The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-14
HOW THE QUEEN ACTS.
ANTIQUE .FORMALlTlES IN THE ENG
llSH PARLIAMENT.

ing to Bills Passed by the Peers.
1t is question time in the house of COM
mons, and ministers are laboriously read
Ing their answers to the long list of printed
questions on the paper. Presently, with
10 apparent reason, the outer doors of the
chamber, usually wide open, are shut and
locked and the doorkeeper stands guard.
ing them, peeping through a tiny wicket
in the door as if he expected an incon-
yenient dun.
But, no; the doors have only been locked
on the same principle that the little boys
on the towing path Of the Cam shut the
gates when they see an undergraduate
approaching, in order to have the pleasure
OF opening them again-lOr q Considera
tion. What the consideration of the door
keeper of the house of commons may be is
not known to the public, but the very
instant that the stranger approaching has
made three modest taps on the door, the
watchful attendant filings it open and
announces the visitor with stentorau
shout of "Black Rod"
Slowly does the elderly gentleman in
braided uniform who bears this title and
the short rod that confers it advance up
the floor OF the house, bowing scrupulously
three times in his passage.
Arrived at the table, he summons "thi5
honorable house, in the name Of the crown
Immediately to attend at tho house of
peers to hear the royal assent given by
commission to various bills Having given
his message, he slowly retires backward
bowing again with the mystic three bows
SPEAKER AND BLACK ROD
Without a word all the members rise in
their places, and the speaker leaves his
chair and joins Black Rod, who has been
waiting for him at the bar Of the house
Side by side in brotherly converse they
walk of followed by the serEtautat-arms
and two or three members as representa-
tives of the house, while strong lunged po-
licemen in the lobby below ont; make
way for Black Rod" "Alake way for the
speaker'
In the house Of lords aquaint but rotun-
impressive spectacle awaits one. Through
the stained gass windows of the beautiful
chamber the sunlight is streaming, light
irg up the richly carved woodwork and the
decorated ceiling and making the red
benches below seem reGdcr than ever. In.
deed on the floor Of the house red, n Grim.
son red, is the single note. Row upon row
Of crimson benches, all empty, and on the
woolsack three silent peers robed in red
At the table, scarcely noticed in the blaze
Of red, are three silent clerks In wig aad
gown, that is all.
But by this time the speaker and hig
companions have reached the house Of
lords, and have placed themselves in IT,
tie pen opposite the woolsack ald the
throne. There they stand, patiently or i'm
patiently, throughout the ceremony
The first business is the reading OF the
commission appointing certain peers 90 act
on behalf Of her majesty The document
is very long and very legal The number
OF peers named to serve on the commission
seems legion
HER MAJESTY's PEERS.
There is the Prince Of Wales md the
Duke Of Conuaught, there is 'the most
reverend father in God and my well be.
loved and trusty councillor the arch.
bishop Of Canterbury; there is the arch.
bishop Of York, aud many other noJables.
Finally comes Lord Halsbury, "lurd
chancellor OF that part Of my kingdom Of
Great Britain and Ireland called Great
Britain, and at these words Of the read.
ing clerk the lord chancellor, hitherto mo.
tionless on the woolsack, raises his three
cornered hat in response to a deep bow
from the clerk
The next name is the Earl Of Limerick,
and the clerk bows again, and another
three cornered hat is raised by another
figure on the woolsack. The same double
bow is repeated at the name Of Lord Wind
gar tha thirl gf ia Q Ir.4 GfrffV.a
The document then recitcs that these
numerous commissioners, "or any three Of
them" shall have power 10 act for the
queen, and notify her assent 20 the bills
passed by parlament-"Gyen at Windsor
By the queen herself. signed with her own
hand"
This ends the first stage Of the proceed
ing, Tho lord chancellor then imme.
da;ely, without moving. makes little
speech 10 the empty benches, which he ad-
dresses as My lords" aud calls upon the
clerks at the table to pass the bills In the
usual manner"
The two other clerks now step forward
and stand one at each side OF the table
One reads the titles Of the bills, the other
announces her mnlesty's assent. But this
bald statement gives but poor idea OF the
acted scene, Tor the bows have been alto
gether omitted.
PLENTY OF RowNG.
No ceremony is complete without bow,
aud the passing Of bills in the house Of
lords seems to an oulooEer all bows. The
junior clerk, as he takes each bill from the
table, turns 10 the wOosuci and makes
profound bow to the commissioners H.s
Ing, he reads the ti;le Of the bill aud thea
bows again, As soon as this bow ia over
the Genior clerk on the other side Of the
table makes bis bow to the wOolsack.
This bow over be turns around to the
representatives Of the commons penned up
under the clock, and in clear voice pro-
nouuces the crucial words, LA refine le
yeust" then turns round again and makes
another deep bow TO the red robed peers on
the woolsack.
All this ceremonial Is gone through with
every bill, and as the titles of the bills are
read IL is not easy to avoid n smile at the
incongruity between the. nature Of the bill
aud the antique formalty by which II is
passed into law. At length the high pile
Of bills is disposed of, and the last Of the
bows has boen made. The three figures in
red then simultaneously raise their trian-
gular hats 20 the faithful commons In the
2eu, and these promptly retire. At the
cnmc moment tho lords commissioners
leave the woulsack aud vanish through
another door.
The scene is over but last touch OF
comedy is given TO the ceremony by the
speaker on his return to the house Of com
mons. Immediately he has taken his seat
lie rises and says, ~ have to inform the
house that this house has been TO the house
OF peers there" etc. The house, unmoved
Rt the information, proceeds to the next
business. London Queen.
THE MONKEY AS A PiCKPOcKET.
Trained to Dishonest Practices by an
italian, Who Came to Grief.
Tho Ypuguo1 rie,bt ~ a ,,orl-a,. ....,aa.