Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-04-14
A GLANCE INTO THE U. S. SENATE
From Life Illustrated.


Did it ever occur those wseacres at home,
who nod approvipgly over Congressional
speeches, and cast in their votes for patriotic
s'Smith,' - or 'sJones,'' at election time, how
easy it was to be a Senator Why, who
couldn't assume an air of diplomatic dignity
IT he were comfortably seated in big arm
chair, with pile of s.documents'' under his
nose, a pen behind his ear, and big inkstand
yawning at his elbowl
Don't wish a grateful public would send
me to the Senate Wouldn't / astonish the
Speaker, and horrify the Sergeant arms
Wouldn't throw all the musty old papers un-
derthe table, establish vase OF roses on the
desk, among the ponderous State records, and
sketch the bald pates in my immediate vicinity
all over the blank margin of the Globe, when
some prosy old orator was talking everybody
else to sleep.
And then, nothing easier than to make a
s'star" of yourself in the national halls
Bring in a glaringly impossible bill, say some
thing personal, wear your hair on your should
ers, and turn down your shirt collar a la Byron,
and you will he sure TO succeed! AS for the
speech making, that's simple enough. Stare
through an eye glass at the ssLadies' Gallery''
until some girl comes in lovely enough to in
spire hickory log, then jump up and rattle
oil something spirited, no matter what, SO that
the '.great American nation,'' 'sgiant of the
west, s'march of civiliZation,'' and sspatri-
otic spirit" come in often enough. Shade OF
Cicero, we already hear the applause that
would be sure to ensue.
Good gracious what pity it is we belong
to the cFiuoline department, instead of being
privileged to wear wbiskers and patent leather?
Does the Union know what loss it has sus-
tanned 2
However, we came here for the purpose of
commenting, not upon what might have been,
but upon what is. And it is fact that the
Senate gallery is crowded to Suffocation this
morning. We look despairingly at the dense
ly packed masses of humanity, and are about
hopeiessly to retreat, when the polite usher
dafts forward with
81 can get the lady place, sir, in minute.
This way, please" 1H
How he does it we haven't the least idea,
but in moment we are engineered into the
front ranks, and a siS-footed Vermonter is
ousted from his seat to make room for our
muliiflrious skirts. Poor fellow how vexed
and disappointed ne looks but. then, isn't it
his bounden duty to make way for the ladies
Well, upon our word, this same Senate is a
cosy, comfortable place. How handsome that
row of varfegated marble pillars are. and how
benignantly that full length portrait of Wash
Ington gazes down on the scene below. W hat
pretty carpet the nation haS-a ground of
vivid crmson.dotted with shower of golden
stars-and what a graceful feStoon that would
be above the chair, if somebody would only
folds
That is Vice President Breckenridge occu-
pying the Speakers chair. He scarcely looks
old enough to be the second officer of the Re-
public; there is hardly silver thread in his
dark, luxnriant hair. and the furrows have not
yet begun to plow his massive forehead and
fine square face.
At yonder desk, TO the right of the chair,
sits brave old Sam Houston, the hero OF count
less battle-felds. You would recognize him
almost anywhere by his outlandish style of
dress and eccentric appearance. Every gray
hair on his head is at war with its next neigh
Dor. \ neckerchief of scarlet silk is tied
careleSsly about his throat, with the bow some
where under his ear,while gay blue silk vest,
spotted with yellow, entirely hides his linen.
His fingers are blazing with huge rings OF every
hue and pattern, and he is whiting away at
slip of pine-wood with an immense jack-knife,
while another Senator talks to him in low,
anxious voice. Study old Sam Houston
would there were many like thee in our ma
tunal councils
Leaning against one of the richly veined
pillars is the portly figure of John P. Hale,
the acknowledged wit of the Senate. He is a
fayorite with every one Z; even the fiery South
erner can not but smile at his genial jokes,
and yield to the charm of his perfect good
humor. The snowy harvest of years is already
gathering on his head, but the fire of his eve
and the flexible play of his lips still retain the
energy of youth.
There's nothing like laughing at people in
a good natured way and the profoundest de-
batter in Congress doesn' 't.receive half the at
tention that is accorded to Hale when the
floodgates of his Iaillery opened, and his
bon mots fly like sparks all over the Senate
Chamber!
Mrs. GEORGE WASHINGTON WYLLYs.