The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-27

v AAA AEA|n Nv
after the last war with Germany when
the French Parliament sat at Versailles,
the Palals Bourbon has been The scene
Of all hat is great IN the forensic ora
tory OF this country. Tue famous states
men of the restoration and July mou-
srchy-Beniamin Constant, Manuel,
Royer-C ollard, CasimIr PerIer, Guizot and
Berger; Lamartine oi the rev3luion Of
ls45; Timers, equally celebrated under
four governments, monarchy, radical re-
public, empire and conservative republic,
and Gambetts, of the present regime, have
ali been heard IN the hall IN which 1
was sitting yesterday. This hal is semi
circular, and the glass ceiling, which adj
mlts the light, is supported by "a columns
of single blocks OF white marble, with
capitals OF gilt bronze. Between these
columns are placed the galleries, con
trscted, stuffy little boxes, incapable OF
holding one-tenth OF the people eager to
get in them even on ordinary days. The
gallery OF the foreign press 10 on the top
tier, and IS so high up that 1t is difficult
to hear the speaker IN the tribune. Aud
what is worse, II contains Just eight
seats, q number utterly inadequate for the
accommodation of the army Of cores
pondents from all parts OF the world coo-
gregated in Paris. The presidents chair
for the speaker Of the Chamber OF Dep
uties IS called the presidents situated in
the centre of the axis Of the semi circle.
1t is approached on either side by two
flights of narrow steps. The chair aud
desk are OF rosewood, and are heavily
ornamented with brass.
Behind and above the president, on the
wall, was once seen a grand painting rep
~resenting LOUIS Philippe swearing allegi-
ance TO the constitution. But o-day 1t ia
hidden by a tapestry, a copy OF Raphael
"Sehool of Athens" Under this is u bas-
relief where France Is seen distributing
awards to the arts and industries, saG
higher up, to the right and left Of ltaph-
ael's masterpiece, stand in inches the life
size female figures, Liberty and Public
Order. Below, and on either side OF the
presidents desk, sat the four deputy sec
Ietaries of the chamber. Their chief duty
is to count the cards when a vote IS taken.
for the ordinary way of voting in a French
legislative body is by deposlting ii blue or
white card bearing the deputy's name, ia
a sort OF tin u.n borne about the hall by
the pages. Still lower down, right under
the presidents gaze, is the tribune whence
The deputies address their colleagues, for d
member may not speak from his seat. On
either side of the tribune, at standing
desks, are the official shorthand reporters.
In front of the tribune, below it % the
floor, sit a row of secretaries, non-deputies
this time, who supervise the reports of the
proceedings.
Thus high up against the wall you have
the president, flanked by the deputy Sec
retarles a degree below, then the tribune
still lower, ending with the secretaries on
the floor of the house. Ia front OF and
around this pyramid, called ''the BUREAU"
rise in graduation some 900 seats to the foot
OF the "a marble columns already men
tloned. Each deputy does not have a sep
arate desk and easy armchair, as is the
case at Washington, aud in most OF tue
State capitols. A dozen or more occupy d
long bench, upholstered in red rep, with
the back rather straight to be comfortable.
Fastened to the bench in front OF them IS
a long shelf, cut up into as many desks as
there are places for deputies, the lids being
about one foot by two. Narrow sisles ra-
dlate from the open space IN front OF the
tribune, and give ingress and egress to tho
benches.
The middle section of the front row IS
reserved for the ministers. They face the
tribune and are so near 1t they can hear
every word the speaker lets drop from hls
lips, contradict hun from their seats, or, II
a longer reply Is necessary, they can gem
orally get to the tribune steps before any
OF the ordinary deputies. The rush Tor
the tribune IS one of the peculiar features
Of a French legislative body. Ii agility
OF body, as well as facility OF speech, "a
one of the requisites Tor political success
10 this country. 1t Is astonishing that the
opposition does not require the ministry 10
literally take a back seat, for IN a r'cs for
the tribune, a memter OF the government
ls almost sure TO come in first. But The
bugIes are heard in the lobby and all tue
lyeried pages, door-keepers, etc, arrange
themselves in i've rows, extending from
o. G Of the side entrance doors TO the foot
OF the stairway leading 10 the hlgh.perched
chair of the presiding officer. If you
were out in the lobby. or the Pas Perdus,
as it is called, you would see a company OF
soldiers drawn up in two lines, and Nj.
BrIsson, president of the chamber, III full
evening dress, hat in hand, marching be-
tween them. Arrived at the entrance To
the hall, he Is met by the chief door keeper
and assistant. who precede HIM between
the pages and other employees. the former
announcing In a loud voice, Monsieur 10
president" Nj. Bnsson quickly mounts
the flight OF stairs, is seated by a page.
rings a big silver bell attached TO one eud
of q lever. and p%ronounces the days sitting
begun. In the meanwhile the deputies
have poured in, the ministers have taken
their places. and the last year OF the pres
ent Legislature is entered upon.