New-York tribune., 1872-02-22
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE PRoCEEDING-How A QUEENS SPEECH
is READ AND WHO READS 1T.
IVRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRIBUNRI
LONDON, Feb. 8.-When the historical young
gentleman was bullied into learning the alphabet he
expressed very great doubt to whether worth
while going through much 10 arrive at so little. For
alphabet" read "opening the British Parliament
and you will know the state OF my feelings Like Emer
sons Brahma, " am the dOubter and the doubt" But
the inqulring American mind must wreak itself upon
novelty, and though novelty be unpaatabe dose
OF medicine the undegenerate Republican whose bright
home is In the settn' sun" will not shrink from the
RESPONSIBILITIES OF his birth. Therefore said to myself
a. will assist at the opening OF Parliament" Do you
think IL "a easily done as saidi
Americans who visit Washington taking possession OF
the Capitol as though they owned it, and expressing
great disgust IL the galleries not large enough 10 seat
every free and independent voter-AmereaDs repeat,
little appreciate the OF strategy diplomacy or
grand and lofty influences required to obtain passports
Houses of Parliament II, unfortunately you nap
pen TO be an ordinary Englishman with no ancestors
worth speaking Of your hopeless unless You know
an NJ p who wants your VOTE and is therefore desrous
OF being civil. And even then the NJ T. is required to
give weeks notice, at least, II the adinis-
sion be for the Ladies' Gallery In the House
Of Commons-so that really the free-born Briton Is
beggar in the house which depends upon him for exist
ence. II you a king or queen In your own riSht-Oy
which, of course, Imean Americanyour chances are
better than that OF the best OF BrtOns. Lords and
Commons reader to obge. and the American Lega'
ton cxerts itself with effect upon the mighty poten
tate by whose sovereign pleasure select few arc per-
mtted to be tolerated within the holy Of hOlies YET
when only three tickets doed out to legation it
required the strategy OF veteran to capture one OF
them.
The Queen does not Parliament therefore every
body allowed to in morning dress As drive up to
the Peers entrance in a cab, do not expect to be
regarded with any other feeling than that OF
cont mi nuf.
in stage whisper, 81 shouldn't wonder II
she was a Peeress," I feel that Republicans may
attain their true stature, even upon emerging from that
most ignoble of vehicles four-wheeed London cab
Then porter in unlimited scarlet and gold lace tears
off portion Of my ticket and asks me TO turn to my
right. Another gded gentleman opens door and bids
! me pursue my winding way. Treadng soft carpets,
through q long passage-way. mount steps Another
imposing scarlet and god-laced gentleman directs
me to the left-mOre passage-ways, more gold lace,
stairs, until begin to feel like corkserew, and
wonder whether shall ever be aDle to straighten my
self Az the top of the steepest stairs requested TO
halt and an takes the remains Of my ticket AS he
does so an Official says 10 him. in another stage Whisper
| al say, where's the sherryp think "Wen, II am
cOrk-screw, might volunteer my services In opening
fresh bottle" but second thoughts recall Sir Wiifred
Lawson and his Permlssve BILL and determine to turn
evidence. the honorable baronet takes THE TRIBUNE
and reads 1t as carefully as every NJ r. should no VIII
learn the House OF Lords has IN common with
other houses OF entertainment for man ana BEAST ls
| bottle and jug department"
At last reach the goal of my desires. am seated In
the Strangers OF North Gallery Opposite far below on
the oor throne Adjoining the Strangers Gallery,
but on lower tier, is the Reporters Gallery East ano
west o gallery with one row of seats gen.
orally for Peeresses but this occasion de-
voted 70 the Diplomatic Corps, who conspicuous by
their absence the United States aud two young Indians
| excepted. In parallel rows east and west, are the
red benches Of tho Lords, partially
filed on tho Conservative side by somberly'
dressed women who supposed to be Peer
esses, but who for the most part are friends ad
mitted to the floor by courtesy No woman Peeress ol
otherwise will to be present at than one open
ing OF Parliament unless the Queen and gorgeous array
are order of the day The best dressed and most
stylish looking the floor is an American The
only portion of the hall that is filed is the Strangers
Gallery. Every around me is English and tho silence
and decorum oppressive. Ny eyes 20 In search OF
| the two other Americans to whom tickets have
| been given. There they I know them at
| glance. A man and woman-actually laughing
! and talking, actually interested in everything
so bent upon knowing who's who that an amiable En-
gshman in front OF them undertakes the part OF cce-
| rome. Ia the distance looms fourth American. How
did he gain admission OF course he is journalist; OF
course man stops him in the street, tells him he has
ticket for SALE the American buys for two shings and
sixpence and without having made the slightest effort
he finds himself OF the situation. Americans are
| aght on their feet
| The North Gallery does not accommodate more than
100 people. and is not fair upon An elderly lady
whispers her neighbor that third lady who is very
cOrpuent and very red in the face resembles the Queen
Then the cOrpulen redaced lady Is stared at Then
IN Indian appears swahcd in exquisite silks that long
70 cut up into jackets and Dolly Vardens. Ho wears
white kid gloves aud great diamond ring outside, and
his head done up in what distance looks Ike crash
toweing but it isn't This nabob sits erect. moves not
muscle, nurses a great and seems TO be even
| less in harmony with the 10Th century than the
House OF Lords ITSELF Having calculated the nnn'
| Der Of yards of silk in his attire, I turn 10
the fine stained G.ass windows,' through which dim
light peers into the house, though rather afraid OF
entering without spermisson from the Lord Chamber
LAIN Ii Is n stately hail. but in way adequate to the
requirements Of either legislators public. 1t will serve
as a commit for the cOmiI srepublic. These
stained widows represent the Kings and Queens of
England but Henry vII my nearest neighbOr is shorn
hs fair proportions, being represented with but two
wives Katherine of Ar-agon aud Ann Boeyn. Whether
there not glass enoug to 80 round or whether t
was thought necessary TO dra the line somewhere is
profound question which my nner is In
| capable Of answering.
While am contemplating this much-married King,
Gen. Schcnck Wm NJ. L, arts George H. Boxer our new
Minister at Cons, lntiBOpe, AMI Gen. Woodruff, enter
| the diplomatic gallery. -Four moro strongly marked
types OF America it would be difficult to bring together.
Wry thin acute inclsive, NewEngand, with features
sharp the intellect; the shrewd, robust common
and hearty good nature OF the Vest and the tall
figure and weroundcd features o. Penn-ylyanias elect.
Then Mr.. singsby Bethel the reading clerk, IN white
| wig black gown, and muddy boots, appears
| upon the floor. few Peers shake hands with
few ladies' nobody inclined to occupy the empty
Sir Augustus Clifford, the usher the