Sergeant Arms, backs ont of the
House, stopping ut every three nr foul
steps to bow. Having arrived at the dool
he turns :ouna and. followed by Mr.
Speaker. proceeds t. the House of Peers
There Mr.. Speaker hears the royal ASS, nj
given, and then, in due state, marches bach
To the House of Commons. When the
Black Rod leaves the House of Common,
the dourkecpcr calls out. Make way fol
Rlack Rod; and the on the approach o
the Speaker, Make way for Mr.. Speaker
On the night alluded To. when. Black
Rod arrived. Lord Palmcrston wa.
answering NJ. Disracli, and was speak
/ ing i'll Il more impa>sionate manner tha,
usual. The House was crowded in ever,
part. All was silent as the grave, except,
ing the noble lord, who had just SAID
Is this the party when. before tt,
sentence could be finished the doorkcepel
started forward and shnuted uut. ,Biaol
Rod. The noble lord dropped as if h,
had been Shot, and laug hter long and loud
now sinking and now rising again IN trcSl
peal rang through the House. At lirst tn,
noble lord seemed stunned, but he soo,
recovered and joined in the laughter Il.
he rtly as any one. and even Mr.. Speak
cr' could hardly draw down his risihlt
muscles to ii due tension, as the BLACK
Rod marched up the House.