The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-08
Ladies In the House OF Commons.

What do we mean by the "dccr pcn2"
Nothing more nor less than the Ladies'
Gallery in the British House of Commons,
which is disgrace to the nineteenth cen
tury, yet into which it is more difficult to
penetrate than into Buckingham Palace
Admission can only be Obtained from mcnl-
bers, who ballot for seats seven days in
advance. AS there are 567 members the
struggle for seats is animated. Time
was when women had equal rights with
men in visiting the Commons. AS far
back as 1876 my sex occupied the
Strangers Gallcry-A privilege they en-
joyed until February, 1878, when a
great debate took place on the state of
the nation. The Duchess of Devon
shire, Lady Norton, and other graaades
da9,aeS not only occupied the seats oIdi-
narily assigned to them, but took posses
sion Of those under the front gallery Ac-
cording to. ."Grcy's Debatcs," Captain
Johnstonc, of the navy, angcrcd that the
House should have been cleared of male
strangers, among whom were friends he
had introduced, insisted upon the with
drawal of all strangers. A rule then cx-
lstcd which enabled any one member to
exclude visitors-an abused rule, which
has been recently modified. No less than
two hours were required to enforce this
order, and that two hours scufllc with the
weaker sex led to their banishment from
the Commons
From ITS to 1884 woHcn obtained n
glimpse of the House by looking through q
hole over the largest chandelier "A hole
constructed to carry off hot air and the
smoke of candlcsl Before the present
Houses of Parliament were designed, when
Legislation was carried ON in a temporary
building, women were allowed to stand
and peep through cyclct holes bored in
sort OF box erected behind the Strangers
Gallery. Far better is the sheep. pen of
to-day, but 1t is pen, Originally it was
divided into three compartments Of seven
persons each. A dozen years ago, how
ever, the dividing walls were removed.
Since then other improvements have been
made the last of which IS the elevation of
the ceiling and an attempt at ventilation
but the gallery still remains small, dark
and well-nigh intolerablc. Hung high in
the air, like bird'cagc, heavy iron graf
ing conccals its occupants from the view
of the house, and, unless woman is for
tunatc enough to obtain one Of eighteen
front seats, she sees nothing and hears with
difficulty. Yet when, in 1876, Sergeant
Sherlock proposed to remove the prison
bars he was numerically snubbcd.
Through many wndings, up innumcra-
bic stairs, women attain the door leading
to their pen. On visit, one hour before
the House assembled, it was locked, and a
dozen women stood before it ready to make
raid on the front seats. At last the i'm
posing usher appeared, unlocked the door,
and the scramble began, but we were stop
ped in our mad career by the imperturba-
bic person in black, who after comparing
our names with those on his list, allowed
us to proceed. "This is beautiful, is it
not2" said an elderly lady to her col.pan-
ion. "What have You brought with your"
'Sherry, sandwiches and some sal vola-
tile" Every sensible, my dear" added the
elderly lady. "Just before leaving home
| hao some sausagcs, because they are
staying, Women speak little in this pcn
the effect of the grating being depressing.
No men are allowed, M. P.'s excepted,
who drop in occasionlly to sec their friends.
The only diversion is tea, or Il chop served
in rctiring-room