Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-02-10
Ladies in the Rouse of Commons.

-=~~----@-
What do we mean by the "deer penG"
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 men,
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 1875 my sex occupied the
Strangers Gallery-A privilege they en-
great debate took place on the state of
the nation. The Duchess of Devon
shire, Lady Norton, and other yrurutes
DANES not only occupied the seats oIdi-
narlly assigned to them, but took posses
sion of those under the front gallery. Ac-
cording to 'FGrey's Debates" a Captain
Johnstone, of the navy, angered 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 eX-
listed 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 scutHe with the
weaker sex led TO their banishment from
the Commons.
From 177S to 1884 women obtained a
glimpse of the House by looking through a
hole over the largest chandelier "a hole
constructed to carry off hot air and the
smoke of candles 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 eyelet holes bored in a.
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 intolerable. Hung high in
the air, like a bird-cage, heavy iron graf
ing conceals its occupants from the view
Of the house, and, unless woman is for
tunate enough to obtain one of eighteen
front seats, she sees nothing and hears with
difficulty. Yet when, in 1875, Sergeant
Sherlock proposed to remove the prison
bars he was numerically snubbed ....
Through many windings, up innpmera-
BILE stairs, women attain the door leading
TO their pen. On a visit, one hour before
the House assembled, it was locked, and a
dozen women stood before it ready to make
a raid on the front seats. AT last the im-
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. "Ths is beautiful, is 1t
not 2" said an elderly lady to her cOmpan-
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
| had some sausages, because they are
staying. Women speak little in this pen,
the effect of the grating being depressing.
No men are allowed, M. P.'s excepted,
who drop in occasionlly to see their friends.
The only diversion is tea, or chop served
| i'm q retirinp- room