The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-12
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
Difficulty of Securing Entrance, and What Is
To BE Seen After You Get In.

Difficulty of Securing Entrance, and What Is
To BE Seen After You Get In.
c. f. K, in Louisville Times
The Imperial Parliament" is part and parcel
of London, and you might well take it in, pro
vided you can get in, which is not always an
easy matter, the privileges few and the
seekers many. Fortunately, 1 had a letter of
introduction to the Hon. John OConnor Power
which not only secured me most eligible seat
but most satisfactory supper as we'll, thanks to
DR. Dudley Reynolds, I wanted exceedingly to
hear Mr.. Gladstone speak, and L was gratifed
For about twenty minutes heard him in one of
his happiest and most characteristic veins. A
dudish young fellow of some parts, at
tackled the old man, horse, foot and
dragons. 1t reminded me of the fee and
bulldog, the mosquito on the bulls horn
and all that, and still the old lion was
''rlled" enough to come back at the young sprig
who sat down with the air of hen that had
laid an egg The Premier arose. and, after
scratching away the rubbish the young person
had piled up Re raised his mighty paw and laid
the young lord away to rest. Mr.. Gladstone
has most remarkable, earnest fUrcible and
graphic style of speaking 1t is altogether cour-
ageous and convincing His vigorous manner
and three years and fifteen always tell
bis straightforward style and unaffected pro
nunclatlon are in charming contrast to the
''put-on' stuff of many of his noble" adver-
saries. He has a very striking face and an
active, stawart frame for of his years, and
no one in all the Imperial Parliament can hold a
candle to him. cared more to see and hear him
than all the rest besides.
A streak of good luck carried me into the
House of Lords twice l stood in with one of
its chief officers, who not only placed me in good
position to near the most distinguished speakers,
but showed me with the most courteous interest
all the apartments and inside workings of the
House of Peers. There is a very small space al
otted to visitors, and all the seats in this
signed TO ladies. If you are a you stand.
don't care who you are. That is deemed a
privilege divine enough for amy outsider, There
are not accommodations for over thirty or forty
spectators in the House OF Lords, | should say
and that for standing room only" About half
as many ladies can Oe made comfortable in seats
back Of the bar. The galleries are reserved for |
the families of the lords. l heard in the House
of Lords Salisbury, the leader of the Conserva
tives, Lord Northbrook. Lord Leitrim, Lord !
Waterford. the Duke of Argyll, the great Gran |
vile and others speak. The members Of both |
houses sit with their hats on if they like, and
most Of them seem to enjoy this great preroga
tive The House of Commons is q very Demo |
craticlooking place, with its boisterousness and
hats on. Both houses are peculiarly arranged. |
In the Commons there is wide central aisle, at
one end of which sits the Speaker in his robe |
and queue In front Of him sit the three clerks |
or clarks. as they are called here. There is a
which are laid consultation books reference
papers, the royal mace, and all that. The |
members sit in straight rows on benches that !
rise one after the other to the sides of the ROOM
These benches are cushioned and backed in |
olive green leather. There is no partition what
ever between the members, who sit side by side |
each one having his space labeled at his back
The Conservatives sit on one side the aisle, and
the Liberals, Administrative adherents on
:-o etl.sr. The noisy Radicals. pe%n-lljtN~
are of in a corner to themselves, but they make
matters lively, all the same. A member takes
off his hat strange to say. when he addresses
the Speaker, but eagerly resumes it upon sitting
down. Some of them are very affected in their
speech and style, and in country they would
be set down dudes of the first water. When
addressing title member as my noble Lord,
it often me hubble Lud.r The younger sons
of the Peers aspire to seats in the House of Com
mons, to which they are eligible, and they
are always addressed as my Lord or
my noble Lord" They do not
applaud with their feet and hands, but back up
the speaker who is addressing the House with
hear hear or hoots of disapproval. Then they
have that sarcastic, sneering English oh"
with an in Interrogation mark after it, which they
hurl at eaen other with great effect"
In the House of Peers it is somewhat stateer
and pompous. The seats are upholstered in fine
red morocco and the style and dignity all round
is rather imposing. The ushers door-keepers
and attendants in both houses dress in pigeon
tail coats and the sergeant alarms appear in |
ee-breeches and side swords. The bishops sit
in the upper house in their robes and wigs
Their seats are on the wool sack which means a |
broad cushioned seat in the aisle near the Speak
ers chair The peers address one another as
"me Lords" me noble Lords" or ''my noble |
Duke" Earl" etc. Many of them are ordinary
looking men, and most of them dress in such
plain style that you see that it is for the
occasion.