Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/223

 STIRRING! /TIMES IN AUSTRIA

wall. Along it are distributed the proper accommo dations for the presiding officer and his assistants. The wall is of richly colored marble highly polished, its paneled sweep relieved by fluted columns and pilasters of distinguished grace and dignity, which glow softly and frostily in the electric light. Around the spacious half-circle of the floor bends the great two-storied curve of the boxes, its frontage elaborate ly ornamened and sumptuously gilded. On the floor of the House the four hundred and twenty-five desks radiate fan wise from the President s tribune.

The galleries are crowded on this particular eve ning, for word has gone about that the Ausgleich is before the House; that the President, Ritter von Abrahamowicz, has been throttling the Rules; that the Opposition are in an inflammable state in con sequence, and that the night session is likely to be of an exciting sort.

The gallery guests are fashionably dressed, and the finery of the women makes a bright and pretty show under the strong electric light. But down on the floor there is no costumery.

The deputies are dressed in day clothes; some of the clothes neat and trim, others not ; there may be three members in evening dress, but not more. There are several Catholic priests in their long black gowns, and with crucifixes hanging from their necks. No member wears his hat. One may see by these details that the aspects are not those of an evening fitting of an English House of Commons, but rather those of a sitting of our House of Representatives.

In his high place sits the President, Abraham-

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