Washington sentinel., 1898-04-16
The Etiquette OF Hats la the British
Parliament.


There is a quaint side to that
august body, the British Parlia-
ment. The curious regulations as
TO hat wearing in the House OF
Commons are responsible Tor many
funny coNtystewbS, especially when
new members enter. A writer IN
the NiNSfeentk Century relates a
number OF incidents illustrating
this.
One of the odd rules is that
members can only wear their hats
while seated. AS they walk to
their seats or rise to leave the
Chamber, they must be uncoverS d.
The House is very punctilious and
never fails to show ITS resentment
OF breach OF etiquette. This was
a musinglY shown in the early days
Of the present Parliament.
A n offending member, startled
by the shout which greeted him as
he was leaving the Chamber with
his hat on his head instead of in
his hand, paused in the middle OF
the floor and looked around with
a mingled expression Of fright and
perplexIty. "Hatl hatP shouted
the House. This only embarrassed
him the more. He felt his trousers
pockets and his coat tails for the
offending article Of attire. He even
looked at his feet to see if he were
wearing it at that extremity OF his
person. 1t is impossible to conjec-
ture 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 it to him with a courtly
bow.
Another rule. just as arbitrary
as the one already alluded to, vas
once the cause oi getting Mr.. Glad
stone into trouble.
When a member is alluded to in
the course Of a speech he raises his
hat, and he performs similar act
of politeness when a Minister ans
wers a question put by him. A
member addressing the House,
stands, Of course, uncovered. But
that rule does not always prevail.
There is an occasion when it is
positively out of order for a mem-
Der to speak on his feet and with
his hat off. He must speak from
his seat with MS hat on his head.
When a debate has terminated,
and the question which has been
discussed is put from the chair, an
interval of two Misunderstanding
which the electric division bells
ring out their summons all over
the precincts of St. Stephen's--is
allowed to enable members to get
to the chamber. The time is taken
by a sand-glass on the table, and
when it has elapsed the doorsof
the chamber are locked. 1t is at
this particular juncture that it is
essential that a member who de-
sires to address the chair on point
OF order should retain his seat and
wear his hat. If he wei c to follow
the ordinary practice, and stand
up uncovered, he would be roared
at and shouted at from all sides Of
the House for his breach OF eti-
quette. Mr.. Gladstone had occa-
sion a few years ago to address the
chair just as a division was alb out
to be taken, and, forgetfuI Of the
rule tor a moment, he rose to his
feet. A shout Of "Order, orderp
drawing his attention to his mis-
take, he sat down again; and as he
never brought his hat into the
chamber AN example which is fol-
lowed by most Ministers), he was
obliged to put on the headgear Of
one OF his lieutenants who sat on
the bench beside him. Now Mr..
Gladstone's head is abnormal IN
size. He has to get his own hats
made to order. tits improbable that
the hat Of any other member of the
House would fit him; but the hat
available on the occasion of which
write only just covered his crown,
and members made the rafters ring
with laughter at his comical efforts
to balance 1t on his head for the
few minutes he occupied in speak
ing from his seat on the front op-