The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-09-09
In the House Of Commons.

Wayland Hoyt writes to the Boston
journal: There are two ways Of getting
into the House Of COmmons-through a
cara given you by some honorable mem.
per or through donation to some one of
the honorable policemen standing about.
1t is something worth knowing that half
crown will break away an enormous num-
Der Of British barriers. 1t need not matter
how got in; it is enough that entered.
Well, what do you see when at last the
doors of the strangers gallery open for
you? A room in the shape of PARALLEL
gram, with big table in the center, with
seats, or, better, with cushioned benches.
rising in long lines on either side, and
there, at one end Of the table, a pulpit
looking, canopied seat, in which Is Mr..
Speaker, almost lost in tremendous
black gown and under a perfectly over
Swallowing, gray horse-hair wig. On the
benches, in all sorts of positions, lying flat,
half-reclining, sitting upright, some with
hats on and others with heads uncovered,
are the honorable members. That is the
House of Commons. There, in the gallery
above, sit the reporters. Higher up and
back from these, and behind wire-rail.
ing, as though they were dangerous and
honorable members must be protected from
them, peek down some ladies from their
gallery. That doesn't look much like
female suffrage for England. Though !
think that England, of all countries, is the
most logically entitled to female suffrage.
Here Victoria is Queen, and not only that,
but at one and the same time is the head
of two churches-that of England
and of Scotland. If one woman
can be all that, why cannot any woman
vote! Well, I think she ought to vote
both in England and in America. And some
day she will. Opposite from these gal.
leries of the ladies and Of the reporters
are the strangers galleries-most uncom.
Portable places, in which you must break
your neck in straining to see, and where,
if you attempt to stand, memorable door
keepers compel you to sit down. On the
right hand of the great table from the
Speakers chair sit the Government, MIR
Disraeli and his Cabinet Directly oppo.
site are the opposition. The speaking in
the House of Commons is not so much
speaking as conversation. You very rare
ly hear anything like oratory. Nearly
every one drawls, and stammers and hest
tates in most painful manner. Few En-
glishmen can speak readily, and noticed
that it was by no means the readiest and
most nuent speakers VINO most command
ed the attention of the House. It was the
man who seemed to know the most about
the matter in hand to whom the House
most quietly listened, however poorly lie
might express himself. An unpopular
member has hard time in the House OF
Commons. DR.. Kenealy-the notorious
advocate for the notorious Tichborne
Claimants manifestly very unpopular
member. 1t is due to him to say that he
is the best speaker l heard. His voice is
clear and strong, his words are aptly
chosen, his manner quite commanding.
But when he rose to speak you should
have heard that House of Commons
Laughter, cries of "Oh!" groanings, and
an indescribable sound the reporters here
call "murmurs." These were kept up
throughout the entire speech. 1t was i'm
possible, except now and then, to hear a
word. But DR.. Kenealy kept at it undis-
mayed and the House kept at it.