The evening times., 1899-06-03
THE GRILLE IN THE COMMONS
An obstruction to Keep Women Wis.,
itOrs From Being Seen.


Colonel welby persists in his gallant at
tempt to free women visitors to the House
of Commons from the tyranny Of the grille.
His tactics are cautious. He does not
ask outright for the removal of the grid
iron. That would be too drastic revo'u-
tion for the feelings Of the House. He
does not even ask for an alteration of pat
tern. He merely asks that the iron bars
shall be of thinner metal, the increased
freedom for the women being that result
ing from the difference in the width Of
the bars.
But the first commissioner of works
hardcns his heart. and the members make
elaborate jokes. and the women come no
nearer 10 the legislators. even by a single
bar. They try annually Just as they try
for women's suffrage. and the House
smiles at both proposals.
Strong minded women fume in whispers
behind the grille. They dream of the days
when every part OF the House will be open
TO them, including the Speakers chair;
and in those blessed days. should the grille
still be in existence. ghastiy doom awaits
those who oppose its removal now.
The House Of Commons is the only legis-
latiye chamber in the world where women
are imprisoned behind screens and bars.
The peers are less''susceptibie to guiles
and smiles. or less afraid of their sucepti-
III tut IlOust VI luIbs Wu2Htu sil
in an open gallery, in full view OF every
body; and on big days. when they glitter
with diamonds and gorgeous raiment, the
scene is attractive and imposing.
Nor were the Commons always mod
est. Before the present house was bull.
women shared the liberties of the estab-
lishment with their men folk. They went
so often and in such numbers that in 1915
the Lord Of Shaftesbury of his day pro-
tested. -
He said it had become the custom for
members TO hire or borrow their friends
handsome sisters" TO present petitions
TO them. and give them the bsneti CT beau-
ty's smile ....
Then the women abused their advantage,
with disastrous results. One night in l179
there was an interesting debate. Crowds
of strangers attended, of both sexes. The
women swarmed and surged in such num-
bers that the Speaker, a gallant man, de-
termined that they should have all the
available space.
He cleared the house of all male stran-
gers. More women came. They filed both
galleries and all the seats below the bar.
Then uprose a member. whose male friend
had been elected. and he made such a
grievance of il that the Speaker ordered
the house to be cleared Of strangers al
together.
The woman refused to go. They re-
monstrated. and struggled and called the
officials horrid beasts. or whatever the
epithet OF the time might be.
1t took two hours TO clear them out. and
the members were go hurt about il that
for the future women were vigorously eX-
Guided. But what are masculine fats
against female wits? The Duchess OF
Gordon and Mrs. Sheridan dressed as men
and went in the gallery; the House had
no means OF detecting the fraud. and so the
| bar was broken.
Probably Parliament did not intend to
protect itself quite go effectually when the
present house was built 1t is more likely
that the screen was made SO massive for
architectural reasons, to be in keeping
with the rest of the chamber. The women
say it is a heartbreaking and eye-re-
straining contrivance.
"A visit to the gallery" writes woman
contributor. lis awesome business. The
attendant conducted me to my chair with
his finger on his lips. and l realized that
I must not talk.
"A confused humble reached my ears
from the floor of the house. ard realized
that I must not listen. The grille frowned
and obstructed my view. and 1 realized
| that l must not look. At first felt like
lion in a cage, until the rules and regu-
lations rose up and crushed me, and then
my feeling was that OF mouse in trap.
After a while it was not so bad. The
! attendant crept softly behind, and in a
stealthy whisper announced that the speak
er was the Right Honorable the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer.' l selected the
largest aperture could find, and glued my
left eye to it. Things came into their
proper focus. 1 saw the reporters in their
boxes, and the back of the speakers head
Advancing by degrees, / discovered the
orator, and at last l heard his speech
That was better. and I began to enjoy
myself. But could not make up my mind
and cannot yet, whether l was a danger
GUS person to be watched. or a thief who
crept in by stealth
OF course, the reasons against the re-
moyal Of the grille are absurd, and not
meant to be taken seriously. Members
Of Parliament are human. after all. and
would probably speak better rather than
worse if they saw the eyes Of fair critics
upon them. I'.' e
The real explanation of the chambers
fondness for the gridiron is that 1t Is there
In matters conceIning itself there is not
more conservative !, body in the world
than our democratic House Of Commons.
The middle seat OF the front row Of the
gallery is sacred to Mrs. Gladstone. She
sat there night after night during the
Home Rule debates.,