The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-14
4 Visit to tho August Body While
It Is in Ses-
sion.
The Ladies' Gallery Not Unlike
Q Sort Of Cage for
Monkeys
Reporter Who Write
Long asnd-varieus Kinds Of Lords
Who Drop In.

SN-AA$G3seos
Frederick has an important bill coming on
in the evening, and wishes US to hear the
debate. He goes down early, and sends rs
tickets for the speakers gallery, to which
one gains admittance only by card from
Mrs Peel. We climb many steps, and be-
nign elderly person in knee-breeches and
great gold insignia Of Office shows us into
grated cage that looks down over the house,
which is quite full. At ono side Of us, a bit
lower, is the ladies' gallery, grated like our
own. wonder if they fear we shall get into
mischief THAT they cage rs up like mon
keysp asks Miss Elizabeth Bisland in
Harper's Bazaar. We IRE directly over the
speaker, and see only the canopy of his
chair, the curly white wigs of his three
clerks, and the enormous gold mace. On
the tier below is the reporters gallery
tagged, hard worked looking men, who
scribble furiously. One can see what
they are doing quite we'll, and it is
noticeable that most of them write in long
found in the Times next day, and the
speeches as given by them are far more
succinct and forcible than when the men,
bers delivered them. Opposite is the gal
lery for distinguished strangers, and cross
wise run the galleries Cor the peers. From
U1Auo u t1Iuo bOu0 Ouo uEOpS III 4IOAA UAO
house Of lords-new also in session-and
stays to hear portion of the debate. Now
it is portly, forid old gentleman. who
listens with his hand behind his ear; and
now some slim, pink checked boy just sue,
5ceeded to the title, Immediately arrayed
button-hole. The conservatives git on the
greep-cushioned benches to the right OF the
speaker; the ministers in front. Mr..
Arthur Balfour, secretary for Ireland,
is speaking when We enter. A tall.
slender man, with little silken brown rip
and faultlessly dressed; and with delicate.
slender hands, which he rests on the desk
before him as he speaks, very languidly.
but clearly, and with a slight hesitation.
They are talking about Ireland as usual.
Ont the bench from which he has just risen
tall and dark4haired; Mr.. W. H. Smith,
leader of the house, whose head is very
large and quite bald; Mr.. Goschen and the
rest Of the ministers. Behind sit the con-
servatives, fine body of men, extremely
well set up, wearing glossy silk hats, and
looking, on the whole, rather Indifferent
''Hear! heary'' when Mr.. Balfour makes a
point against his opponents.
This gentleman ia saying, in polite par
!iamentaEy phrases, and with somewhat
fatigued manner, that he considers his &C.
tCusekb u4ts, one ana al. W0en ne ID zone.
Mr.. Gladstone takes the word, rising from
the opposite benches, and looking extremely
white and feeble, speaking keenly and to
the point, in the trembling, squeaky tones
used BY the sage old man. Close beside
him u Lord Harrington, with his hat tipped
hands in his pockets. Further back, among
the Irishmen, is B1adlaugh, the famous in
fidel, rosy and genial. and very like the Late
Henry Ward Beecher in appearance. Fin.
ally the Irishmen get on their feet one after
another..Dillon, OBrien, Parnell-
Balfour, who looks over his notes and pre-
tends not to hear them. Sir George Ire
velyan, nephew or Macaulay, speaks on the
Irish side with the polished roundness OF
the elocutionist; and certain Mr.. Fowler,
with his laconic severity: brings flush to
angrily. In the gallery with us is q large
handsome old lady with much white lace
around her head. Lady B. whispers tc
me it is Mrs. Gladstone, who is known al
the Stormy Petrol, for there is sure to be
trouble brewing when she appears. It il
rumored tonight that her husband hopes
to Ont the government majority on the
land purchase bill down lower than it has
ever yet been. She shows very little ex.
citement, but watches affairs attentively
through the grating.
On one side of us sits slim girl in red,
80 interested in the debate that she has
thrown off her hat and gloves, and pushed
back her hair from her forehead. She holds
the bars with both little white hands, and
will not miss a word, q hiRh-bred, pretty
creature, evidently an ardent conservative,
who gives much information in whispers
as to the members and the state of the bill
On the other side sits one take to be an
American from her excessively perfect raj.
ment and her little rising infections. Al
ten minutes of eight the speaker declares q
recess Of half an hour and the members
troop out to dine,