Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-23

the nne Arts and Commerce. Just
across the street Is a bronze statue of
Spain's greatest novelist Cervantes,
with relief on the pedestal represent
ing Don Quixote, Sancho Panza and
the Goddess OF Folly. Sometimes the
figures slip across the way and take
part in the congressional debates.
Soldiers and policemen stand guard
everywhere in Spain. Around the
Oortes there n sentinels three deep
with drawn swords. Armed with
tickets bearing our names, and
nationality-"North Americans we
were designated - and signed by the
tallsmanic name Of .Moretn we we're
ushered into q small vestibule.
Here we were halted at the point Of
more swords; more show OF tickets.
Then we were escorted by two soldiers
In black capes with red facings and
carrying fine guns, into another room.
Again the tickets. Again more
swords. Now up a flight OF stairs into
a third waiting room. The sentinel
here was asleep. The guard punched
him with his sword, and the drowsy
Spaniard who had been dreaming
doubtless of glory on the battlefield or
OF chocolate In the cafe, awoke with a
start. For the fourth time the tick
cts. Our overcoats and hats we're left
in this room and-once more the tick
ets-we were uShered into the Presi-
dents gallery.
This gallery commanded an excel
lent view Of the entire floor about
twenty-five feet below. There is but
a single gallery running two-thirds
around the entire hall, partitioned of,
however. To our right was the royal
gallery, never occupied except when a
king is crowned. To our left was the
gallery for the families OF members, be-
You'd this the reporters gallery, or
press tribuna, as the polite Spaniards
style it. Still beyond and occupying
the remainder Of the space, was the
general or public gallery, to which as
to all the galleries admission is only by
ticket. No one except members Of
the body and officers is admitted to
the floor.
The hall is rectangular in shape,
lighted from a skylight In the roof
and seats four hundred congressman.
The seats are upon cushioned benches
arranged in a half circle in front Of
the president, whose platform and
the officers desk and the entrance &C.
cupy n side Of the chamber. So
close are the benches that the hall is
not more than one-half so large as the
hall OF the House Of Representatives
at Jefferson City. Nor is 1t as wellar
ranged, as comfortable or as hand
some.
The upholstering is In red plush ex-
cept the front bench, to the right Of
the president, which Is occupied by
the members OF the kings ministry.
This is upholstered in royal purple
and decorated with the Spanish coat
of-arms. 1t differs from the other
benches also in having a permanent
desk in front Of 1t instead Of the
movable desk like school desks that
can be lowered, which are In front Of
the Others. The frescoes on the walls
represent the Oath Of the CUrtes at
Cadiz in 1912 and Maria de Molina in
Producing her son 10 Ferdinand ".
The ceiling is adorned with portraits
OF famous legislators of all time.
We saw no portraits Of Americans,
but at the Prado gallery we saw the
names Of Gilbert Stuart and Benja-
min West carved in marble at the
door. In the middle Of the ceiling is
an ap0theosis of the eminent Span
iards, Columbus, Ceramics, the Cid,
and Others. Two marble tablets be-
hind the presidents seat bear the
names Of the Spaniards who fell in the
battle for political freedom. Other
tablets bear names Of great Spanish
statesmen. To the presidents left
had just been erected one to Canoyas,
the distinguished leader, whom Spain
believes, could have averted war with
the United States, had not an assas-
sin brought bis noble career TO an I'M
timely end. Behind the president
stand two giant soldiers, arrayed in
gorgeous gold and lace uniform, perch
ed on pedestals, each holding in his
right hand asilver mace-which resem-
bles a carriage lamp-and at their left
side a sword. They stand motionless
as statues. Every hour they are re-
lieyed and a new pair take their pla-
ces. They are a species Of spectacular
sergeants-at-arms.
The president-or speaker as the
Americans would designate him-sits
upon a raised platform with a low
desk between him and the Cortes. At
his right and left are the secretaries.
Just below and In front Of him is the
Reading Clerk. II. Martin Williams
or W. JEFF Pollard would be a great c-
QUESTION to the Spaniards in this
place. The present reading clerk is
lacking in those qualities which make
these distinguished Missouri Demo-
Gratis 50 famous. In front OF the read
ing clerk and In the oval between
him and the members benches Is the
table Of the short hand reporters,
three In number.
The President, Senior Moret, does q
great deal OF talking. He is said to
be most eloquent as well as the most
influential man In Spain. Next to
him is Weyler. Sagasta, whose home
is next door TO the hall, and who is
the present liberal prime minister,
ranks third.
The President does not use a gavel.
Instead he has a silver dinner bell
which he rings when a members
time has expired or when the member
is out Of order. He never stands ex-
cept when he takes the floor 10 make q
When he rises and puts On
bis hat be adjourns the house. The
present President vas formerly pro-
fessor OF political economy In the
University Of Madrid. He receives a
equivalent TO $4,000 a year.
The deputies serve without salary. A