The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-05
The French Assembly.

MUCH has been written by the Paris
correspondents of the English press about
the French Assembly in a tone Of dispar.
agement. Tie English standard of Par
liamentary perfection is dull decorum: :
and because in England there are no real
parties, both being equally conservative
so soon as they reach the Treasury Bench,
it is almost impossible to have any Of
those equinoctial storms which Come
when opposing principles are of nearly
equal strength. Really when we consider
what it means to overthrow an empire
and establish republic on its ruins, in
volving change in the administrative
machinery throughout the country, it is
wonderful that so few wild scenes have
occurred in the Assembly, For the rest
there are few public bodies which t, fof
one, have found SO attractive as the
French Assembly: In the first place they
are better environed than any Legislature
which have seen. Those grand rooms at
the palace at Versailles supply ample
conveniences for libraries, reading rooms,
writing-rOOms, committee rooms and din
ing-rooms for the members, and still
spare splendors enough for the general
tourist to inspect. All these minor rooms
are in exceedingly good taste. On their
soft carpets one may move so nOisclessly
that the Deputy who reads or writes may
not Know that any one has passed through
the rooms. The light is full and pleasant,
and the old gallery pictures still adorn the
walls. The Assembly contains 500 mem
bers, and the room in which they gather
for legislation is model of elegance and
convenience. 1t is larger by nearly a
third than the house in which England
packs her 666 Commoners, who, when
any important question is on hand, are
like upright sardines in box. On the
other hand, it is,not so large as the House
of Representatives at Washington, and
the arrangements for visitors are by no
means so spacious or comfortable In
this last aspect our Washington Capitol
is unique. But in beauty Of decoration
the room at Versailles is unequaled.
The general shape is thatof fine opera
house, the aisles radiating from the trib-
une, just in front Of the presiding officer,
from which every speaker addresses the
Assembly. The chairs are cushioned with
red, the walls are of neutral tint, the
light falls from a large sky-light, toned
and all the woodwork is of a rich dark
oak tint. The general effect is exceeding
ly pleasant to the eye, and every member
is seen with distinctness, with a good
background, and every word uttered can
be heard plainly. The Government mem
bers occupy the front benches, immediate
ly in front OF the presiding officer, NJ.
Grevy, who is fine looking old gentle
man, and fills his place with dignity, and
even grace. On the benches in front of
him one of the busiest men was M
Dufaure, whom saw sitting there for the
last time. He is man of medium size,
with bushy white hair and a rather
reddish face. He sat with the men of the
Center, and group was always surround
ing him from the Right and Left Center
One effect of disorder is caused by the
fact that newspapers are permitted to the
members, as they are not in the English
House of Commons. When bore is on
his legs in the English House the wearicd
member has no recourse but to sleep-that
being allowed if the member will only
pull his hat down over his eyes. In the
French Assembly, when an ordinary mem
Der rises, all the parties that don't like
him open their newspapers with tremen-
dous rattle, and appear to read; they
really listen, and when the orator says
anything Objectionable to them, they
stuff down their papers and spring
to their feet and cry out at him ali
at once. Whenever minister speaks
all are attentive. I also observed that
when Gambetta addressed the Assembly it
was hushed into perfect stiffness, and
every member listened to what was said.
Gambetta is very Jewish in type He has
a strong aquiline nose, a heavy brow, a
swarthy complexion, and straight black
hair. He is considerably under the aver
age height and thick-set almost to portli-
ness. He has a good, flexible voice, and
is very simple and direct in speech. His
only gesture was to raise his large hands
occasionally about three inches above the
desk of the tribune and then bring them
down again. In dress he is rather sloven-
ly, being entirely without the usual jaunty
air of the Partisan. When he had finished
speaking he took a seat on the front bench
of the row set apart for the Imperialists,
who scowled at him as an invader-Paris
Cor. Cincinnati Commercial.