Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-11
a Gkatch in fha Sanata.

Mrs. George Washington Wyllys, who
has been sketching the house of Repre-
sentatives for Life Illustrated, has taken a
peep into the Senate Chamber. In the
last number she thus refers to the place
itself, and two or three Of its notables:-
Well, upon my word, this same Sen
ate is q cosy, comfortable place. How
handsome that row Of v~ariegated marble
pliers is, ard how benignly that full
length portrait Of Washington gazes down
on the scene below. What a pretty car
pet the nation hasa ground of vivid
crimson. dotted with q shower Of golden
stars-and what a r cefal festoon that
could be above tic chair, if somebody
would only dust The huge gilt eagle at
the terminus Of tho foldst
"That is Vice President Breckenridge
occupying the Speakers chair. He
scarcely looks old enough to be the sec
ond officer of the Republic; there is hard
ly a silver thread in his dark, luxuriant
hair, and the furrows have not yet begun
to Dlow his massive forehead and fine
square face.
AT yonder desk, to the right. Of the
chair, sits brave old Sam Houston, the
hero OF countless battle-felds. You would
recognize him almost anywhere by hi;
outlandish style Of dress and eccentric
appearance Every gray hair on hi:
head is at war with its next neighbour
A neekerchief Of scarlet silk is tied care
lessly about, lis throat, with the bow
somewhere under his ear, and a gay blue
silk vest, spotted with yellow, entirely
hides his linen. His fingers are blazing
with huge rings Of every hue and pat,
tern, and ne is whiting away at a piece
of pine wood, with an immense jaek-knife
while another Senator talks to him in q
low, anxious voice.
Sturdy old Sam Houstonl would
there were many like thee in our national
councils
Leaning against one Of the richly
veined pillars, is the portly figure Of John
T. Hale, the acknowledged wit Of The
Senate. He is a favorite with every one
even the fiery Southerner cannot bu'
smile at his genial jokes, and yield to The
charm OF his perfect good humor. The
snowy harvest Of years is already gath
ering on his head, but the fire of his eyt
and the Aexile play Of his lip still retair
the energy Of youth.
There's nothing like laughing at PEG
pie in a g~ood-natured way; and the pro
foundeSt GeAater in Congress dfesn'
receive the attention that is accorded t,
Hale, when the food gates of his r%ailler7
are opened, and his bon Gnots Gv IikC
sparks all over the Senate Chamber"
To which we add the following brie
notice of Senator Seward from a Southern
paper-the Charlie (Va) Journal and I'D
~vertiSer =
"The most elegant, chaste, and strong
passages of Gov. Stewards speeches arr
spoken with his arms resting on the rail-
ing and his fingers playing with his spec
%ticles as if he was in easy conversation
with somebody. We never saw or hearC
Of such a man in this respect. It is nc
trouble to him to talk intelligence. terse
ness, beauty, elegance. strenoth-as it Al
appears to 10 in print. lie is perhaps
the best Informed statesman it the United
States. He is singularly free ard easy II
his intercourse. and universally poDnIal
Indifferent in his dress, not remarkable
for m-as8iYeness Of intellect. but rather
for the capacity of his mind. his mantai
%acuteness, his habits of mental labor. hi-
Edrill and dicipline of mind. his method
his system. his pl~easanfncss Of mind, 81
to speak. basking all the time in sun
shine, as it were. and seeing truth in it.
pleasant colors."