Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-02

Augusta being the home of the State
J House, Cat least, at the present timeD
and her people familiar with legisla-
| tive affairs, perhaps description OF a
visit to the. House Of Parliament in
London may be interesting to journal
readers.
| In Edinburgh one day. conversing
with a Scotch gentleman, casually re-
ferred to the English Parliament. He
begged my pardon several times ana
! then said: "Not the English, my dear
! madam, but the British Parliament. We
are all represented, you know. the
| innate Scotch independence VIII not
be entirely submerged.
| 1t WAS toward the British Parlia-
ment. then, that my footsteps we're
turned soon after reaching London.
1t is wellniSh as difficult for the
prOverbial camel to go through the
needles eye as for a Wayfarer from
| the states, and lady wayfarer, at
that, t, enter the Houses Of Parlia-
ment during a sitting. There are sol
diers at the door with Dayonets 10
spear you and drive you away as you
! timidly approach. If by any chance
you succeed in getting by them while
they are not looking. various officials
: spring up. clad in bright red uniforms
and gold lace. who glare at you ana
| wave you grandly away. There are
tiignitaries who solemnly observe you,
and all in all, even a nOn-sensitive per-
son feels they are not very cordial.
| But letter of Introduction from and
| t. the right person, will accomplish
! wonders, and where, without one. you
| are received distantly, with this open
sesame in your hand, the officials
| might almost be said to greet you
| warmly. taking the word in the sense
of English warmth
One Of my good friends in Maine had
fitted me out with several Of these
| valuable travelling companions, aud so.
through the courtesy of an NJ. p. l
was enabled to crafty one of my long
cherished desires. and attend the House
of Commons during a session. But Il
few cards of admission are issued eacn
week. the members "drawing'' for them
and it is only through the kindness of
a colleague that a member who is not
lucky. can invite his friends. or his
friends friends. into the almost sacred
precincts. Therefore. we appreciate
tHt privilege tllt Iipit
Parliament does not convene till four
o'clock in the evening" and on SAT
urdi.ys the immense building is open
to visitors till three thirty, and there
is a constantly moving thrOns of pcn-
ole TO view the beautiful interior Of
this noted place. which covers eight
acres of ground Tie situation. On
the banks of the Thames. is very fine,
the view OF the river, with its many
boats OF all sizes and descriptions.
SPAWNED by famous London bridge. and
others; of grand Westminster Abbey
nearby; and of the great city, is a
commanding one.
| One Saturday morning we joined the
| procc ssion and walked through the
halls of legislation. The exterior OF
the great pile of buildings, with varied
towers, is most impressive. Entering
| one Of the several large doors. we find
ourselves ascending a long flight OF
broad marble stairs and coming into
an imposing hall Through this. and
| several rooms. with interesting paint
ingS and other adornmentS. we come
to the richly decorated House of Lords
which is long and narrow. with five
!
side, for the accommodation Of the six
hundred and eighteen peers. many of
whom inherit their seats. as they do
| their fathers titles
| The Kings throne. which is an eIab-
crate affair under a gilded canopy. is in
this room. where King Edward sits
when opening or prorogung Parlia-
ment. To the right. the seat of the
Prince of Wales. and to the left. that
of the Queen. The Lord Chancellor
. tn" presiding officer. has kind OF
couch. called tn" woolsack. which is in
front Of the throne.
Through the Peers lobby, where are
the hat pegs of the members we are
hurried along, by many beautiful
m"saics. statues and paintings. per-
retuating in some form. the history OF
England, to the House Of Commons
! where the furnishings are in oak. There
arc six hundred and seventy members
but only room for four hundred anC
scventysiX on the green side benches
The others have seats in the gallery
The government party sits on the righ
of the Speaker, the members of the OF.
position on the left.
| The Speakers desk is so arranged
as to he in a straight line with thu
w0Olsack of the House of Lords, ant
when the King is present. or upon 9th
, or special occasions. the doors between
ar" opened and the two bodies are thu.
!; united.
: Parliament, as stated previously
opens TT four and adjournment /:
usually about midnight. though Otter
later. IN the tall clock tower there i.
, 4 light, visible from all parts of tn,
f city. which is eXtinguished when "tht
gentleman from Yorkshire moves t.
! adjourn. Those familiar with Richard
, Harding Davis story-"In the Fog
will recall the incident Of keeping