The Irish standard., 1897-01-30
Justin Mccarthy Writes of the
Manner in Which rlembers
Enter That Body.
Introduction of a rlember Chosen
at at By-Election Some
what Peculiar.
Amusing Instance of the Way
in Which DR.. kenealy lntro-
duCed Himself.

the House of Lords is indeed a gor-
geous spectacle. The presentation is a
highly dramatic, not to say theatrical,
exhibition. The new peer is brought
in, bedizened in robes of the most mag
nificent decription, gowns of crimson
and fur, and / know not what. The
Lord Mayor of London, in his lnaugu-
raj array, is not in it, when compared
with the splendor Of new peer. 1t is
much better than circus, writes Justin
Mccarthy in the Youths Companion.
J. have often wondered how new
peer especially one who has been pro-
NOTED to the peerage from the far outer
world, must feel as he goes through the
superb ordeal. Not Solomon in all his
glory was arrayed like unto one OF
these peers. The newcomer from the
outer world must feel odd and i'll at
ease when he finds himself strutting
in a set of garments wholly unfamiliar
tn his ordinary life 1t must be hardly
nossible for him to take himself serl-
ously at that awful moment OF gran
derr.
Mr. Disraeli, with all his sarcastic
spirit. had the faculty when he liked OF
taking himself seriously in whatever
he had to do. But how about l1oro
Tennyson, whom I saw thus prought
into the House of Mobiles? Is it within
human conception that Lord Tennyson
could have gone through the theatr1"
cal performance without vince and
q groan?
The new peer is introduced by two
neers of. his own rank, also attlred In
their state robes. They are preceded
nv, the usher of the Black Rod, ano
then they are introduced to the Lord
Chancellor, who sits ON the woolsack
in his robes Finally they are con-
ducted in solemn stateliness to their
seats.
All this applies only to the first en-
trance of new peer. A peer who has
merely succeeded to his fathers peer
age on the fathers death, is entitled TO
enter without any such ceremonial. The
claims of long descent have their advan-
tages sometimes.
The peer of any kind, whether OF
long descent or recent elevation, has
the advantage of knowing that when
once he has taken his seat, whether
with ceremonial or without, he never
has to 20 through any ceremony OF in
PRODUCTION again. There is no dissolu-
tion of Parliament for him. Death
alone sewers his connection with his
House of Parliament. I have heard it
reported that new peer of a thrifty
turn of mind has sometimes borrowed
q set of robes for the day Of his intro
duction.
There is little pomp and circum-
stance about the manner in which a
member of the House of Commons
takes his seat. He may come in per-
haps at what we call by-election--
that is, an election made necessary by
the death or retirement of some MEM
ber who had, up to that time, held
seat in the House. That was my own
fortune. I was elected in the place of
q member who had died.
IN that case the newcomer has to be
introduced by two men who are already
members of the House. The new man
goes to the House and he is put into
back seat on one Of the benches which
range at the rear end, and are exactly
in front Of the Speakers chair at the
other extreme. There he waits quietly
until his two friends tell him the time
has come when he may be introduced.
That time is after the ordinary ques-
tions have been addressed to ministers
and heads of departments-the first
part Of the days work-and before the
regular business Of the sitting has be-
gun. Then the Speaker rises and in
yites new members" who, desire to
(6kS J0SlI SGdtS " SOAAO w SAAS sssSAS3
which stands just in front OF and be-
meath hte Speakers chair.
Thereupon the new member and his
introducers pass up the floor of the
House toward the table, the new mem
Der walking beneath his two support
ers up to the table, all three bowling
three times before they reach the sa-
cred spot. Those who agree with the
political sentiments of the new mem-
I Der applaud him Justify as he passes
up the floor Of the House, but he may
not bow his acknowled dgments to them;
be he must only bow TO the Speaker. hi
Arriving at tha Die, the new a a n en- N