London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
AFTER DINNER IN THE HOUSE.
On the resumption of members return, some still in morning dress, and others in the regulation tail coats and white neckties of privileged West End society. Now and again there is a division. When this occurs there is a preliminary trial of strength. The question is put from the chair, and the shout out their approval. Then come the politely suggests Mr. Speaker. shout those of the contrary opinion. Then the hour-glass, which has been resting between the mace and the clerks, is put into requisition. The electric bells begin to ring all over the House to summon back those who have strayed away into the library, or the dining saloons or the smoking rooms. Members flock in, and then the door is closed by the Serjeant-at-Arms, who guards it with his sheathed sword, more than ever in evidence. Tellers are named by Mr. Speaker. The members file out ( to the right, to the | |
54 | left), to be counted. After a pause the doors are thrown open by the Serjeant-at-Arms. The four tellers advance in line, dressing from the right. They halt as they reach the table and bow together, as they hold in their hands two large sheets of paper. It looks for a moment as if they purposed commencing a glee for the special edification of Mr. Speaker. But no; all they have to record is the result of the recent division. This done, they bow again and scatter. The debate is resumed, and the flow of talk, sometimes vehement, sometimes terribly monotonous, continues. The silent members chat among themselves. Notabilities flit hither and thither. Thus the proceedings continue hour by hour until the hands of the clock approach midnight. At twelve sharp comes the beginning of the end. No further contentious business is allowed. The Speaker, assisted by his clerk at the table, puts certain orders of the day. If no one objects, such a Bill is taken as read a second time, and so on and so on. The list is soon exhausted, and then the Speaker announces the adjournment of the House, and leaves his chair. |
Stay, there is one more question. In the olden days, when the people's representatives had to band together to protect their lives and property from the assaults of footpads and highwaymen, they used to be called together by this last interrogatory. The cry survives, although the occasion for its use has | |
55 | passed away with the invention of gas and the establishment of the modern police force. shout the attendants. The reply is practically given by the disappearance of everyone. |
