The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-09-06
HIGH PARLIAMENT.
TIE CONGRETI TED WISDOM OFYYIE
BRj1JSH K.NPIRE
a sketch OF the House Of Commons
its Manners and Customs.
FROM CNSScWS .Nvguzinc.

This in loud resonant voice, from
the door way leading into the lobby;
and honorable members who havo
been sitting, lolling and kncoling on
the seats, keeping up buzz of con-
versation, all rise and stand waiting.
as, i'll the patch of light seen through
tho doorway, pleasant looking,
rathor bald and very gray man, in
q court suit Of black, with brooches,
black silk stockings, black silk tie
attached to the collar Of his coat, as
he wears no queue, and thin rat
tailed court sword, appears, bearing
upon his shoulder the great crown
surmounted gilt mace, with which
ho marches up tho floor of the House,
closely followed by Mr.. Speaker, but
gradually giving way as that digni-
tary advances toward the chair,
bowing right and left, as if he had
never seen tho honorable members
before, though it is only about ten
minutes ago that he left Tho House
IN similar way preceded by the
sergeant -at-arms bearing the impor-
tnnt insignia aforesaid probably Il
successor Of the one dubbed by q
certain Oliver Cromwell, "that bau-
bic y
Mr.. Speaker is a bland, rather
slight, closely shavcn man, Of most
Gontlcmnnly department. lie wears
II pleasant smile upon his countc :
nance, and as he comes up tho floor
of the House in his long silk gown,
his calm dignity, and the respect in
which he is hold, make YOU
forget the absurtlity Of the LONG
flowing wig.
As Mr.. Speaker ascends to the
chair, which stands upon q crimson
dais mounted by three or four steps,
and seats himself beneath the carved
oak canopy, resembling an DID,
fashioned bcd-tcster, tho members,
and the bcwiggod and gowned clerk,
with his two assistants, at the table
in front of the Speakers chair, all
take their seats, and business is re-
Sumcd
For thcrc was IN Interruption.
At about quarter to four the
Speaker entered the House, and
seated himself in q chair ut the table
Members present were few in num-
ber-rrobably not fifty. Then the
chaplain entered, the doors woro
closed and locked, prayers were said,
and afterwards, there being
enough members present to
''malSo n House (that is to say,
forty), MIR. Speaker took the chair
his own, beneath tho canopy.
Rising soon after, he is in the pro-.
cess of reading some business upon
tho official pGpers in his hands,
probably relating to past matters in
connection with now branch rail
ways to which nobody seems to pay
any attention, when loud voice at
the lobby~ond of tho House-that
opposite to tho chair-suddenly
shouts:
"Black Rod!'
Doors arc flung wide, and directly
after, an oflicial--Yeoman Usher of
the Black Rod-comes into sight, in
his black court dress and sword,
bearing carefully before him, as if
he were rather afraid Of it, tho in~
sigma of his Office, which looks like
a thin black sceptre. He advances
q few steps up tho centre Of tho
floor, and bows low to the Speaker,
takes few moro steps and bows
again--a few more, another bow-a
few more, another bow-and so on,
till he reaches the foot Of the table,
which, with the mace lying across it
in q couple of brackets, and breast
work of Parliamentary tones, dis
patch boxes and papers, stops his
further progress.
Now amid profound silence, he
delivers the message of which ho is
the boaror--namoly, to command
tho presence Of tho Speaker in tho
Upper House to hoar tho Royal as
sent given by the commission to
certain bills which now become acts
Of Parliament, and law.
The Yeoman Usher is an adept at
navigation, for having delivered his
message, he, without altering his