The House of Commons is intensely human, and the coming of the first woman member excited more widespread interest than any single event since the present Parliament assembled. It was the ladies' day, and it will long be remembered for the clean sweep which was made of many of the traditions of the most conservative institution in the world. It was nothing less than the capitulation of a fortress which had been exclusively masculine for over 600 years.
The oldest Parliamentary hand could not recall an occasion on which so many women had sought orders of admission to the public galleries. The Central Hall was crowded with women, all eager to see Lady Astor take her seat, and, if that was denied them, at any rate to greet her as she passed into the House. They were disappointed, for Lady Astor entered by the members' entrance, and walked through the Lobby practically unnoticed. Many women, friends whom members had brought in the vain hope of securing orders at the last minute, were in the Lobby at the time, and it was only when Lady Astor stopped short at the entrance to the Chamber to introduce herself to the doorkeepers that they became aware of her presence. It was a strange experience for the doorkeepers to give free access to Lady Astor across the threshold which no woman had passed before during the sittings of the house except in peril.
When the moment for Lady Astor's introduction came, the House had an unfamiliar appearance. There seemed to be many more women than men in the Strangers' Gallery - another sign of the times, for it was reserved for men until a few months ago. At the other end of the Chamber the Ladies' Gallery, with the hated grilled removed for ever, was crowded with a company which included many of Lady Astor's personal friends. Lord Astor smiled encouragement to his wife from the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery, where also the American Ambassador and the High Commissioner of Canada were seated. The Peers' Gallery was quite full. These two galleries were the only parts of the House in which the masculine element remained supreme, for two women journalists, greatly daring, sought and secured admission to the Press Gallery for the first time in its history. The invasion was unexpected, but the Sergeant-at-Arms held that, as the House and the public galleries were now open to women, he could not prevent duly accredited women representatives of newspapers having the entree from enjoying a similar privilege.
After the formal introduction, Lady Astor was shown over the precincts. She has many friends in the House. She spent some time in the Lobby, with members pressing round her all the time with the offer of cordial congratulations. On re-entering the House during the premium bonds debate, Lady Astor took the corner seat on the second bench below the gangway on the Opposition side among a young Unionist group. She did not make her maiden speech on the night of her introduction; only Irish members do that. But she recorded her first vote, and it was against premium bonds.
