The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-09

; down. sat down-and took off his
hat! Still more furious came the
cries of "Order, order..' and the
member, already utterly bewildered,
became maddened by this instruction
roared at him "Do both together. -
He turned to his friends to shout
"How can l DO both-sit down and
stand up?' And then, in despair
his friends seized him, forced him in
his seat, put on his hat, and said ::
"Now speak," But all he could
then mutter was: 1--WE clean forgot
ten what I was going to say
It was in a similar case that Mr..
Gladstone, having left his hat in a
room, had to borrow one from a col
league who took very small size, and
the G. O. Ms. gravity heightened the
comic effect of a small hat precarious-
ly wobbling on a massive head. Mr..
Will Crooks recently had to resort to
the same expedient, when the house
was very excited, and what is called
"an ugly scene" was brewing. But
the hat handed to him was a very rak-
ish opera hat, Of brimmy shape and
opulent curves, and the gathering
clouds were dispersed by the hearty
breath Of laughter.
The Parliamentary hat is useful
implement. It serves as a sort Of
workbox Of the NJ. P, and is stuffed
with official papers, orders Of the day
notes for speeches-and speeches that
are never delivered. If member is
alluded to in debate, he raises his
hat in acknowledgement; when a
Minister answers a members question
the member raises his hat, when un-
opposed bills are going through, the
Patronage Secretary raises his hat III
stead Of opening his mouth and max
inc a formal motion. Mr.. Gladstone
we'll versed in the niceties Of express
ion Of the Parliamentary hat, used to
stroll into the house during his ere
tirement from public life.'' thirty
years ago. wearing his hat, and car
rying his stick and gloves. The little
ceremonial meant: "Pray don't mind
me. I only just looked in on my way
and don't intend to stop" So he
advertised and emphasized his detach-
ment.
The Parliamentary hat, again, Sc
cures a members seat for the sitting
if the member is present during pray
ers. But the procedure has had its
abuses. and led to ruling from the
Chair on the proper practice Of the
Parliamentary hat. During the great
Home Rule days, when all the $40
members turned up to struggle for the
400 odd seats provided. prominent
Liberal Unionist, son Of still more
prominent parsonage entered the
House laden with ancient headgear,
which he strewed along the benches
claimed by the faithful retainers of
his father. An Irish member admir-
ing the device, copied it in the inter-
ests Of his friends, and so the speak
er was called upon to rule out the
fraudulent hat, and to insist on. the
honest working headgear and the bod
ilv presence of the member as condl-
tions necessary to valid tenure.
Thirty years ago no shape Of hat
other than a silk "topper" had been
seen in the reformed Parliament. An
Irish member made the first breach
in custom by coming down to the
house in a soft crush hat of the size
and shape that made Gladstone jocu-
larly wonder whether it would be safe
to give Tennyson, who was faithful
to one like it. peerage. But the Irish
member paid homage to convention
even whilst he defed it, for he car
ried his hat furtively in his hand and
wore it seldom in the chamber itself.
and then only when it threw his apol-
eetic countenance into kindly shade.
But one day Speaker Brand called
him ND to the chair to tell him that
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