Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-08-21
STRANGERS IN THE HOUSE.
. Parliamentary Incident That Convulssd
the House of Commons.

| q Parliamentary Incident That CONFUSED
the House of Commons,
At one time, much moro than of late
years, his royal highness was a constant
visitor TO the house of commons, his pleas.
ant presence beaming from the center seat
Of the peers gallery, Immediately over the
clock, During the turbulent times that
marked the birth of the Parnellite party
he frequently dropped in to watch the re-
curing crises. This habit gave the late
Mr.. Joseph ellis Biggar an opportunity
Of distinguishing himself above his fell
lows. One Tuesday evening in the early
spring Of 1875 Mr.. Chaplin, then riYate
member, secured first place for motion
relating to the breed of horses The Prince
Of Wales, accompanied by "a numerous suit
Of peers whose faces were familiar at New
market and Epson, came down to hear
the speech and the debate 1t was a great
opportunity for Mr.. Chaplin, and he was
evidently prepared to rise to it, Unfof5u-
Dately for him he had CHANGED some days
earlier to offend MIR. Biggar. joey B.,
tho member for Cavan, like the redoubt-
able Joe Bagstock, was sly, dey'lish sly.
II Mr.. Chaplin saw his opportunity, Joe
not only deserted it, but seized it first.
0ir. Chaplin had risen, fixed his eyeglass,
smitten himself reassuringly on his portly
chest, had coughod in prelude to his open
ing sentence, when from below the gang
way opposite a well known shrill voice
was heard exclaiming, Mr.. Speaker, sir,
l believe there are strangers in the house. "
For moment the crowded chamber
was hushed in disnayed silence. The
speaker broke it by inquiring whether the
honorable member for CaYan persisted in
his intention of noticing strangers. eff
you please, mr. Speaker, " said Mr. Biggar
with encouraging nod toward the chair.
Then the anger Of the house found issue
In roar of contumely, through which
WIS heard the supplementary, almost
unprecedented, sound of Kissing Honor
able members might just as usefu1ly have
sat down by the rivers brink and shouted
Stop!" to the falls Of Niagara. At that
time there was in force the medieval Or
der which required the immediate and abb
solute withdrawal of strangers from every
part OF the house upon an individual
member taking note Of their presence.
Mr. Blggar was master Of the situation,
and few human faces offered an opening
for exceeding the breadth Of his smile as
he surveyed 1t.
The speaker had no option. He must
needs order strangers to withdraw. There
upon tho Prince of Wales, the German
enlbassaaor, who happened to be in the
diplomatic gallery, and the crowd Of peers,
boasting the bluest blood IN England,
were compelled to scuttie. Mr.. BigaaT
had his fun, bat the house of oomnnens
Teaped permanent benefit from the prank
He brought into broad daylight the abb
suFdity of the ancient custom, which was
thenceforward doomed. The privilege of
spying strangers is no longer counted
among the possessions of individual MEM
bers Of the house of conmona Strangers
may today be excluded, but only upon mo-
ton duly made and carried by a majority
H. W. Lucy in North American Review