The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-19

was crowded with Englishmon waiting their
turn to get into the Strangers Gallery. | hur
ried by and approached the door of the august
chamber, where / imagined Gladstone holding
his hearers spellbound by his persuasive
periods
.'Quite impossible sir Don't You see there
are over fifty waiting their turn. Stand aside
please. sir
- Bat have card FROM the American Min
Ster, and---'
Cant clip hit sir; quite impossible. sir;
most Unprecedented Influx of strangers Sir,
etc.
at was absurd to negotiate with man badg-
cred by crowd of hungry applicants, and to
offer a corruption fund publicly would lrave
been equally futile. l retraced my steps to the
crowded vestibule, where Burke and Fox kept
company with the pantalooned gentry of Picca-
dilly
"'Qute a crowd you have tonight, remarked
l, genially to a disengaged bobby, whose duty
it was to see that the sequence of coekneys was
legitimately maintained L suppose some of
these people will hardly reach the Strangers
Gallery until tomorrow morningP
II suppose not, replied the honest peeler as
he eyed me closely.
:. TIM sorry, continued l, for hoped to get
in tonight
"The peeler looked about with an air of as
sumed Indifference. l continued looking at the
statue Of Burke:
" L will give you half crown if you will
smooth my way to the next policeman, and give
him half a crown. too
Sat this my stately companion strobe off and
in a minute returned and ordered me to follow
him His expression was severe, and LETT the
impression on those he left behind that l was
summoned state business AS we walked
together half crown slipped into his hand.
about to pass the second bobby who
guards the entrance to the lobby, when that
functionary arrested me with a gruH keep
back sir; you can't pass here sir
- But this policeman - said l.
"'Oh, beg PARDON come this way. and
saPnpd half fabn11r SiXtV-tVVO cenfsl n
tered the hand of her Majesty's faithful bobby
Il was piloted through a number of semi
privileged individuals who had got thus far and
seemed unable to get any further | had to
face the same sergeant alarms who barred my
way to the Speakers gallery only few
moments ago. But for some Occnlt reason this
dragon in black silk stockings and knee-breeches
seemed less unapproachable than on my former
visit | waited q favorable opportunity. when
conversation should not be public property.
Then inserting half crown between my thumb
and the card from the American legation, and
in that position holding the combined potential
ties up to him and to him alone, said
'''Don't you see, sir. that it is important that
| should go up to the Speakers gallery and that
right awayf
Apparently convinced, he said: Stand be
hind me, sir, and look sharp when give the
word
lat that moment the door leading to the
Speakers gallery opened to let some one out.
Ny severe friend in silk stockings seized my card
into the light of the House of Commons
But the battle was not yet won. [ was one
Of number who had to stand up. and even then
could not see over we'll l wanted to get into
some good seats that were barred off by a silken
rope, which rope was guarded by another man in
silk stockings Again bided my time and kept
my silver wedge handy for timely insertion.
At last the cord was removed for the exit of some
one and approaching the rope guardian in
benevolent manner, told him that L should con
slider myself in his debt to modest extent if he
would let me have one of the privileged seats
facing the Speaker which he was bound by his
oath to keep me out Of The occasion was too
public for more practical tactics, but with faint
silver jingle in my pocket passed the barrier,
and found myself in the best seat imaginable
after listening to Gladstone and few others
and hearing Lord Randolph Churchill and the
President of the Board of Trade call each other
names, turned to leave for home.
&" Let me show you down stairs, sir said my
polite custodian.
LAS soon as we were out of the public eye, l
slipped a handful of small silver into his prae-
ticed palm and walked home with heavy heart.
1 am Sunday superintendent, sir, and l
was sad at having successfully bribed my way
into the British House of Commons