Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-31
THE GREEN DRAGON.
The Mock Parliament That Holds Its
Sessions There.


The Mock Parliament That Holds Its
Sessions There.
From Harpers Magazine.
walk of two minutes down Fleet street
brings us to a tall new freestone building la
beled on the lamp The Green Dragon and
wearing the appearance of public house and
tavern, which it is Across the window is in
scribed in permanent letters The Temple
Discussion Forum. Established 1861" And
underneath is posted up every morning paper
announcing the subject of the evenings debate
and inviting strangers to enter and engage in
the discussion. This is the oldest by more than
century of the existing discussion forums, and
until recently was che most crowded and most
interesting OF them all. 1t is no longer so re-
sorted to by the debaters and habitues of the
old type. Their falling off is probably due to
two causes: first, the recent death of Mr. Ross
the chairman who had watched over its councils
for more than twenty years with great ability
and, secondly, the undermining and beautify-
ing OF their assembly room has, perhaps,
caused the old habitues to feel themselves no
longer
AT HOME UNDER THE OLD ROOF
My knowledge Of the place, even from ira
dition, does not go beyond the period when
Mr.. Ross, the veteran chairman, guided its
councils. ''Old Ross" as he was affectionately
called by his disciples, was a remarkable man
In many ways. Not only was he an admirable
speaker. but. as chairman, he possessed great
tact. discernment and GOODNESS. which were
sometimes put to the severest tests as L
shall presently show. He was a man of pro-
found and varied knowledge. one of the best
Greek scholars in the kingdom, a strong and
graceful writer, and a contributor to several
of the leading periodicals of London. includ-
ing think, the Times. With all these quail
ties he possessed another that eminently fitted
him for his post; he knew how to combine the
easy going ways of the Bohemian with the re-
hnement of a gentleman. to be genial and
responsive yet dignifed and firm, to the most
motley assembly, it seems to me- that was ever
GATHERED TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM.
1t was quite by accident that | discovered the
place one evening many years ago, when /
lodged into an open doorway to escape sudden
shower. Down a long passage was leather
padded door with an oval glass window in it
marked discussion Forum" / shall never for
get my surprise and delight when found N.Y.
self within, seated upon bench of adamantine
hardness and looked about on the quaint old
room. 1t was long and narrow and low between
decks like the cabin of a ship and also like a
ship. 1t had forms or settees along each wall be-
hind row of mahogany tables, and above
near the ceiling was a row of square port holes
for windows. Two centuries of SCOT and to
bacco smoke had died the floor the walls and
ceiling, the wooden-bottomed chairs and forms
to nearly the same color as the rude old fire.
place. At the top of the room on a great
mahogany and horse-hair throne, sat the chair
man. Old Ross, in his long gray beard like the
figure of Father Time, but with a glass of
steaming toddy before him instead of the tradi-
tional hour glass and a very large pipe between
his teeth. On the wall above Old Ross hung a
quaint old mirror fanked by
FINE PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
on one side and on the other by an elderly
gentleman in the costume of 1880 and wearing
various jeweled orders and decorations. The
further decorations of the wall were limited to
framed placards with various tempting inscrip-
lions. Here ale and stout were served in huge
pewter tankards, spirits in glasses, hot water
In antique metal pots with lids, replenished
now and then from a steaming kettle on the
hob. These delicacies were distributed by two
perspiring walters in draggled evening dress
who flew about balancing trays of glasses and
pewters in wonderful manner, and num-
bling IN undertones to their customers: Two
of Scotch for you, sir. Thanky. SIR" "Pint of
bitter, sir. Tuppence change, sir. Thanks"
Hot water, sir? Yes, sir," all In a breath.
Everything in the room spoke of bygone age
when the world was not so rectangular and
commonplace il is now.
But If the room was fascinating what shall /
say of the people who sat smoking at a score of
tables, waiting for the debate to begin? Ii was
and thrown Lavater into frenzy. Such variety
OF heads, of pbysiognomy and make up, such
strongiy-marked character and clear-cut midi
viduality and wonderful clothes, one might go
far to see. Here a swell from Mayfair cheek
by jowl with a barge man from the docks a
colored student from the Temple, a prosperous
merchant; opposite a Strand shop keeper a
printer, journalist, a lawyer, in a row. The
same diversity extended all around the room
and there seemed to be lt4bt fedU
NO TWO MEN ALIKE. d,m ctod
As at Cogers'. there were always many elderly
men who looked as if they had passed their
whole lives here, and much of the speaking was
by them. Old Ross used generally to make the
opening speech himself at $50 and by 10 o'clock
there was hardly vacant seat in the ROOM
Later than ID one could not expect more than
standing room, and have known many to
stand contentedly for half the evening listen
ing TO the stirring speeches made by these vet
eran statesmen when 1t happened TO be a
''held night, for the debates were often bril-
liant IN those days and would have done honor
to the house of commons at its best.
After the coup d'etat of 1851, and the sudden
leap OF Prince Louis Napoleon into the throne
OF france, the occupant of the famous horse
hair throne in Fleet street called upon his little
parliament TO consider what should be the at
utude OF England toward the new emperor.
Their deliberations, which lasted for several
evenings, and were conducted with q good deal
OF acrimony, came somehow TO the ears of the
emperor, and he considered the matter suf6-
ciently important to be referred TO in . diplo-
matte communication to the British govern
ment The joy of the '.house" when this news
became known may be imagined. Il was q
proud day for Old Ross and his followers who
never tired OF abiding TO it in their speeches in
after years, and the tradition Of il will be
handed down as long as there is q green dragon.
A Horse that Needed Education.