New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-16
HUMORS OF PARLIAMENT.
THE QUAINT SIDE OF THE HOUSE OF
CoMMONs-LEGISLATIV DEVOTION
THE HAT IN PARIIAMENT-THE
A1-rOcp AT-C SpEAKER-A MIS-

THE HAT IN PARl.lAMtNi LII M
AUTOCRAT7C sPEAKER-A MIS-
ADVENTURE OF ROYALTY.
Michael MacDpnough in The Nineteenth Cen
fury.
Every human institution probably has an ele-
r,ent of the quaint or ridiculous in us Conp'S-
ton Certainly Parliament. with all its soien-
nifty and majesty. as BELTS the greatest and
most powerful legislature IN the word mas ~
quaint Side without which. indeed inc business IS
Of law-maklng at Westminster Wou4u oi'e" Nv
dull and prosac. -
The rules Of procedure which have for cen
turtles regulated the proceedings 81 the luuse
Of Commons are fruitful source OF emoairaSS-
n,enf and confusion TO new members. some
members indeed. never thoroughly master the
rsages Of the House and they go through ther
Parliamentary life with perpetuaiY rtpIos lns
crv az Order ORDER from Mr. Speaker ring
ing in their ears.
"Ar PRAYERS"
Every sitting Of the House of Commons opens
with prayers which are rccited by the chaplalh.
Ii is a curious circumstance that the TWO IIon'
benches are always deserted al theSe u, " W
Now. il is on the Treasury bchch ana Oh tl'
front OpDositiOn bench that the men VINO con
troll the destinies OF the Empire SIT ana surrey
they stand more in need or GlNlht HsIl' Sl,u
guidance in the discharge OF their cutics IMAM
the unofficial members OF the House. NeVer'ht
less a Minister OF AT oX-Mnister is rarely II
ever. seen in the Chamber at pra!eIs' 49,, tho
II must not be inferred, however th3t the
great wise and eminent occupants OF me IIol'
benches Of the House Of Commons IN tHuS az
sentinp themselves from deVOtOns deem thcH-
selves so exalted above ordinary mortals that
thev stand not in need Of prayers. Nor Il H. cIe'
that they think themselves past PRAYING IoI.
On the other hand, the regular aitenodhts d.
deyotlons must not be regarded on thdt account
as men Of deep piety Probably some members
who NAV ne seen every evening devouty listen
inc TO the nvocations OF the ch"pIaIh never
attend service elsewhere.
What then is the explanation? Well the
House consists % GO members. out on! dp"uC
half that number can be accommodates WIN
seats in the Chamber Consequently, on illpoi
iant and interesting nights tfere is alWdNs
lively competition for places The scraIlple IU i
seats on such occasions is regulated by ceIta an,
rules 4 M snber present at prayers mas rlsle
10 the place he then occupies untll the rIsIhs vi
the House Each evening STANDS ansoIuteIS ~ ~,
derendenr and by itself. and therefore the utIe
10 a seat secured ny attendance at prayers Iapses
al the termination Of the sitting .,v,,,. -
ON the table in little box. ia supply OF
.,,ol ,ybt+a cards with the words AT prayers
in large old English letters Obtaining one OF
these cards and writing his name on IL ulu'.
the words At PRAYER me ., the hack Of the
scat and thus secures the place for the nISht
against all Corners. He may mmcdiateN IedSe
the House and remain away as l9ne 90 her
nIeases The place may be occupied ny aio'i' PEI,
member in the mean time. but whenever tlie
master of the seattle gentleman MhoSe az
torranh &c written on the card in the little orass
slit-returns 10 the Chamber, the tempor@r!
occupant Of the seat must give place 10 h'i"'
THE PARLIAMENTARY HAT.
The hat plays en- important part in Pariia-
r,entarv customs. 1t also contributes oCCaSloIi
ally to the gavety Of life in the House OF Soii-
mons No Incident is greeted with more nearly
laughter than that Of member after a ma nm
cent peroratiOn. pumping GOWN on MS SIN no
on ,be bench behind him The bashfu and awk-
ward member generally figures IN these aCcI-
dents Most members have sufhcient seI-pos-
session. while speaking TO reHeHpe go, " 'S 49,
their hats from their seats before sitting Gown
hut the misfortune Of forgetfulness mas peiaIIsn
even old and cool Parliamentary HANDS ana tie
result-a misshapen hat-has completely spoleu
the effect Of Of their most cIoqueh1
speeches a few years ago LONDON hieiipeI
sat down after his maiden speech, on new siIh
hat which he had provided IN hohoi VI tiie auSr,r
ciOus occasion and as he was ruefully surveying
his battered headgear 10 the amusement or the
unfecling spectators. an Irish representative rose
end gravev said. Mr.. Speaker, permit me 10
concratulate the honorable member on the
happy circumstance that when he sat on his nat
his head was not In IT," The call OF order
of laughter. This London representative en-
ioved the unenviable distinction Of being known
as ,'the member who sat on his hat" until some
other absent minded legislator unirtentionally
established his claim to the title by crushing ms
headgear in a similarly awkward fashion
When meet together in pubic assem-
blies. or in social llfe-as In theatre or at
reception-the ordinary custom is to uncover
while they are seated. and TO wear their hats
as they enter or leave the place. In Parlia-
mentary life that rule is reversed. Members
have their heads covered as they fit about the
Palace of Westminster, but in the Chamber
they can wear their hats only when they are
seated on the benches. As they walk to their
seats or rise to leave the Chamber they must
be uncovered This custom Is the source or
much confusion TO new members, and has given
rise many funny contretemps. The House
never fails 10 show its resentment OF breach
OF etiquette however trivial. II will, without
distinction of party, unanimously roar with in
dignation at a new member who. ignorant or un-
mindful Of the Parliamentary custom. wears his
hat as he walks UP or down the floor Of the
Chamber. An amusing incident occurred in the
early days Of the first session Of the present
parliament An offending member. startled by
the shout which greeted him as he was leav
ing the Chamber with his hat on his head in
stead Of in his hand, paused in the middle of
the floor and looked around with a mingled
expression of fright and perplexity Hat, hat"
shouted the House. This only embarrassed him
the more. H felt his trousers pockets and his
coat-taUs for the offending article OF attire. He
even looked at his feet to see if he were wearing
II at that extremity Of his person. II is impos
sible 10 conjecture what might have happened
further had not an Irish member. amid the
loud laughter OF the House politely taken off the
hat Of the confused legislator and then handed
IL 10 him with COurtly bow.
Once House is made up and business com.
monced II proceeds uninterrupted, even although
there be only one member with the Speaker
present The Speaker himself can take no
notice Of the absence Of quorum His atten-
ton must be directed TO il. This is done by
member rising in his place and saying: Mr.
Sneaker | beg 20 call your attention TO the fact
that there are not forty members present"
That being said. the Speaker must proceed TO
count the House. He does not. however simply
count the members who present in the
chamber at the moment He rises and says: NO
tee having been taken that there not forty
members present, strangers will withdraw" and
then sets going the electric bells which ring in
every room Of the vast building a summons to
members 10 return 10 the House. The members
come rushing in from all quarters. and after
the lapse OF two minutes the Speaker, using as
a pointer his three cOrnered black beaver hat
(Which by the way he never wears over his
huge court wig). proceeds 10 count the number
in the chamber. When nc arrives at the fortleth
member he cries out Forty" in a loud voice
resumes his seat, and business again proceeds
from the point al which II was interrupted by
the motion for a count But If there were not
forty present. he would simply quit the Chair
without word. and the sitting would be at
end.