The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-19

4SA-NAdSOA CoA1 Ii.ASCldAO VI
Boston, now enjoying visit to Ire
land, is writing series of letters to
the Boston Post. The third of these
appeared in the columns Of that jour-
tnal on the 9Th inst. and is very inter-
esting. He first describes meeting
with Sir Thomas Upton and then con-
'tinues:
'He had arranged to entertain the
American athletes on board the Erin
the next day and he wished that I and
the members of my family be pres
tent. The next morning, bright and
early. we left for Southampton, where
the Erin was anchored, received a
warm greeting from Sir Thomas and
spent a day of unalloyed enjoyment
and pleasure: Sir Thomas never does
things by halves, and there was some-
thing doing from the moment we
landed on board the Erin until we left
ut night.
"on the following wednesday after
noon at o'clock we were at tho
House of Commons, and were met by
Mr.. o'Kelley of Mayo, one of the ris-
itary party. He told us that 1t was
sinpossible for Mr.. O'Connor to leave
the floor of the House of Commons, as
,as a subject affecting Ireland was 'un-
der discussion, and he intended taking
part in the debate. That made all
of us anxious to hear him, but there
were so many in our party-1o in all
that it took some little time before
I'VE all secured tickets Of admission.
Mr.. O'Connor spoke but few mo-
ments, but 1t gave us an opportunity
to hear the fervid eloquence of this
great Irishman. It gave me also an
opportunity to compare the House Of
Commons with our House Of Repre-
sentatives at Washington. 1 must
confess that liked the English idea
on extraordinary occasions, when
some subject Of vital Importance to
the American people is being discussed
in the House Of Representatives. it is
impossible. for even the members
themselves to know what is going on
If they are any distance removed from
tho speaker. AS for the occupants of
the gallery, the ordinary scene in the
House Of Representatives in Wash
ington is an enigma, and rot one time
in 10 will you be able to know what
is going on from the galleries unless
you take the pains to be informed by
one Of the messengers.
"The subject Of patterning the
American House after the English
House has been discussed for some
time, and in my judgment it will not
be many years before. a change along
the lines Of the British Parliament is
made.
I'VE had tea on the terrace and
were introduced to quite a few of the
members, among the more notable be-
ing the great Socialist member, Mr..
Keir Hardie, whose influence seems to
be on the wane, If the opinions of
the members of the. House with whom
we talked amount to anything.
I'VE next visited the House Of
Lords and had our first opportunity
to have look at the branch of Brit
ish government. which has been dn-
der dispute for centuries The Irish
University bill was under discussion
and the debate was carried on in a
trifle louder than a conversational
was present, and to a large por- emf
tone. but audible to every member
who was present and to large por-
tempt at oratory was made, and We
were told. that. the peers did rise but
rarely to really eloquent periods.
"Time will not permit Of going into
further details of the work of the
House of Commons and the House Of
>: