The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-01
MARK TWAIN IN A HOT ROW.
HumOrist's Picture of the Austrian
House TumuIt.
Mark Twain, In New York Word.

Mark Twain, in New York World.
Vienna, Nov. 2S.-In the lower House Of
the Austrian Parliament on Thanksgiving
day, in the midst of deafening tumult,
saw motion read which nobody heard
and passed by nobody knows whom; for
indeed 1t was not passed at all. 1t was
aimed at the Obstructionists, and placed
autocratic powers in the hands of the
President of Parliament. This was vic
tory for the government, but 1t was unlaw-
fully Won and was a simple usurpation.
Naturally yesterdays session would be
historical went early, arriving when
the house was empty In half an hour
two or three hundred members were pres.
ent on the floor and the galleries were
packed. 1 was in the gallery, exactly or
posite the Presidents tribune and had a
perfect view.
There was not much noise at the outset
but the atmosphere was charged with sus
pense and expectancy. All the vast house
was holding ats breath. There was Ions
wait; then a, stir, a cpaning of necks, ana
by door far to the right the President
and Vice President entered.
The house rose, and a hurricane of in
suits and excavations burst from the oppo-
stion and blew them to their places.
The Right answered back, and both
sides roared and shouted and stormed
Two dozen Socialists stood in a body be-
low the ministerial desk and shouted up
at the President and shook their fits furl-
ously at him. He raised some words to
the House; at least, one could see his lips
move, and he spread his large hand depre .
catingly over his breast, for, if he is a
tyrant, he has some beseeching, persua
sve gestures not seen elsewhere but
among the angels.
That holy gesture seemed to madden the
group of socialists. All at once they
plunged over the barriers and up through
the ministerial benches, and one in red
cravat reached up and snatched the Presi-
dents papers and another seized his bell.
In moment they were fighting and strug-
Cling with uniformed servants of the
House, who finally elected them.
At the same time others of their group
stormed up the side of the tribune and
drove out the President and Vices, and
followed them all across the floor, ham,
mering the latter with their fists, but 1
saw no blow actually reach the President.
The socialists came back and occupied
the Presidents tribune, and held it like
a fort.
The man in the. red cravat gathered up
an armful of the Presidents papers ana
threw them over the front in a sort of
snow storm. Meantime the whole House
was bowling, yelling and banging on the
desks. A South AFRICAN thunder storm
was silence compared to it.
"Rascals" "Scoundrelsr' These and
less delicate epithets filled the air.
All of a sudden that distant door open
ed, and down the floor of the brilliant and
superb chamber came drifting the spec
tacle and flash of sixty spiked helmets.
1t was the most thrilling. theatrical sur
prise I ever saw l would not have miss
ed it for the succession to the throne.
Moreover it was history and belongs
among the worlds memorable days. This
force was received with a tempest of exc
crations from the one party and fvictory
notes from the other; yet it was heavy
defeat for all concerned
The handsome officer in command cared
nothing for the reception. He went up to
the tribune and requested the Socialists
garrison to retire. They declined. Then
he stepped aside, aLd his men pulled,
hauled and dragged the fighting and strug-
Cling garrison down out of their fort and
out at the door. and the amazing drama
was finished.
In America this would have made trou-
bile. 1t may cause a disturbance here,
hit not even the wisest man knows OF
other scenes before the sitting closed,
though they were nothing after the SUI
preme tragedy.