The Washington herald., 1911-02-04
Gossip of the Foreign Courts

most scientifically one or two Of. the
enemy" II 1 am not wrong. 9 John
Burns helped to pull the combatants
asunder until the arrival of the speaker
put an end to the fray
Col Saunderson, by the way, took part
IN many disputes at Westminster. He
fell out with William Redmond one day
and 1t looked as If the pair would set
tie their difficulties with blows. The
colonel. it appeared, had commented
rathed strongly upon Irish violence, all
OF which Mr.. Redmond took as personal
insults. suggesting that the colonel
should meet him in the lobby after the
session. The speaker, becoming aware
OF this, sent note to the chief of police
at ST. Stephens, asking him to take up
position in the lobby and prevent a
night. The expected. however. did not
happen. for when Mr.. Redmond and the
colonel met in the lobby. they talked
matters over calmly.
Sope years back, one day when the
mouse happened to be in committee ses-
sion. the Irish members refused to go
INTO the lobbies for division. The chair
hiah sent for the speaker, and that Off
'iai promptly named the offenders and
their suspension was moved and carried
Inc lrishmen refused to bulge an inch
until squad of police walked into the
mousse Even then it wassas much as the
constables could do to move them m -
AS matter of fact, the Irish membars
ana the ponce had a regular fight before
dhe former conquered and carried the lat
ter bodily out Of the house.
During the debate on emancipation in
the House of Commons, Mr.. Broueham.
afterward Lord Brougham, turned to-
ward Mr.. George Canning and exclaimed
bitterly: You have exhibited the most
Incredible specimen of monstrous truck
ling for the purpose OF. obtaining Office
that the whole history of political ter
giVersation could furnish Canning re-
piled quietly: 1T is lie"
A deathly quiet reigned in the house
for some minutes. and one could have
heard a pin drop. Presently, however,
lively debate took place between the
members present, some Of whom advised
Mr.. Brougham to withdraw his remark
and to apologize. while others requested
Mr.. Canning to do the same. Finally IL
was suggested that the pair should be
committed to the sergeant-at-arms. But
happily such a necessity did not arise,
for the disputants settled the matter be-
tween themselves.
A terrible scene was enacted in the
Austrian Diet some years ago. A MEM
ber made a twelve hours speech with
the object of obstructing the passage of
hill wi I'D haA
of the talk. made a grab for the presi-
dents bell, but was promptly seized by
other members. A fierce struggle ensued.
One man had half of his hair torn out
by the roots. another was nearly throt-
tied Chairs were flung all over the place
and one member drew an evil-looking
knife. and brandishing it aloft shouted:
II will stab all who approach me- The
knife was wrenched from his hand before
he could use it.
In earlier times it was the custom to
commit British political prisoner to the
Tower Of London, where often he was
beheaded by means of the illfamed ak
and block. More recently he was trans
ported to Botany Bay or to one of the
other British penal colonies, but now that
transportation is a thing of the past
he is either shut up in the House Of
Commons or in a regular Jail. There is
room for two prisoners only at ST.
Stephens. Any beyond that number prob
ably would be boarded out at Penton-
vile.
These parliamentary cells are situ-
ated thirty feet up in the clock tower of
the Commons, and they are replete with
every modern convenience and command
an admirable view of the Thames, the
mbankment. and the palace yard. Each
Cell consists of comfortably furnished
sitting-room. measuring about nineteen
feet by fourteen. and a couple Of bed
rooms, one for the prisoner and the
other for his jailer. All food is supplied
by the refreshment department of the
Commons, but the prisoners are obliged
to pay for their meals. FLANEUR.