The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-09-06

ana DoWS--tnd so on and on till he
backs and bows himself along
he floor and through tho
doorway; SO great is tho respect
paid to the Speaker, to whom and
to whose dictum every man in that
House morally and physically bows.
AS the Ycoman Usher of tho
Black Rod disappears, tho sergeant
alarms comes up to the table,
shoulders the mace-a huge sceptre
about five feet long-tho Speaker
and tho members rise, and preceded
by the maco-bcarcr, tho right hon.
omble gentleman departs, bowing,
to return rs has been described, and
then announce in loud voice the
bills to which tho Royal assent has
been given.
The seats right and loft of tho
Speaker are separated in tho centre
OF tho House by q gang>way so
that, literally, the members part
may be said to bo divided into four;
the seats on his right arc ,ppropria,
tod by the party in power those on
the left by the Opposition, each
party being again divided by tho
gangway-thosc who favor and sup
port Ministerial or OK Cabinet action
sitting at the end of the House noar-
est tho Speaker while those mcm-
bcrs, Conservative or Liberal, who
prefer freedom of speech and action,
take their places right and left be-
low the gangway
IT is worthy Of note that each
member appropriatos scat to HIM,
sells and by courtesy keeps to it
during the time lie is in Parliament;
though this is not hard and fast
rule, and on the nights of great
debates the House is crowded so
that members often sit On the steps
OF the gangways, and even stand in
a crowd below tho bar.
The bar is line drawn from the
ond of the soats across the House,
and, technically, when q member is
below this line he is rot in tho
House, and cannot address the
Speaker. 1t is below this line that
members stand about within it
they must at once bow to the Speak
CT, walk UP tho floor, take their
seats, which they mostly supplement-
by putting on their hats and no
man is allowed to stand save when
he uncovers and rises to address
tho Speaker, 1t is also bolow this
bar that tho sergcant-at-arms and
his deputy sit, and beyond it no
messenger may pass. When one
brings in letter or card for an
honorable member, he can como
within tho doors of the House, after
which he has to wait for tho good
Offices of some member who will
carry it within the sacred precincts
to it's destination.
On the night when we are present
a pretty good debate is expected,
and the seats fill up rather quickly.
1t is interesting to notice whore the
various membcrs sit.
Beginning Oh tho right, tho first
bench is appropriated to tho Minis
ters, and behind them sit thoir i'm
mediate supporters. On tho front
bench will be seen Sir Stafford
Northcoto, quiot, fair-beardod,
grayish man Mr.. Secretary Gross,
who wears light clothes and
broadish- brimmod hat; the tower
ing, stalwart form Of Mr.. Ward
Hunt; pleasantsfaced Mr.. Hardy;
youthful-looking Lord George
Hamilton and, ut the extreme end,
Lord Darlington, in light gray
morning coat and bofiowered button
hole. Behind will probably be
seated MIR. Henley, the father of the
House a venerable member, listen
cd to with tho greatest respect !;
Mr. Spencer Walpole, now growing
old and feeblo of speech, but a
tower still on University matters !;
Lord John Hay, Mr.. Chaplin, Mr..
Wheelhouse, and others.
On tho loft, tho front bench will
show Mr.. Gladstone, sitting close to
tho great potition-bag the hand
somo gray head Of Mr.. Bright |,
Lord Hartington's tall angular
figure; and, beyond him, Mr..
Foster, looking as unhempt as Mr..
Stansfold looks smooth md brush
ed, with q careful parting from the
centre Of his fo"ohead to tho napo
of his mock, as rigid in it's accurate
division Of his head into two parts
as tho floor of the House from tho
Speakers chair to the lobby door.