The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-09-07

poor were they that many of them di,
not taste butter from years end to year.
end" Another member-Mr. Morgan
asked; "What was it that enabled tn
American farmer to compete with GU
farmers? Simply that he the American
farmer was free from all these charges
meaning the 1.-THE rent charges or ia,
on the farmers products.
AS this debate on the 1.-THE Bill ha
created some stir here among the agri
cultural classes, and which l listened tt
with very great interest, not only on &C
count of the subject under debate, bu
more particularly because of my sur
roundings, and the opportunity l had fol
the first time in my life of listening to g
spirited debate in the English House o.
Commons l will take little space il
telling you how l succeeded in securing
admission to the House, and what l saw
and heard there. AS you and my readers
generally know, the two Houses of Parlia'
ment are located on the north or Middle.
sex side of the Thames,-as l have said
in former letter-opposte Westminster
Abbey in one of the most interesting sec.
tions historically as we'll as INTELLECTUALLY
of London. They are of beautiful Gothic
architecture, and although their erection
which occupied seventeen years-was
begun as late as 1910. yet owing to the
climate, they are dark and grim in color
as are all other buildings either private
or public in the metropolis. The two
houses cover an area of eight acres. hav-
Ing four principal fronts, that on the
Thames being $40 feet. You may form
some idea OF the extent of the Parliament
buildings from the fact that they contain
in all eleven quadrangular courts or yards,
five hundred apartments, eighteen official
residences besides the Royal State apart.
ments, and the Octagon or Central Hall
into which the two Houses open. The
chief approach for the public to the
Houses of Parliament-I mean the two
halls in which the upper and lower
Houses sits through st. Stephens
Hall, around which are arranged statues
OF eminent English statesmen, thence
into the Octagon Hall, from which the
right hand passage leads to the House of
Lords-or SeDate.-while the left hand
passage leads to the Commons or Lower
House. l didn't succeed in getting a
a peep to the House of Lords, not being
able to get to the Deputy Lord Chamber
lain's office in time on Saturday to OBJ
tain the necessary permit. On my way
from Edinburgh to London in company
with gentleman from Virginia whose
acquaintance had made on the steamer
coming across, we met accidentally in
the same compartment of the railway
carriage an English clergyman, who be-
ing affable and obliging, gave us a card
of introduction to member of the lower
house. When we reached Westminster
we presented the card to one of the nu-
merous oonstables who line the doorway
leading to st. Stephens Hall and were
admitted at once, the officer very politely
telling us to present it to the officer sta
toned on the lett of the entrance into
Octagon Hall. After taking look at
the beautiful groined stone ceiling some
eighty feet high Of this Central Hall,
we handed the card to a constable who
promptly sent it in by aoother associate.
Similar cards from a crowd of visitors
were being sent in to different members,
who il in their seats and their visitors
were desirable, came out, and in most
instances, handed orders of admission to
their caller. We waited some time, with.
out any response to our card, and were
finally informed that our member was
not in bis seat, and for a moment it look
ed as though we would only have our
trouble for our pains. Then plaoard
was displayed over the entrance to the
visitors gallery, which stated that it was
full, and no more visitors would be adj
mitted. The prospect of hearing the de-
bate then going on, did not look encour-
6'aSt oho iiiOhu ouSSCobOu budG "o
give it up and take our chances some
other day. Just then l noticed fine
portly looking member come out and
greet several Of his constituents very cor
daily. He was an amiable kindly look
ing gentleman, with genial manner
about him that seemed to invite your
confidence. Besides he was handsome
man, with a crown of glory on his head
in the shape Of natures diadem of silvery
hair. Turning to an officer l was told
that he was the honorable member from
Manchester, Mr.. ]. W. Mcclure, and
that he was as good as he looked. Just
as he was parting with his friends, I step.
ped up to him, and telling him the situa-
ton, said to him, that we hoped we were
not violating the courtesies of the coca
sion by asking his friendly offices in our
behalf. His reply was even more cordi-
ally given than we as strangers could
have reasonably expected, and asking us
to remain a moment just where we were,
he hurried to the speakers secretary and
in trice returned with the coveted order
for an admission for two to the House.
Thanking him for his courteous civility,
we hurried up the stairs and were soon
comfortably seated next to the front rail
of the gallery provided for those admit
ted upon the order of members and at
the end of the hall Immediately facing
the speakers chair, over which canopy
of drapery hangs, and in front of which
is high table which corresponds with
the Woolsack of the House of Lords, and
on which while the House is in session
lies the gilded mace. The speaker, of
course, was in wig and gown as we'll as
the other subordinate officers of the body
who sit at desks Immediately in front of
him. The hall is not large. only 70x45
feet, and docs not either in size or gen.
eral effect, compare favorably with our
lower House of Congress. The members
sit on four rows of leather upholstered
benches rising one above the other on
cash ffa9eelR2, 5ids 9th speaker, the Government
position members on the left, the men,
bers wearing their hats when not speak
ing. The debate on the 1.-THE Bill was
growing warm when we reached our seats
and feeling that it was essential to the
success OF our visit, that we should be
able to identify each member, turned
to an intelligent looking young man who
sat next me, and asked him if he could
do so would he kindly point out to us the
laad;n1 memhers on either side He did