Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-08

TIE INFORMANT PART II PLAYS In THE LEGISLATIVE
LIFE OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Hats play BY no means an unimportant part In
the procedure OF the house OF commons says an
English writer. When or why they were first
worn, and how the practice became fossilized into
custom, remains q mystery. At the meetings of
no other assemblies In the kingdom, except the
two houses OF parliament Is II, we believe, either
good taste or, indeed, allowable to remain hated.
Inc custom may have arisen from q trtfing cause,
as these things sometimes do. Perhaps some hon.
orable member at some remote period asked Mr..
speaker for permission to wear his hat on account
OF draughts, which are not altogether unknown
10 inc house, and precedent being once estab-
lished-and In parliament precedents are every.
thlng-it became the rule, and not the exception,
10 remain covered during the sittngs OF the house
Strict etiquette governs the wearing OF hats In
the commons An honorable member who tgnor-
ant or forgetfu OF the forms OF the house. attempt
90 70 walK TO his seat when covered would be met
Win LOUD cries OF "Order," and although an abb
sent-minded member sometimes does 80 he has
never been known TO repeat it He must only wear
a ais nat when seated directly he rises he must
member behind him, or TO get paper from the
table II any bill or resolution for which he Is re-
sp0nstble Is mentioned by the speaker q member
raises his hat and does not rise, and the same is
done when another member alludes to him In the
course OF speech or answers question which he
mas put. II he Is not wearing his hat at the time
he Immediately puts it on and then raises It In
acknowledgement
This practice has given rise to some family con.
was remarkable for Q very small head, uucon-
Scl0usly picked up the hat OF the member next TO
MIN In mistake for his own. This member hap
pened to be chiefly remarkable for very large
head, and his hat was like an extinguisher when
put on his fellow-member, and had a very ludi.
crOus effect.
OF course, member never speaks In his hat ex.
cept on one occasion, which we shall notice pres
emily He generally places 1t carefully on the seat
he has just vacated. II he is going TO make long
speech, and his throat requires fabrication, his
Nat Is the receptacle for glass OF water which IL
replenlShed from time To time by an attentive
friend Members are generally collected enough
remove their hats from the bench.
This Is not invariably the case, however, for an
honorable member short time ago acquired q
who sat on his hat" He had Just finished q
maiden speech OF some length, and In the excite
ment OF the moment entirely forgot that a shiny
and well brushed "tile" occupied his seat He sat
down suddenly, rather more suddenly, perhaps,
than he had forseen-for maiden speeches are
famous for uncertatnties-and he sat unfortunate
ly on his hat. We are not aware that there was q
glass OF water In it, but there might have been and
the example should be borne In mind by rising or
perhaps we should say sinking, orators
We nave tntimated that there is o:e occasion on
which member can, or, rather, according to the
rules, must address the house with his hat on
This happens when the house has been cleared for
a division and when q member desires to raise A
point of order. To marx the fact mat the debate
has been closed and the interruption Is purely In.
cidental the member must speak sitting, and with
his hat on.
In addition to the uses OF hats In the house to
which we have referred there Is another and very
common one. No member being allowed to claim
as right the possession or any seat (the tenure
by which they are held being priority or occupa-
tlon), except In certain cases allowed as q matter
OF courtesy, the practice has arisen OF members
leaving their hats on the seats they desire TO oc-
cupy during the sitting.