Last of all, arm in arm, came the reform agitators. The cheering
that greeted them was loud and long, and when they had elbowed their
way through the crowd, which was purposely arranged so as to make it
difficult, they ascended the platform, which had been reared on the
spot lately occupied by the wax figures. And then, by one of those
transformations which are so easy in fiction and on the stage, the scene
was changed from Hyde Park to the House of Commons, represented by the
platform. Charlie Stanley took the chair as Speaker of the House, and
to the right and left of the table, in places marked “ministerial” and
“opposition,” the members arranged themselves. This arrangement was not
on the ground of political opinion, but it was deemed desirable that,
when any cries of “oh!” or “order!” were to be introduced, it would be
better for those on one side of the speaker to cry down those on the
other side. It was not a full house; only four honourable gentlemen
appeared on the platform beside the Speaker, and they were Messrs.
Walter Stanley, Alec Boyce, Arthur Mortram, and Oswald Layton. Edward
Barnes having carefully arranged his banner so that the motto should
appear above the head of the Speaker, acted as Usher, or Master of the
Ceremonies, and not being very familiar with the proceedings in the
House of Commons, commenced by crying “Silence in the Court,” which
immediately produced an uproar. However, this was soon put down, and then
the Speaker rose and said—
GENTLEMEN,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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