The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-06
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
How You Gain Admittance, and How You
Behave Afterwards.

] Behave Afterwards.
London Letter in sew York Times.
| When an American wishes to visit his serv-
| ants, the members of Congress, at their work,
| he finds no obstruction in his progress. beyond
an exceeding number of stone steps, which
apt to exhaust his wind. unless he knows where
| to find the elevators. He enters the building
| from any quarter, without challenge, and winds
from pillar to post and from floor to floor, until
he finds himself il the corridors of the galleries.
| from which he can step into the spaces
reserved for the public, the seats thus set apart
for his use affordng accommodation for Z, 600
! visitors in the House of Representatives and
1900 in the Senate. Once inside, he must take
| his hat off and keep STILL And when the days
session is ever he 90 down stairs and saunter
upon the floor and sit IN the Speakers chair if
he chooses or strike up an acquaintance with
the members who linger around him, seek
miscellaneous information from the clerks and
pages.
But will suppose this person on his travels
and bringing up at night before the gates of the
Houses of Parliament. There is a rush of cabs
all about him. streams of people are going every
way, and great glare of light is flooding the
night and Illuminating the splendid structure
and the Gothic beauty of Westminster Abbey
opposite. The visitor enjoys the scene few
moments and then steers for the principal en-
trance. He encounters a policeman at once.
Policemen innumerable, omnipotent, and
vicilant Very likely they were noticing him as
he WAS standing in idle admiration on the curb
stone They ask him what he wants, and he
says he wants TO 90 in. Then they explain in
civil but short sentences. that he must find
member, must get pass from him, and must
present 1t at particular door at particular
time; and if after investigation by detectives, he
Is reported to be an inoffensive person, he
then be admitted if there is room. Being a
stranger he doesn't know any member, and GER
tainy has no claim OH any one. He insinuates
to the policeman that some slight assistance
would result in an interchange of con but Is
told to stand aside, and ultimately sinks off in
the darkness, quite relieved that he has escaped
without arrest.
But perhaps the next day he finds some one
who knows friend who is acquainted with
member and gradually he works up to an
introduction. That is the first step The mem
Der is complaisant and says he will try. Then
he gets the strangers full name and address and
finally tells him to go to the members entrance
opposite the rear of Henry Wis chapel in the
Abbey, show a card, and keep on till he gets to
the lobby of the House, where he will come out
and give him the pass.
AT the proper time he makes his appearance
at the door. A group of policemen and two
three overwhelming door-keepers in full dress
defend it. but armed with his credentials, he
boldly makes known his erraud and is motoned
in. The first barrier is passed. He goes TO the
end of hall, and a second group of police ask
him his business. He shows his card and passes
on through the great hall where the dynamite
explosion occurred. Police plentiful as
hops, and the visitor is made aware that his
Now he is in the lobby, with a little assem-
blage of favored people who have got
ten as far as he has, and he gives his
card to magnificent door-keeper and subsidies
into line with others, all under the inspection of
the police. Pretty soon the member issues from
the closely guarded portals and smiles and says
he Will try. And he does try. He walks rapidly
off to some mysterious part of the building,
where the Speaker has an Office, and in fifteen
or twenty minutes returns, bearing an order
from the speaker. on the members recommenda
ton and responsibility, for the strangers admis-
sion So, following in his wake he passes the
third Gordon and is in an inner lobby, where, if
he tries to loier to look about him. he is instant
ly bounced upon by policeman and told TO move
on. He is shown door, and, opening
It, he begins the ascent of winding staircase to
find himself presently before turnstile At
this gate very grave man sits with large
open book, and behind him two three more
policemen. The very grave man hands the
thoroughly cOwed visitor pen and bids him
write his full name London address and nation
ality. The pen is bad and sputters, the visitor
forgets street and number. and he writes
United States he breaks out into cold perspira-
ton under the stony glare of the po)icemen's
eyes. But, rather to his surprise, he isn't ar
rested; and now the last barrier is passed, and
another gorgeous door keeper motions him to
seat in a gallery about as big horse-car, and
less comfortable
Nothing surprises an American visitor in the
House of Commons more than the small size of
Jue CudmDer, ana ltS lQlteO accommodations Tor
both members and the public. Additionally
it is superb hall. and its acoustic effects are
fine but to American notions it is entirely in
adequate in dimensions 1t is smaller, more
over. than analogous Chambers. only in our own,
but 10 most other countries. 1t is too small to
seat the members the floor, though
packed closely together without desks
or elbow room And the gallery space
is contracted in the extreme. There are
in all five galleries to which visitors have access
under more or less restrictions, and the
five accommodate altogether perhaps $50 per-
sons. OF this the three galleries for miscella-
neous visitors had sixty spectators. Then there
!s reporters gallery, accommodating forty
and latticed gallery for ladies holding, perhaps
forty or fifty more
in these galleries the most abiect order pre-
walls. One must not talk hang his overcoat
over the bench in front of him, or read or sleep,
or eat or take notes. And if he gets tired, or
hungry, and goes out, he cannot return.
Imagine the visitor satisfied with his expert
ence and once more at the turnstile on his way
out. Again he passes under the sharp eyes of
the very grave man and the police, and now be
gins series of supervsions more extraordinary
than those he endured when approaching the
hail, for while the visitor passed four of
guards when going in. he passes less than
seven before he reaches the liberty of the street
And even then he knows that he is under the
surveillance of the police, and that detectives
may be shadOwing his steps and will visit his
lodgings on the morrow to see if his account of
himself Is truthful.
How "Chestnuts" Originated.