Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-14
ASLIGHT MISTAKE.
How Senator Happened to Put His
Foot in It.

How q Senator Happened to Put His
Foot i'm 1t.
The Washington correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Commercial furnishes the fol-
lowing incident:
1t is generally known that Senators and
their families, and their special friends,
have access to the diplomatic gallery in the
Senate, if it is not full of foreigners, and
any strangers may be admitted to it by the
request of a Senator, if there is room. The
diplomatic gallery is about the worst place
in the whole chamber to sit. Only the face
of the Vice President can be seen, and the
backs of all the Senators, which may have
been brought about by a shrewd archi-
tect who had a mind above his trade. As
for hearing anything in that place, it is sim
ply impOssi lie. Perhaps that is just as
well, Itoc. But the diplomatic gallery, as a
name, is rather aTistOcratic. 1t is fenced
of from the other galleries, and at first it
has rather a distinguished look. The coun-
try constituents of Senators, or the female
portion, think it great honor to sit in the
diplomatic gallery. They sit up very
straight, look severe, and wsnder if any
body will take them for the wives or
daughters of foreign ministers. The front
iS-with one exception only, the Presidents
wife-reseryed for the foreign ministers
and their families, and for distinguished
foreigners accompanying them.
A day or two ago one Of the Senators, /
have not heard which, had two ladies
from the rural districts which he had es-
cons in the second row of seats in the
distiI lished gallery. Presently Sir Ed
ward Thornton came in with Russell
Gurney. The former took seat directly
in front of the two ladies, and they !were
evidently anxious to know who the gentle
men were. The Senator, turning around,
noticed their curiosity, and wrote the fol-
lowing On card and sent it to the ladies
BY page:
That handsome old duffer directly In
front of you, with white hair and white
VIII. kers, is Sir Edward 1Thornton. "a
nice old fellow, but he drinks too much
The page, an impertinent little cuss, as
they all are, did not wait to get half the di-
rections, but started of. OF course he
could not get into the gallery, and so he
handed it to the door-keeper with direc-
tons to deliver it, and was off again on the
run. The dOor-keeper, in hasty glance at
the card, saw the name of Sir Edward
Thornton, and without reading further,
went down to the front seats, and handed
the card to Thornton. He adjusted mis- eye
glasses and proceeded TO readit. There was at
first look Of perpleXity on his face, and then
1t was dispelled by look Of annoyance or
anger. Then he got up, read the card again,
and then he sat down. Then be handed
the card to Quincy, who has also white hair
and whiskeTs, and with his motions seemed
70 say, "This describes you, but my name
Is mentioned. 1t is evidently intended for
YOU Quincy slCok his head, handed back
the card, and seemed 10 say: mo, It is not
for me; it deserves YOU and mentions your
name. Handsome old duffer,' drinks too
muchS very good-ha! ha! har' Then they
both went out into the corridor, laughing as
they went. The doorkeeper, in the mean
time noticed the! actions of the two gentle
men, and became apprehensive that some
thing was wrong. He therefore approached
them and said:
"Gentlemen, perhaps have made mis-
take with that card. L"
ooh, not at all, not at al" said Quincy
this is right. II is intended for Sir Edward.
II is all right, my man--handsOme old duff
fer! ha, ha, ha."
They didn't go back into the gallery that
day, but it is a matter of surprise to the
Senator that that doorkeeper and that page
are still kept on the rolls Of the Senate by
the Sergeant-at-ATms.