The Washington herald., 1911-08-26
HOUSE OF COMMONS

Then the fun began. For three minute,
the gangway was a mass of sursing,
struggling, excited humanity, amid which
were to be seen figures hitting out right
and left About forty members, more or
less, engaged in this pugilistic struggle,
and when the participants came to count
the loss. one member had an eye whose
usefulness had been temporarily inter-
fered with, and another complained that
colleague had attempted to mar the
beauty Of his nose.
There has been only one such scene in
the British Parliament, but they are
more frequent occurrences on the Europ-
can Continent. In March. 1910. there was
hight in the French Chamber of Dep
utes, when members not only exchang-
ed insults, but blows.
Only few days later the Hungarian
Parliament had the stormiest sitting
on record. which is saying a good deal,
for that assembly has earned the repu-
tation of being the rowdiest Rarlia-
ment in the world. Not only was the
premier refused a hearing, but when
he approached the Official shorthand
writers. intending to dictate his speech,
members rushed toward him and a fu-
rious onslaught began. Ministers were
wounded to such an extent that their
injuries had to be dressed by the am
bulance corps. Many of the deputies
emerged with bruises and bloodstained
faces.
When discussing interesting scenes
in European parliaments, it would
hardly do to omit-for the sake of
comparison and "equity"-certain ex-
citing occurrences in our own Con-
gress. We all know of the fatal duel
between two members in 1888; of the
Foote-Benton affair. when Senator
Foote advanced upon his colleague in
the Chamber with drawn revolver, But
there has been nothing to equal the
hrst breach Of decorum in the Con-
gress, which occurred on June 13, 1898.
owing to a violent personal controyer-
sy between two New England Repre-
sentatives. One spat In the others
face and then a knock-down- and drag
out battle ensued. One Congressman
fought with a cane and another with
the fire-tongs, and one was dragging
the other about the hall by the feet
when order was restored.
The secret marriage at Paris of Mrs.
Edith Leyman Collins. great-grand-
daughter of Commodore Vanderbilt, and
a former ward of Chauncey NJ. Depew,
has created a great deal of comment In
SOCleIy circles. Inc
marriage took place in the mayors Of
nee OF the Seventh reimbursement
Undeterred by her previous experience,
Mrs. Collins has again chosen a for
eigner for a husband, her present choice
being Stephen Marie Hilaire Ellie Eu-
gene Roger Tardieu Marquis de Ma
leissye. He was born in 1878 in Calva-
dos. and was at one time mayor Of the
townlet of Houville. He Is a widower,
his first wife having been Beatrice Isa-
belle Burnett Stears, a sister-in-law of
the American Countess de Rodelac, who
Is daguhter Of the late Gen. de
Trobriand. of New York. The marquis
is of ancient lineage, tracing back his
family into almost prehistoric ages
The marriage register shows that the
new marquise was born in New York
September. lS71. and was the daughter OF
Clarence L. Collins and Marie Louise
Clarke. but there is no mention on rec
ord that the bride was the divorced wife
of Reschid Bey Count Czaykowski, from
whom she was freed by the Paris courts
in November. 1904, and who in July, 1905,
was sentN to Jail for fraud
After a brief honeymoon the marquis
left his apartment in the Avenue de Ia
Bourdonnaise and went to live at the
lovely home Of his new wife in the Rue
Faubourg St Honore. 1t is said that
creditors, whose hopes had been raised
by his wealthy alliance. and who Were
besieging his former dwelling.
FLANEUR-
Copyright. 1911, by Court Gossip syndicate.)