Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-02
A Maine Girl In Europe---VI.

member absorbed in conversation in
order to prevent him from returning to
vote on an important measure. TIL the
man who was watching gave the signal
that the Parliament light had gone out.
The other rooms of the building are
used by different officials, for committee
rooms and other similar purposes.
1t was about eight o'clock one even
ing, accompanied by a friend. that l
drove ur to the Houses OF Parliament,
which were sparkling all over with
many lights, and through the courtesy
Of Mr.. Il. +. OConnOr, one Of the Lead
ing members of the House of Commons,
representing the important district of
Liverpool. had the great pleasure of
observing tho methods of British law
makers. We We're escorted past uni
formed guards, along corridors and up
| StairWaNS, till we were uShered into q
gallery. far above the floor Of the House
and behind lattice screen, at that.
There seems 10 objection to a gentle
man coming in, but no ladies are al
lowed in the capaciOus galleries below.
| 1t is somewhat different from the
cosy manner in which the aisles of the
legislative hall at the State House are
crowded with ladies, on certain Occa-
siOns, to the wellnigh exclusion of the
members-I have frequently seen whole
rows of representatives entirely SUBJ
merged between nodding picture hats.
on one side and "fluffy-rufhe' costumes
on the other. Neither is the English
style as sOciable as the rOomy galleries
of Congress. which on Beverage or
Tillnan day are crowded with lady
friends Of the members. The front
seats are given up to them and they
are really quite part of the affair.
Not so in the dignified House of Com
mons No such distractions or sen-
coura gements are allowed but the
feminnes, who are adventurous enough
to take an interest in politics. are
banished to a little place under the
caves, carefully screened from the view
Of the orators below. One feels like
an exhibit at the zoo. and I had quite
desire to growl, However selecting
the largest aperture. I SaZed down OH
the tops of the members tall hats. For
only when addressing the chair do they
trouble to uncover their heads.
l would like to insert here little
fashion note on the correct size for
high hats, as eXemplified by the gen.
tlemen of London. From observation.
judge the proper thing is to have
them at least three sizes too large for
the head. so they will slip down we'll
over the ears. At first thought they
: had selected hats from the wrong pegs,
f till learned they liked them that way.
t 1t may be well for the development of
, the brain and for some eXigencies, as
, well.
the ever-present theme of taxation
I 1t was. naturally. not very exciting.
: No books were thrown; everything was
| peaceful. Whenever Il point was made
by a speaker. the other members cried:
. Hear. Hear" in politely bored tone
, The voices. as they reached US, were
E not specially animated-no doubt it was
, the subject which was not conducive
to great enthusiasm. l couldn't hell
! wondering. however. what a sensation
it would make among these gentlemen
, lounging on the benches with their hat.
, over their eyes, if Senator Tillmar
should arrive in their midst and de-
, liver one of his whirlwind haranSues;
or if the eloquent Senator Beveridg,
, should give Il polished address on the
way things should be done; or if Con-
gresham Littlefield from Maine, ir
one of his energetic speeches should
wake the echoes Of that historic cham
her. l am sire there would be several
deaths from acute amaZement.
Several of the Cabinet ministers were
present. as is their custom, and re-
SpOndcd to questions addressed u
them. Among speakers of note was
the Rt. Hon. James a. Balfour. one OF
England's most eminent statesmen.
!. Finally votes were taken. the form
being by division. the members retiring
to the ayes" and Noes" Hobbies tc
be counted. After some little time
2 the tellers returned and announced the
2 result to the presiding officer.
l While we had been getting much in
terested in the doingS down below. the
( little gallery where we were sitting had
}. been rapidly filling with ladies il
q beautiful evening costume-ma irons
). and young ladies. who Uttered in and
l carried on animated conversations IL
). whispers. An occasional gentleman
;. also strayed in. We We're duly i'm.
t pressed when a page entered ant
deferentialy announced to a lady thai
Sir William was waiting. Think o.
Il Sir William, waiting!
@ Dining or drinking tea on the tor.
races overlooking the Thames is a IA
= vorite social event, the ladies cOmins
n ! in great numbers, and at certain hours
s the corridors are crowded will
promenaders. We were invited to at
:. tend this festivity the following eve
= ming and witness tie ladies of Parlia
n ment ION parade" but could not adap
8 an already Overfull program to include
a it.
a A writer in a recent issue Of every
O body's" refers to the House of Lori
4 as that fragment from the wreck o
- feudalism." 1t is composed, as i
a doubtless known, Of peers only-th,