The Osceola times., 1883-08-18
IN PARLIAMENT.
Now Two Americans Entered the Hall Of
the House.
w. A. Crofnit

Nno HnOuets
W. A. Croffut.
l delayed availing myself Of Minister
Lowel,'s offer Of an "order" to visit the
houses Of parliament, and last evening
the notion seized me TO 60, notwithstand.
Ing, and take my chances to get in. A
friend was in similar mood, and we
started of. My "guidc" says, Nobody
can be present at a debate in the com.
mons without an order from member
Of parliament" ] had met two Of the
members in New York, my friend knew
another, and had letter to still another;
but, on sending our cards in from the
lobby, we discovered that none of them
was present
NV friend said to the doorkeeper, in
his sweetest voice, laying his hand on
my shoulder:
"This is distinguished stranger from
America. He is one of the most celebra-
ted redacteurs."
Strengthened up and looked modestly
away.
Slime truly sorry can't let ye hup,
gentlemen. Hime very frenzy to 'Meri-
cans: But il wud be much ez my head
wuz wuth to let ye hup without order"
II can't get used to your blamed mon
ey," said my friend, taking out two
shilling piece; nov just tell me how
much that is in American money"
THAT" said the doorkccper, slyly tax
ing the coin and biting it; "his about
exile to your arf dollar
snow you give a couple Of ORDERS"
said my friend" for us two distinguished
Americans, and we will go in and sit
with Mr.. Gladstone while you figure on
this. I'll leave this coin with you till
come out"
The doorkeeper smiled, calmly lifted
up the gold-fringed flap Of his side pock-
ct, and fished out two printed orders,
saying:
Es luck would 'av II, 'erc's q couple
some honble member give me to give to
some friend Of ism wich was a-comins
In tonight as MT come.
We took the orders and passed in.
Among the vices we are compelled to
in order to get along with any degree of
comfort, l let my friend DO all the bribery
not so much on account of moral as
financial scruples. II costs something to
get through land which doesn't appar-
emily contain man with strength of
mind enough 10 refuse shilling.
Well, here we were, classified as
members friends" in gallery at one
end Of the house Of commons--a room
eeventy.flve feet long and forty-fve wide
l should think IL about one-thirtieth rs
large A. the house Of representatives at
Washington, though the commons con-
tains one-half more members. Just be-
low MS they sit-an hundred or so, mostly
with hats on, curled up in grotesque at
titudes on comfortable benches. At the
other end, facing us, sits the speaker in
. little sentry box in the middle aisle,
with what looks like bunch of pine
shavings on his head At his right
slopes upward the bank of Liberal gov
ernmenN benches to the wall and at his
leh tour right the corresponding bank
of Conservative benches In the middle
Of the front bench on the Conservative
aide ats the Conservative leader-Sir
Stafford Northcote, a tall man in Prince
Albert coat and gray "trousers," with
long, gray beard, and small ewes that are
concealed most Of the time by the stove
pipe hat pulled forward and resting ON
his enormous nose, rs he sticks out his
legs, thrusts his hands deep into his
pockets and listens. He listens to Mr..
Gladstone Immediately opposite. who
stands in front Of the lower Lbonl
bench, and says few words in favor of
the agricultural bill. He speaks in q
conversational tone, quietly, with cor
rect rethoric and small infection. Pres
entity he sits down. Ii is noticeable that
all the evening, the premier is about the
only man who does not put on his hat.
always excepting, of course. the man with
the sentry box. Extending from the
sentry box TO the centre of the hall are
the desk Of the "clsrks" three clerks, o,
American congress ., ands tables con.
taining q hundred or 50 of books and
AASAt W ttACcS-s III AtNllt Ol Aklt r., l.
elevated the great mace of the sergeant
alarms, 1t is gilt club about the shape
Of . conventional picture of Gains, six
feet long and foot through at the butt,
and If IL is OF metal il weighs at leas, a
ton. MIR. Gladstone does not try TO swing
Il taround his gray head, but he bows un-
der the shadow of il, and writes in q
memorandum book in his lap-probahly
u. al \
sticks earnestly, while the gabhle goes
on. He is thin and feeble-looking. but
his clearly cut face shines with intelli-
gence, and he glances up every now and
then to catch some heeiing scrap Of the
debate.
The members OF the English parlia-
mcnt are notoriously the worts takers in
the worln. Daniel o'Connell mus; have
had fine background ofdullness agains,
which to show off his fiorid hrilliancv.
The members all talk in conversational
tone; they hesitate in speech they hem
and haw; they 60 hack 10 pick up the
dropped stitches in their vocal Knitting
work; they say Il am--ur-troolv sorry
--ur-not toto be able 10 agree -ur-
with the honorable gentleman ur--he-
low the gangway-ur"-but let us re-
member that 10 "ur" Is human,
The house Of commons-like the hail
Of peers at the other end of Westminster
palace-is small, cramped. messre and
the commanders, like the Lords. talk bad
ly; but, after all, one cannot but have rr-
spect for this British parliament. IL Lex.
islatee for the whole of the great realm,
and |, woaks cheap. II keeps firm grip
on the empire, but its annual expenses
- r-~-~ l.. al l..