Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-04
PARLIAMENT CLOAK ROOM
RICH IN ENGLISH HISTORY
Tickers Give Sporting News Where
Cromwell Signed Kings
Death Warrant.
PICTURES OLD PALACE YARD
New Member of House Of Commons
First Sets Foot, Taking Oath, in
Place That Saw Bcheadlng Of
Raleigh.
ny MAJOR BRYAN COOPER.

LONDON. May Son the north side
OF the bridge which spans tho River
Thames at Westminster there is a
iehced square somewhat below the
level OF the street Surrounded on two
sides by grey Gothic buildings, on two
SIDES by ornamental, iron ratings.
:, nar r,s,a, Wy nideous circular lamps: and
u sLnaouG AlsoLGos ~ 'oiuGLl Iu!iILnu
haunted By the unceasinE din Of the
spot or romantic or historic interest
And yet this is Palace Yard. the last
remnant (Save for Westminster HalD
Of tho old palace of the Kings of Eng
land, which once stood on this spot.
, IN TINS prosaic pavement; 800 years
Walter Raleigh. founder Of Virginia,
and crying: What matter how the
head lie, so that the heart he right"
went fearleSsly to his Maker.
Now the Kings have long fed from
the Palace of Westminster, and parlia-
ment reigns in their stead. and 1t is In
Palace Yard that the newly elected
member of tho British House of Com
cincts Of Parliament.
Describes CIonkroom.
tiks taxi bears him past the cntra nee
Of the hall which William Rufus.
soo years ago. erected for his ban
quets and revels, and deposits him
al small and inconspicuous doorway.
lie passed along a vaulted passage
open TO the sky OH one side. and finds
pegs. Zach hatpeg bears on it The
name OF u member of Parliament and
they are arranged IN alphabetical or
der, SO that the most insignificant OF
Gin with q or an l., may ind his gar
ments rubbing shoulders with those Of
Arthur Balfour or Lloyd George.
Some unknown officials must have
the terrible task when a new parlia-
ment is elected, of writing out the new
names and destroying the old. Many
that have been there for years van
ished last December with the downfall
still multitude on which the novice
looks with awe.
Unless lie Is an archa eologist he
probably does not know that lie il; on
ground that should give him ye, more
cause for reverence. for in this cloister.
now dedicated to the ignobe purpose
OF cloakroon, with a tape machine
ticking out the latest Stock Exchange
corner where oliver Cromwell signed
his name to tho death warrant of
Charles Stuart. King of England. tho
hrst King TO die on the. scRffold by the
sentence OF his subjects. III tho mem :
Der Of Pariiament should ever be
tempted to think lightly Of his respon-
sloiiities, the grave memories OF the
halls in which they are fulfilled should
be sufficient monition to his con-
science.
Whips Arc Busy OhcinIS.
The member on his way to take his
seat goes up winding stair, and en-
tiers what is known as the "AIembers'
lobby. On either side OF the door by
which tho whips" of the different
parties watch those who are leavin 8
The house. OBTAINING them by persua
sion II they are likely 10 be needed
In one corner OF the members lobby
stands the commons post office: ont
~ run passages leading to the pub
He lobby. tho library and the commit
Tee rooms: on the left is the entrance
TO inc debating chamber itself.
The new member is probably impa
tent TO fulhil the ceremonic; neces
Sary for his installation. and presses
into thc house. Though he Is scanned
with curiosity by policemen and elderly
gentlemen with gold chains around
Sensers, yet no one challenges him
This is as we'll for his peace OF mind
since he hears with him no formal
proof Of his election.
formed the clerk of the Parlamcnts
mat John Blank, Esq, has been re-
turned as 1T and proper rerson 10
represent the borough of Dash, and II
questioned no doubt Mr. Blank. at The
expense OF little time and trouble
who Is known 10 he able TO take his
seat from being impersonated by some
impoS!ior. The laSity that makes this
when members of Parliament were ali
drawn from the same class OF socintv
and were all known to one another
Speaker Has Much Dignity.
rs he enters the house the M. p.
sees opposite him in his high -canopi I'd
cnair the sneaker. Mr.. Lowthen, who
has again been elected to that once,