The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-01-16
HATS IN THE COMMONS.

The Important Part They Play in the
Legislative Life of England.
4 strict etiquette governs the wear
ing of hats in the Commons. An
honorable member, who. ignorant CT
forgetful of the forms Of the House,
attempted to walk to his seat when
covered, would be met with loud cries
of "ocder," and although an absent
minded member sometimes ooes so he
has ne.er been known TO repeat it. He
must only wear his hat when seated.
Directly he rises nc must doh it,
though he may only wish to speak to a
member behind him Or to get a paper
from the table II any bill or resolu-
ton for which he is responsible is
mentioned By TIE Speaker a member
raises his hat and does not rise, and
the same is done when another mem
Der alludes to him in the course OF
speech or answers a question which he
has put. If he is not wearing his hat
at the time, he Immediately puts it on
and then raises it in acknowledgment.
This practice has given rise to some
funny contretemps, as when an honor
able member who was remarkable for
avery small head unconsciously picked
up the hat of the member next to him
in mistake for his own. This member
happened 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 ludicrous
effect.
OF course, a member never speaks in
his hat, except on one occasion, which
we shall notice presently. He gener-
ally places it carefully on the seat he
has just vacated. 1.-The is going to make
: a long speech and his throat requires
fabrication, his hatis the receptacle for
glass OF water, which is replenished
from time to time by an attentive
friend. Members are generally col
! lected enough to remember, when they
sit down, to be careful to remove their
hats from the bench.
This is not Invariably the case, how
ever, for an honorable member short
time ago acquired universal noto-
riety in the House as the member
who sat on his hat" He had just fin
ished a maiden speech OF some length,
and in the excitement OF the moment
entirely forgot that q shiny and we'll
brushed tile" occupied his seat. He
sat down suddenly, rather more sud
denly, perhaps, than he had foreseen
for maiden speeches are famous for
uncertainties-and he sat, unfortu-
nately, on his hat. We are no: 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 sink
ing. orators.
we have intimatcd that there is one
occasion on which q 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 q division, and when
member desires to raise q point Of
order. To mark tie fse: that the de-
bate has been closed and the Interrupt
ton is purely incidental, the member
must speak sitting, and with his hat
on.
In addition TO the uses of hats in the
! House to which VIC have referred,
there is another and a very common
one. No member being allowed to
claim as right the possession Of any
seat (the tenure by which they are
held being priority OF occupation) ex-
cept in certain cases allowed as q mat
ter OF courtesy, the practice has arisen
OF members leaving their hats on the
seats they desire to occupy during the
; sitting.-Washsngtom Star.