At the Palais-Bourbon

The deputies are in the fields. Pouriant, the Palais-Bourbon is far from deserted.

Every day, groups of foreigners and provincials come to visit it. People come there as if to an attraction, on their way to or from the Decorative Arts Exhibition.
In truth, they rarely stop, except in the library, which, with its decoration and comfortable layout, is worth a visit, and in the session hall.
There, distractions abound. First of all, "the grown-ups" don't leave the hall without sitting on the ministers' bench. If there's a joker in the group, he never fails to go up to the podium to challenge one of his companions, whom he blames for the high price of potatoes... As for the children, they categorically refuse to leave before ringing the presidential bell. Another source of astonishment is the number of desks that are carved like those in a school classroom; one sees drawings, engravings, initials, and even complete inscriptions, sometimes pleasant, sometimes curious. Mr. Herriot's name is thus engraved in large capitals on his deputy's desk. Someday, carpenters will come and redo the installation. But it will not be this year.