Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/227

 STIRRING TIMES IN AUSTRIA

of a formal motion. [Pause.] Mr. President, are you going to grant it, or not? [Crash of approval from the Left.] I will keep on demanding the floor till I get it.&quot;

P. &quot;I call Representative Wolf to order. Dr. Lecher has the floor.

Wolf. &quot;Mr. President, are you going to observe the Rules of this House?&quot; [Tempest of applause arid confused ejaculations from the Left a boom and roar which long endured, and stopped all business for the time being.]

Dr. von Pessler. &quot;By the Rules motions are i in order, and the Chair must put them to vote.&quot;

For answer the President (who is a Pole I make this remark in passing) began to jangle his bell with energy at the moment that that wild pandemonium of voices burst out again.

Wolf (hearable above the storm). &quot;Mr. Presi dent, I demand the floor. We intend to find out, here and now, which is the hardest, a Pole s skull or a German s!&quot;

This brought out a perfect cyclone of satisfaction from the Left. In the midst of it some one again moved an adjournment. The President blandly answered that Dr. Lecher had the floor. Which was true; and he was speaking, too, calmly, earnestly, and argumentatively ; and the official stenographers had left their places and were at his elbows taking down his words, he leaning and orating into their ears a most curious and interesting scene.

Dr. von Pessler (to the Chair). &quot;Do not drive us to extremities!&quot;

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