Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-29
SEEING PARLIAMENT.
GIimpses Orthc Houses Of Conn
mons and of Lords.

through a beautifully decorated gal.
lery-the "St. Stephens Hall"-iined
With marble statues Of former Minis
ters and rich in frescoes Of historical
Then more s~tairways, door
ways and turnings, until the visitors
begin to imagine that, without the
directions of the polite po-
Iicemen on duty, he will never find his
way out again.
The sessions are usually in the ove-
ming, When business is pressing they
at 4 in the afternoon aud last
until long after midnight. TheSpeaker
has his residence in the Parliament
buildings. There are also restaurants
at which the members may order re-
freshments and partake Of them in the
and refreshment rooms, or 10
summer upon the embankment at the
front, an imposing esplanade ex-
tending nearly a thousand feet along
the Thames. 1t is above London
bridge, and only the small river craft
navigate that far up stream, but the
from the esplanade is animated
,nl enticing, and judging by appear
.aees, the members Of Parliament en-
Joy it greatly. They alone are privi-
to lounge upon it.
THE COMMONS.
All this we have time to note while
waiting for admission. The galleries
are full, and until some Of the specta-
tors tire Of the prosy proceedings aud
quit the hall, there is no room for
more. Therefore, those waiting take
up their seats in order upon the bench
on the left of st. Stephens Hall and
wait for the word passed along from
the chamber hal so many places are
vacant. At last three more" from
the officer on duty, and we passed on
through the s~tairways, dOorways and
turnings above mentioned and finally
into the gallery of the House Of Com
mons. The room is % feet long, 40
feet wide and Al feet high, handsome
" fitted up with oak p~aLeling aud
stained glass windows, the light com
ing from above.
Looking down upon the floor, the
scat Of the Speaker is seen at the
further end. just in front Of him is a
table, upon which rests that potent
emblew of authority, the mace. Along
the middle Of the hall is a long table,
for the use of the Ministers, and at
either side rows Of benches, elevated
one above the other, so IS to give
those at the rear a view over the heads
of those in front 1t is well under.
stood that there are not near enough
seats for the entire membership; to be
exact, 47G seats are provided for Cos
members. On the other hand, the
occasions are very rare indeed Wher
all the seats are filled.
Hats are worn by the members dur,
ing the session. They go and come a
pleasure, and unless something Of i'm
portanee is transporting on the floor thu
greater number Of them will be founC
in the robing rooms, lobby or restau.
rant. No desks or other accommOda
lions beyond a seat are provided fol
the members. They have no files
bills or documents at hand. Th,
clerks and other officials are not visi
Bile from the strangers gallery; there
are no arrangements for them CORES
bonding to those for parliamentary
secretaries and clerks in the UniteC
States.
THE PEERS.
The House Of Lords is decorated il
the richest Gothic style and is NOR,
spacious than the Commons Their,
are seats for the 434 peers of the realm
who are members. They, too, ar,
provided with plain benches, uphol
stored in red leather.
At the north end, raised by three
steps and covered with a gilded canopy
is the magnificent throne olthe Queen
On the right is the lower throne o
the Prince Of Wales, and to the lef
a throne intended for the Prince Con
sort,
The woolsack Of the Leri Chaneel
lor stands in front Of the throne, al
most in the center Of the hall. 1t is
broad, square MISUNDERSTANDING quit
high-a sort Of rectangular mattres:
covered with scarlet cloth and hang
ings. His Lordship sits upon tn
"woolssck, and, when he desires +
withdraw, calls upon some peer t
preside during his absence. A Ger
tain noble Lord who served in thi
capacity ddring a part Of the eYenin
when the Duke Of Argyle made hi
celebrated speech upon the Iris.
Irish Land bill, lounged quite at hi
ease upon the woolsack.
COURTEOUS PROCEEDINGS.
The front bench upon n side wa
occupied by the ecclesiastical peer
and the members Of the Ministry o.
eupied the front bench in the cent?
opposite. The members speak frol
their places with as little fOrmality a
possible; listen complacently to th
approving calculations Of their friend
and disregard tho objurgations, Ii
"oh, ohsl" Of the opposition. F..
marked degree Of courtesy and defer
ence charactizes the proceedings, au
though often severe, the speakers al
never unparliamentary. 1t struck N,
however, that so far as methods ofeI
pediting parliamentary business
concerned the Americans have in
proved upon the processes Of the
British instructors. Legislative pre-
eeedings 10 the United States are,
should say. simpler and better regI
lated than in England, the form an
rules Of procedure better devised I
secure dispatch in the public bushes
But whether this enables America
Legislatures to be more thorough q
not, is another question. II would 9
least make a Senator or Represents
tive feel that he was body provide
for to scat him on a bench withou
writing conyenienees or the customaI
printed files and documents.
The galleries for ladies in the Houi
Of Peers has the front inclosed }
an ornamental iron grating. How I'll
ladies enjoy this sort Of oriental 81
c%lusion is not very well known, bl
probably til not entirely acceptable
Those in the gallery usually croWde
to the front, put their faces close
the the bars and gaze earnestly as pol