Litchfield enquirer., 1858-07-01
LlTCHFIELD, THURSDAY, JULY I. 1858.
Correspondence of the Boston Courier HOW CONGRESS BEHAVES.
WASHINGTON, May 27, 1858.

T WASHINGTON, May 27, 1858 Those who are not accustomed to witness the proeeedings of Congress- aud those who have not the means from personal observation, Of comparing the present House with that body aslt existed twenty or thirty years ago, would lind it difficult to believe the truth in regardfo it. A visitor to the House for the first time is astounded at the want of dignity and deeorura, and the positive disorder and tumultnousness which attracts his attention. The scene which ordinarily presents itself is one of confusion. One half of the members are outsof their seats-walking to and fro standing in the alleys, or in the area insfront of the Speakers desk gathered in knots here and tAere, and engaged in conversation, not nnfreqaentlyaso loud as to vie with speaker who may be formally addressing the House 1; and members probably lying and even sleep ing upon the luxuriant sofas and couches which surround the members seats Some are sit ting 1stlessly, and with apparent indifference to the proceedings, in their easy chairs with both 4lelr feet it may be, upon their elegantly carved oak desks.
 Others, among the few, comparatively, who seem to be aware of the business bef1re the House, are constantly intcrruptilg the Speak CT who is entitled to the floor and not unfre- quently two or three members will be address ing the Chair at the same time. What with this and the conversation going on about the hall.in every direction, pretty good idea of Babel may be formed. Every few minutes the Speakers hammer is vigorously but yainly piled, for the purpose of restoring order and ten times an hour the clear voice of the Speak CT IS heard among the tumult of tongues, re- questing members to resume their seats, and adnonishing them that conversation is too loud ill the hall, and that he cannot entertain any motion to proceed to business till order is restored. Ten times an hour, however, there is renewed occasion for this interference of the Speaker. It must be firm and durable ma tcrial which witllstands the constant and se- we're application of the Speakers hammer.
 During the long term Of years in which Hen " Clay was Speaker of the House. he seldom or never used his hanmer Either through his iafaence as a presiding officer, or better sense of decorum among the members, dignity and order marked the proceedings of the House at all times. But if there ever was an occasion to call to order-and slight depar- tnre from the rules of the House was deemed an occasiea-it was done, and eifectually done by simple rap upon the Speakers desk with his folder or pen-knife. If while member was addressiugst the House, two others were Foat @of their seats and whispering, even in sssrsst of the Sneaker,s desk. Mr Clay would request the member to suspend his sfcsasFrifs- while order was restored.
 E An anecdote recently related by venerable gentleman and model legislator, who was member of Congress thirty years ago, will H. lustrate the sentiment which pervaded the Housc at that time in regard to the depert- ment of members while in their seats. Now, as has been remarked, members are constantly seen with their feet, both feet upon the tops of their desks, in the most vulgar and ungail- ly position imaginable.
 The anecdote alluded to is this Mir. Vance, member of the House, was lame, and to relieve himself from pain, he one day raised his foot to the edge of his desk Mr. Clay observing his position, sent one of the pages to remind him that it was out of order He looked up, and catching the Speakers eye, graciousy bowed an acknowledgement of the rebuke, aud resumed his customary dgn- fled and decorous position. At the time re- ferred to- no interruptions of members while speaking, were allowed Now, such interrup- tOuS 0AC SOuoI anu 0iC fO HCUcIdil1 uHQ ltl- discriminatory indulged in as sometimes to ere ate the extremest confusion.
 THE ROBIN V1NDIcArED.-The question of the relation of the robin to horticulture was discussed at the January meeting of the Mas sachusetts Horticultural Society. It was the opinion of many fruit growers that the robin is perfect nuisance to the horticulturalist, and that the law preventing their destruction should be repealed. There were some, how ever, who gallautly took the part of the sweet birds, and at their suggestion committee was appointed to ascertain their habits, and espe- cialIy the kinds of food eaten by them during each month of the year. The chairman of the committee, J. W. F. Jnks,. of Middleboro, has made his report for the first three months of the year, and proved that the robbins sub 1 sist chiefly upon the worst enemies of the fruit trees, the curculios Mir. Jnks found beetles, grasshoppers spiders and curculios in the crops of the robins he dissected, but nine tenths of the contents of the crops were curculios. He
 has frequently taken hundred from single I crop, and ill one instance 1892 He has not found the first particle of vegetable matter in
 the crop of single bird This settles the question ln favor of the robins, and he whs kills one of these birds gives permission to live and destroy our fruit to some thousand
 of curculios and other enemies of the horticul- turist. Let the robins live, and let the man
 or boy who cruelty or thonghtlessly kills one
 make atonement by eating wormy fruit for the
 season. Springfield Republiean.
 l
 It is said that one of the editors of the
 Lewisburgh Chronicle. soon after commencing
 to learn the printing business, and while act. ing as printers devil" went to see preach.
 CTS daughter. The next time he attended
 meeting he was considerably astoLished at
 hearing the minister announce as his, text My daughter is grievously tormented with a IdeyiL"