, 1880-04-11


man. without the loss Of blood or the ultl-
'NN'''o -'''' ~ o4''' MARrN BEEN.
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
Legislators at the Palnts Bourbon-Ar"
rangement of the E1ouse-11cthods OF
Proceed1ng-NTanners and Customs OF
French Lawmakers.
Lonlo1. Netrs.
The Englishman who has attended de-
bate in the House of Commons and after
ward goes to see how they manage Parlia-
mentary things at the Palais Bourbon is
struck at first by the much greater decorum
which French members Of Parliament ex-
hibit as compared with English ones. The
impression lasts SO long as the members
are filing into their places and until the
President takes his seat The members
all uncover their heads, and each goes
to his appointed seat, in front Of which he
has desk furnished with writing materials.
As soon as Deputy sits down he proceeds
to write letters, and only suspends this opera
tion for moment when loud roll Of drums
in the passage outside announces the Pfesl-
dents coming. A door is thrown open, and
this exalted officer walks in-not clothed in
wig and gown, but in evening dress, and
holding big portfolio under his arm. The
President is bareheaded. He has hat hid
den away somewhere under his desk, but
this is only q property" head-d1ess, in
tended to be used on stormy occasions when
sitting must be adjourned ex abrupto. The
donning Of his hat by the President is tanta-
mount to the removal Of the mace in England,
and signifies that the sitting has come to an
syq BY the s Prssidens Se fouching @ @ be that hangs
SR1a ssnee est ST sa STahsn Thefe are ne pre
nary prayers in England. While the Parlia-
ment sat at Versailles delegation from both
! mass at the commencement Of the season,
but this custom is not adhered to in Paris.
Most French members would laugh at the
notion Of getting their labors consecrated by
them, rs above said, from being very proper
in their behavior At the outset OF a Sitting
every member seems to be profoundly and
almost nlournfully impressed by the lmpo1-
There is no laughing or chattering aloud.
Some members form groups, and converse in
whispers; others pull opera-glasses ont Of
their desks and stare at the spectators in the
galleries; bnt the majority write hard, close
ENVELOPES, and beckon to the ushers to carry
their letters to the post
Placed high on platform covered with red
cloth, and ensconced in comfortable arm.
L.
every corner Of tie House. He has behind
him his private secretary and two Questors:
at desk below him the four Secretaries Of
the House; and Mt another lower desk on the
shape Of the House being that Of an amphi-
theatre, the seats Of the members are dis
posed in blocks and tiers. To the extreme
right sit the Legitimists, on the next benches
are arrayed the Qrleanists, while the blocks
Bonapartists. All the benches to the Presi-
dents left of the middle gangway are filled
with Republicans of different shades from
the Doctrinaircs Of the Centre to the Radicals
Of benches, however, all around the amphi-
theatre, are reserved to members OF the Gov
eminent, the Ministers sitting in the middle,
each with his red portfolio open in front Of
hin: Most Of the Ministers in the present sent
in the House; but this is quite an innora-
tion, for it used always to be the custom for
Ministers to sport evening clothes along with
their Orders, if they had any. Under the
from 1916 to 1880 it was the custom for mem
bers Of the Lower House to do so too. In
those days the ushers of the Parliament were
imposing creatures in ruffs, swords, and
wear silver chains round their necks, and act
as general servants to the members, carrying
letters, messages, ballot-boxes, and OCCASION
ally shouting, :. :. Silence, gentlemen!" when
Liz 1ItSlNEAto UE11 1ulE5 PtA1S VI lily
tress, like that Of ship in fog, to appease
the tumult Of hiscordant voices.
The quietude which an En9lishman so
much admires when first entering the Pa1ais
Bourbon soon gives way to rampageous
noise, once debate has begun. The mem
bers do not speak from their places, but
from {, rostrum, and this arrangement, by
putting even the most insignificant orator in
the position of an actor on the stage. exposed
to all eyes, furnishes incessant causes for in
terrupfion. Their party spirit runs so high
that from the moment when a speaker has
sounded his keynote he becomes butt for
the jibes of all his opponents. II he speak
fluentIy and well he excites roars of disap-
probation; il he falter be is treated to yolIeys
Of tlerlsive applause, and to running ac-
compartment of music formed by the bang
ing Of desk-lids. The President is almost
powerless to stop these riots, for when
all the members are excited no at
tention is paid to the ringing Of his
bell; and sometimes when aggressive per
sonalities have been exchanged. one nav
see dozens Of members descend on to fhe