The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-11-08
Congress Hall and the Late Sena-
tor McD0ugall.


The following sketch is from the
Editors Easy Chair in Harper's
Monthly for Noyember
In the early summer Of this year
there was seen for few days a strk
ing figure upon the pleasant balcony
or piazza Of Congress Hall iii Albany
The hotel is upon the hill by the side
of the Capitol, and its balcony is shad-
ed by the dense foliage Of the trees in
the little street which separates it from
the square III front, which crowns the
hill before tue Capitol as you look up
State street. The pleasant balcony IS
closely associated with the pleasure Of
summer life in Albany BY those who
stop for day or two, or by the Judges
of Appeals in the summer term, and
the lawyers and clients attending the
court This year it had been kind
of open-air club for the members of
the Convention who lived in the hotel
or III the neighborhood, and at any
time during the short daily recesses OF
the Convention, the inyidious British
traveller, setting his round eye-glass
in his eye, might have seen range OF
we'll polished boots along the railing,
and quadrupeds made bipeds by the
hlting backward III chairs Of angus
delegates.
Yet if the Capitol Commissioners
have their way, and build the new
Capitol at a cost which the finance re
: port OF the Convention estimated al
ten millions OF dollars Congress Hal
aid its shady balcony are doomed
} Indeed 1t WAS supposed ut one tim,
that Its destruction, to make room io
the new Capitol, was so sure that Tia,
house was stripped; even the CRATES
were removed, and if the dismantlins
OF an old hotel would give the State
new Capitol, the work was Yrtuall'
done. Then CAME the Legislature, an,
the worthy and sagacious fnrmers II
r the Delevan, wishing to make la,
while the sun shone, demanded sucl
stately prices that there were ruiuor
), OF an adjournment OF the Legislature
TO some spot where the hotel farmer
were less intent upon hay. This lie,
to "A Sudden furnishing, after fashion
of Congress Hall, and many of th
statesmen who passed that winter il
Albany had rooms IN tho old house
! but did not know the tranquil ant
shadowy charm of its summer balco
ny
Upon that balcony, as we said, II
. the early days of June there sometime
= sat small, Slight man, APPARENT
. shryelled or withered, the slghtnes
: Of his form emphasized by hug
!, broad brimmed plantation hat. Ii
/, was bent or curled over as he sat, an
smoked long pipe-so long that h
Nas obliged to hold the wooden ster
n IN his hand, as If it bad been a chi
bonque, a d he was always alone. Ii
seemed TO know no one and TO care t
make no acqualntances. APPARENT
It he muttered great deal To himsel
/, as if rapt and unconsciously talkin,
1 But the murmur was inariiculate.
IF seemed a iOriorn, erotcsQue old maj
1t living in reveme But when no aros
1 his step was uncertain He moved Il
r ward the dinng-loom IN the same sci
Il involved manner, and 1t became ia
H. plain that IT Was man wholly beso
Is ted with drink At the table then
b. was the same mutteune; stupid won
T. der that the walters did not come;
o. peevish impotence, and an abrul
n stalking away flom the room before !
no had half eaten his dinner
is Then if, forgetting the sad speetac
d, OF ruined man, some musing loiter,
e. upon the balcony could have locke
e. through the trees of the dusky squu
"a down into the Albany Of thirty OF for
OF years ago, be might have seen 4
of eager, intelligent lad, earnest IN stud
D. ardent IN friendship, generous aspl
e. ing, ambitious, with sparkling "A
IN persuasive tongue, and q brilliant q
all reer smiling upon him from the futul
) IL Later he might have followed q
Sc youth TO the other side Of the con
lnent, where the promise seemed to