The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-08-22

What do | mean by the "deer pen 2"
Nothing more or less than the Ladies' Gal
lery in the British House of Commons, which
is disgrace to tho nineteenth Gan,ury, yet
into Which II is more difficult to penetrate
than into Buckingham Palace. Admission
can only be obtained from members, who
ballot for seats seven days in advance. AS
there are 5G7 members the struggle for seats is
animated. Time was when wGMea had equal
rights with men in visiting the Commons.
As far back as 1875 my sex occupied the
Strangers Gallery-a privilege they enjoyed
until February, ITS, when a great debate
took place on the state of the nation. The
Duchess of Devonshire, Lady Norton, and
other grandes DANES not only occupied the seats
ordinarily assigned to them, but took posses
sion Of those under the front gallery. Ac-
GoFdng 10 "Grey's Debates" a Capt. John
stone, of the navy, angered that the House
should have been cleared of male strangers
among whom were friends he had introduced
insisted upon the withdrawal of all strangers.
A rule then existed which enabled any one
member to exclude visitors--an absurd rule,
which has only been recently modified. No
less than two hours were required to enforce
this order, and that two hours scpffewit the
weaker sex led to their Punishment from the
Colnmons From IT'S to 1884 women obtained
q glimpse of the House by looking through n
hole over the largest chandeler-a hole con
| structed to carry oil hot air and the smoke of
candles Before the present Houses of Par
| Lament were designed, when Legislation was
| carried on in temporary building, women
| were allowed to stand and peep through eye
| let holes bored in sort of box erected be-
hind the Strangers Gallery. Far better
is the sheep pen of to-day, hut it il a
pep: Originally it was divided into three
compartments of seven persons each. A
dozen years ago, however, the dividing walls
were removed. Since then other improve.
ments have been made, the last of which is
the elevation Of the ceiling and an attempt
at ventilation; bnt the gallery still remains
| small, dark, and well-nigh intolerable. Hung
high in the air, like bird cage, heavy iron
grating conceals its occupants from the view
| of the house, and, unless woman is fortu-
nate enough to obtain one Of eighteen front
| seats, sht sees nothing and hears with diff
| Guilty. Yet when, in 1875, Sergeant Sher-
| lock proposed to remove the prison bars he
was numerically snpbbed. Though many
windings, up innpmerable stairs, women
attain the door leading t0their pen. On my
| last yiait, one hour before the House assem-
| Lied it was lacked, and dozen women stood
before 1t ready TO make raid on the front
seats. AT last the imposing usher appeared,
unlocked tho door, and the scramble began,
but Wa were stopped in our mad career by
the inperturbable person in black, wh0 after
| comparing our names with those on his list
allowed us to proceed. BY firm but not riot
Gus display of muscle secured n front seat
This is beautiful, is il not p said an
elderly lady to her companipp "What
have you brought with youf" Sherry,
sandwiches, and some sal Volatile" VERY
sensible, my dear" added the elderly lady,