Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-11-14
ruE HoiISE OF COMMONS,

The fret impression one gets OF the
chamber ot the House Of Commons IA
that II 4. so very small. IL does not sur.
prise YOU to fiud the House OF Peers n
h,ll Of somewhat limited proportion.
That seems To be In keeping with the ex-
cluslyeness OF Its members. hut the
House of Commons sounds so moments
Gus. and such great things have been
carried out there, that one rather looks
for something grand and Imposing anu
impressive. Aud when you take your
place In the gallery. and lean over the
railing to look down upon the high hts
of the members, you feel that you nie
rather In "a private chapel than In legis-
latiye hall, aud that by reaching cut
YOUR hand YOU could almost touch the
sneaker In his high chair. which always
wickedly suggested u Punch-ind-Juiy
show 10 me, and the top OF which, ] was
yrieyed TO note, WAS not uusteu.
found Il very hard at first to grasp tile
fact that the gentlemen sitting on the
benches or walking In aud out, aud max
Ing little bows to the Speaker whenever
they did so, whether he WAS looking Mt
them or not, were the real men them
selves OF whom we have read, and WIN
whom Punch's "Essence OF Parliament
and the Illustrated papers have made US
familiar. IL was Interesting To think you
were hearing before any one else Tie
speeches or the arguments that were 10
be read the next morning In America
and India. Going to the House day
after day was like procession OF "hrst
nights" given with star cast. lcaugh
myself commenting with some surprise
ON how like the men were to their p,ct-
utes. and that there really was latticed
grating, aud that the shadowy, moving
figures behind II, like the ghost,y jury
In 'T'he Bells" were real women and
young girls, guarded from view like
slaves In the harem; and that there were
n mace and gangway aud n mister-oi-
arms With word, just as Harry Furnlss
draws him, and a reporters gallery,
where Warrington and Charles Dickens
once sat; aud that Mr.. Balfour did wear
CATERS, and Mr.. Gladstone high-peeked
collars; aud that the Irish members were
as obnoxious as l had been led TO De-
lieye they would be; and that the Lord.
Chancellor Ia the Upper House looked
lust AS he did In lolsnthe. IL was Ike
seeing one of Sh,kespeare's plays o. the
stage for the frat time after one had
studied Il only from the book. what
imprrssel me most about the House was
the air Of good-breeding which prevailei
there, and the strictness OF the etiquette
the fact that the members might not
read u newpaper within Its limits. and
the courtesy with which they bowed anu
gave TO each other the full title. II
seemed so cory anl cOmfortable-legi'-
lation made easy, as II were-the col0rs
were sd harmonious and the coat OF arms
40 numerous, and the ubiquitous police
men In the Hobbies and halls outside so
obsequious, that n members HE, one
thought, must be a happy one. And
they have such amusing privilege, out
aide the House. Their hansoms may,
for instance, 20 through any block at
Waterloo bridge, no mater how heavy
the traffic may be, aud II they are cabinet
ministers they eau go through a block
anyw here. IL I were cabinet minister
I would take hanson by the hour, and
spend my time riding around to fnd
blocks that might be let through, and
40 make other people enyiOus. And in-
side the House they are allowed to ask
their friends to dinner, and to wear
their hats all the time aud everywhere,
even, or especlally-fOr some OF the
Liberals are silly enough to make a
point of it-when the Prince OF Wales
takes his seat over the clock.-liarper's
Magazine.