THE GOLDEN CHAMBER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 10

THE GOLDEN CHAMBER.

IN THO HOUSE OF LORDS. [By Eyixyn Isitt.] "To the House of Lords, please, as quickly a* you can go." How one liked giving that direction to a taxi-man in Piccadilly, and how picturesque, not to say ornate, it sounded, though, as a matter of fact, it would have been much more distinguished to say, "To the House of Commons," for, as I had just discovered, it is by no means difficult to gain admission.to the Upper.House when it is in session, though everyone in London knows it is now almost impossible for anv woman not related to a member ot Parliament to enter the ignominious gallery set aside there for women. That is due to the daring intrusions of the suffragettes, but the Lords are as yet in fear of no such intrusion—their (urn will come if they live to throw out a 'Franchise Bill after it has passed the Commons. Meantime, I was possessed of a pass signed on behalf of Black Rod, admitting mo to a scat on (he floor of the Chamber, just beyond tho Bar of the House. Perhaps long acquaintance with it con make one regard the noble Houses of Parliament with chilly indifference, but in spite of the humiliations it has inflicted, and tho humiliation I have seen it endure, that great pile to me. is full ot dignity and trapped round with a suggestion of power, and the sight of the flag living from the tower one of the most inspiring in the world. It is thrilling to stand outside and look at it, much more thrilling to be admitted within the storied walls. , Tho policeman on duty at the Peers entrance opens the door, and in the entrance hall two gorgeous beings clad in scarlet liveries with powdered heads- come forward to open another door, tho first and bv far tho most beautiful of a scries of attendants who point the way through numerous doors, and along miles of corridors. The exterior of these buildings, full of detailed beauty as it is, leaves one unprepared for the richness of the interior decoration, the vaulted ceilings, the rich gold work, the carvings, sculpture, fine paintings and frescoes, which glorily every public room and corridor. One walks through these halls with delight, looking forward to the two Chambers as the climax of the noble whole. That is why one has such a shock of sudden disappointment at first sight of the House of Commons, the. little stuffy brown and green box which is by a hundred and fifty seats too small for all its members, the* gloomiest Chamber imaginable. There is no sense of disappointment at si°ht of the gorgeous habitation assigned to the noble Lords. Nothing could bo uglier or more dismal than the Commons House, nothing more decorative than the House of Lords, brave in gold and scarlet, carved wood and stone-work, painted windows, and glowing pictures, the effect ot the whole incredibly rich. The walls arc of panelled oak, and above the light "alien- of dull gold, which runs round two sides'and the far end of, the Chamberthe peeresses' gallery—are pcdesials blazoned with coats of arms, on which stand chivalrous mailed statues, above whose heads spring the arches of the roof. Twelve windows of richly coloured glass tell the stories of English Sovereigns, and at the end of the room facing the galleries set aside ..for. privileged visitors are six frescoes done in the most beautiful glowing colours. „„„„ The double thrones with the golden canopy .familiar .to us in pictures of -the oneninV of Parliament, nro on a low raised pla'tforni shut off iri'iv little enclosure and in front, well towards the centre of the floor is the famous woolsack, a lingo cumbersome ottoman of crimson baize, with a port little slab of crimson baizo sticking up right in the very middle. This, inadequate as it seems, is all the support afforded to the aching back ot the Lord Chancellor, who sits here through such hours as the House affords for discussion of the country's business. Iwo smaller settees in front of him are for his servants or whatever .his miliistcrtsig spirits are called, and then comes a table not very large, where two or three be-wig-*ed gentlemen sit. .On.either.side (he scarlet benches rise in tiers, so beautiful and decorative that one can forgive tho two hundred or more lords who seldom or never put in an appearance here. ' The seat to which Block Rod's pass admitted me and some eight or len other ladies was oh a level with the floor of tho Chamber, separated from it by the verv ornamental Bar, an oak screen decorated with beautiful carvings. -Here the lion and the unicorn sat upright and begged, "praying the honourable House, anT bevond tliem . crouched . still more lions and the emblem of the Lancastrian kings, a hart with a crown. , . The-House sits'at a quarter.past four in tho afternoon, three days a- week, or oftener should tho ' sad necessity arise, ami to the minute arrived tho Lord Chancellor very dignified in his black gown with deep erininecuffs and a grey wig put on askew, which gave his strong humorous face a still more pleasant look. As Sir Robert Pcid, K.C., he was one of the most popular members of the Bar; as Lord Loreburn he makes his presence felt in the House. Gradually and very slowly other people drifted in, most of them! of course, to the Opposition benches, and ten minutes after lime, with little or no formality, tho business of the day began.

Of course, they could not help looking exactly liko other people, but still it was very disappointing. If they could not wear their coronets, they might at least have .worn that fabled aristoeratio air; they need not have looked so monotonously liko the people one meets every day in New Zealand, in trams and shops and libraries, and in the churches and on farms; so very like one's next-door neighbour. These, men were the. m.-i's-toeraey of the richest and most powerful nation in the world; they were the greatest landowners in the kingdom, they might be dukes, they certainly were marquises and earls and barons, and they did not look> it. To bo in that Chamber should have been a privilege; it was a disappointment. One felt almost as if one had gone to th.it show of Coronation jewellery now being held in town, and had been unable to distinguish between the diamonds and pearls and emeralds. These men too were very rare and wonderful and costly, very useful on occasions of pomp and display, and it was heartrending not to be able to distinguish between them, to know that the bald man with the great red beard might be a most distinguished personage, that (he elderly man in . a snuff-coloured suit and a spotted tie might be a great lord, while tho man beside him might have set the people of a dependency by the ears, or might have been a great pro-consul. Never till now, when I began to think of the various noble lords I should like to see, had I realised how many very distinguished jnen there were in this dying itouse. The lady next to me was willing to tell me oil she knew, which was very little, and 1 longed to ask I ho personagewho had shown me in and who stood near by to tell mo if Lord Rosebery were there, but he wore a huge guld badge across half his waistcoat, and every time I glanced at him fearfully that bodge glared aggressively, so ho was spared the shock of being addressed by an "unknown person from overseas. fortunately, r heard some nf the information thai: was being supplied by a duke in disguise to a prefty German girl near me, and learned that a question was to lie asked with regard to tho Bagdad railway, to which Lord TTaldane would reply. "Lord Rosebery I nbo learned was not there. Not more than forly or fifty Peers r>t most were present, and those on the Government: benches were the last lo arrive. The Bagdad railway question wns put very well by a man who did look very satisfactorily like a lord. Lord Newlon, who spoke from a personal knowledge of tho country and who feared Germany's influence. T could not hear all he said. The House of Commons was built for hearing biii Hie excessive decoration in the House of Lords breaks the sound, and only the clearest speakers are heard perfectly. Lord Haldane is a clear speaker, with a curious voire.- His appearance, nf course, was familiar from his photogiaphs, and one knew Hint he had a gonial, kindly manner, but his voice was a surprise. Tie has a pursv mouth, and sneaks in a high-pitched voice, wilh a mincing manner, like a canon in n comedy, and it does not in the least fit j n wilh one's idea of the man formed from his public record. Lord Morley answered the Bagdad question at some length, which was something lo bo thankful for. Ho has been overburdened with duties lately, and workiua

under very heavy pressure, but, in spile of his fatigue, seen from across the Chamber, lie did not look within ten years of his real ago. His is a most interesting face in repose, fine, strong, almost ascetic, though without a hint, of austerity, and when he speaks it becomes most expressive i'.nd attractive. One did not finite know where the charm lay, unless it were in the eyes which are so young and kindly, but cue retained a very vivid impression of the man as he stood there speaking in a slow, pleasant voice, choosing his words carefully, concise, but not in the least degrco precise—one insists on the absenco of austerity or precision becnuto Lord Mor'.ey is of a type that might so easily be precise and austere—of his gently reassuring manner, the backward tilt of tho fine bead, the quick nervous movement of the eyebrows, hi:! face thin (o attenuation. "The noble Viscount," said Lord Salisbury, when he had finished, "has been most 'interesting, but ho has not answered (ho question," and then followed 1111 amplification of tho question. . Lord Salisbury spoke well, and effectively, and I/ord Shaftesbury followed with a" question after Lord Newton had returned to his request for further information, l'.tkl then Lord Lorcburn made some pleasant remarks in a pleasant voice. Lord Morley announced the retirement of Lord Onslow from the Chairmanship of Committees, expressing appreciation of the work ho had done, and Lord Balfour was. elected to fill his place temporarily. Two questions asked of Departments were answered on behalf, of tho Departments, and then the Lord Chancellor moved the adjournment of tho House till April 20, three weeks ahead. Tho Peers rose languidly, and preceded by the mace-bearer, the Lord Chancellor, gathering his robes about, him with a hobble-skirt effect, came down the aisle, and passed through a door at the back, whilo the noble lords, having sat for nearly forty-three minutes, departed to their well-earned relaxation. Sic transit.