Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-13
HOUSE ETIQUETTE.
HATS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN
PARLIAMENT.

No Member Is Allowed to Read a News
paper-Old Customs That Are Still Adj
hered To-NearIy zoo Members, With
Seats For Only $50.
When new member makes his first ap-
pearance in the house of commons, he has
to be escorted to tho table to take the oath
by two other members of parliament.
This is one of the immcmorial usages of
the house Of commons. 1t originated in
far remote past when it was really neCes-
sary in order to prevent personation that
two members of the house should identify
the claimant Of q scat after u byclcction
hs the person named in the writ of the re-
burning officer.
The prccaution has been unnecessary for
many year. But such is tho reluctance
bf the house of commons to part with any
pf it's quaint and antique ceremonies that
t is still retained, and though a represent
htive may come to the bar of tho house as
he unanimous choice of a constituency of
o, 900 electors and produce his credentials
be will not be permitted to take his seat
lnlcss he can get two members to act as
bis sponsors.
DIR. Konealy, the famous counsel for
the claimant" presented himself at tho
bar unattended after his election for Spoke
Upon Trent in February, 1875. Tho speak
pr informed him of the usage of the house,
and as he could not get two members to
accompany him to the table he was obliged
o leave.
1t was only by a special resolution of tho
house, moved by Mr.. Disraoli, its leader at
he time, that DIR. KCncaly was allowed to
AXE his seat without complying with tho
Usual practice
When men assemble together in social
life, Us in thcatcr or at u meeting, tho
ordinary custom is to uncover while they
re seated and to don their hats as they
inter or leave the place.
In parliamentary life that rulo is revers-
ID. Members can wear their hats only
when they arc seated on tho benches. As
hey walk to the seats or rise to leave tho
hamber they must be uncovered. This
ustom is the source of much confusion
md embarrassment to now members
The house never fails to show its resent
nent of breach Of its etiquette, however
light. 1t will, without distinction of par
y, unanimously roar with indignation at
new member who, ignorant or unmind-
III of the parliamentary custom, wears his
lat as he walks down the floor of tho
hambGr
An offending member, startled by tho
hout which greeted him as he was leaving
he chamber with his hat on his head in
tead of his hand, paused in the middle Of
he floor and looked around with min
led expression of fright and perplexity.
Hat HAITI shouted the house.
This only embarrassed him the more
lie felt his trousers pockets and his coat
ails for tho offending article of attire. Ho
ven looked at his feet to see if he wero
vearing it at that extremity Of his person
t is impossible to conjecture what might
ave happened further had not DR.. Tanner
walked up to the offending member and
mid the loud laughter of the house polite
took off his hat and then handed it to
i'm with cOurtly bow.
The hat plays many important parts in
parliamentary customs. 1t also contrib
ties occasionally to tho gayCty Of life in
he house of commons. No incident is
reeted with more hearty laughter than
he spectacle of amCmber, after II magnid
ent peroration, Pumping down on his
Tx hat on the bench behind him.
The bashful and awkward member gen
rally figures in those accidents, but tho
Misfortune has befallen even old and cool
parliamentary hands like Mr.. Chamber
lin and Sir William Harcourt and has
implicitly spoiled the effects of few of
heir most eloquent speeches.
A few years ago Mr.. r. G. Webster,
lember for East st. Pancras, sat down
ftcr his maiden speech on n new silk hat,
hich he had provided in honor of the aus
icious OCCASION and as he was ruefully
lrveying his battered hcadgear, to tho
nusement of the unfeeling spectators,
IT. Edward Harrington, au Irish repre-
bntative, rose and gravcly said, "Mr.
peaker, permit me to congratulate tho
Onorable member on the happy circum-
ance that when he sat on his hat his head
as not in it," The strident call of Cor
pr, order!" from the speaker was drown
in roars of laughter
In probably every other legislative cham
er in the world each member has a special
at allotted to him. But though there
TO $40 members in the commons tho
lambcr, strangely enough, was built to
bcommodate only about half that number
nd the only members who are certain of
ats arc ministers and eX-ministCrs tho
bcupants respectively of the treasury bench
nd the first opposition bench.
The consequence is that on occasions Of
,eat interest there is always a scramble
+ places. A large crowd OF members
lthered at Westminster in the early morn
g of the evening on which Mr.. Gladstone
troduced the home rule bill of 1892, and
hen, after hours of waiting, the door Civ
& immediate entrance to the chamber
as opened at u. m, so mad was the
lsh for seats that several members were
|ushed, Knocked down and trampled
pon.-Chambcrs Journal.