as that is done, he at once begins to "count the House. This does not mean that he simply counts the number of legislators who are in the Chamber. Before doing so, he touches certain electric bells which ring in every part of the building a summons to members to leave the library and the smok ing room and to return to their parliamen tary duties. After a lapse of three minutes, the doors of the Chamber are closed and
strated, and a second count may take place very soon after the first. In this way a great deal of time is often wasted. Reference has already been made to the part which a hat plays in keeping a mem ber's seat for him. Yet this is only one of the duties performed by this article of ap parel. While a member may sit in the House with his hat upon 'his head, he must take it off upon rising to leave the Cham-
ST. STEPHEN S CRYPT.
locked, and then Mr. Speaker counts the number of men in the House, using as a pointer his "cocked"' hat, which, it is said, he never wears. Upon reaching the fortieth member, he resumes his seat, and the debate proceeds. When forty members are not present, he leaves the Chair without saying anything whatever, and the session is over for the evening. It is not uncommon for the benches to be deserted again as soon as the presence of a quorum has been demon-
ber, as well as upon entering it; and if he does not do so, the whole assembly, irre spective of party, will shout "hat" until he removes his headgear. The general rule is that the legislator who is addressing the Speaker must do so standing and barehead ed, but to this rule there is at least one exception. When a debate has ended, and the question under discussion is about to be put from the Chair, any member who wishes to ask for information must do so in a sitting
