Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-15
Amusing Scene in the Diplomatic Gal
lery of the Senate.
Washington Cor. Cincinnati Union.


Washington Cor. Cincinnati Union.
1t is generally known that Senators
and their families and their friends
have access to the diplomatic gallery in
the Senate, if it is not full of foreigners,
and any stranger may be admitted to
1t by the request of 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 I've seen, and the
backs of all the Senators, which may
have been brought about by an archi-
tect who had mind above his trade.
AS Tor hearing anything in that place,
1t is simply impossible. Perhaps that is
just as well, too. But the diplomatic
gallery, as name, is rather aristocratic.
1t is fenced off from the other galleries,
and at first it has rather distinguished
look. The country constituents of SEN
ators, or The female portion, think it a
great honor to sit in the diplomatic gal
lery. They sit up very straight, look
severe, and wonder if anybody will
take them for the wives or daughters of
foreign ministers. The front seat is
with one exception only, the Presidents
wlte-reserved 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, although be-
heVe 1T must have been Conkling, had
two ladies from the rural districts which
he had esconced in the second row of
seats IN the distinguished gallery. Pres.
dxUa Nd
with Russell Quincy. The former took
seat directly in front of the two ladies,
and they were evidently anxious to
know who the gentlemen were. The
Senator, turning round, noticed their
curiosity, and wrote the following card
and sent it to the ladies by a page:
=" That handsome old duffer directly
in front Of you, with white hair and
white whiskers, is Sir Edward Thornton.
A nice old fellow, but he drinks too
much"
The page, an impairment little cuss.
as they all are, did not wait to get half
the directions, but started off. OF course
he could not get into the gallery, and
SO he handed it to the doorkeeper with
directions to deliver it, and was off again
on the run. The doorkeeper, 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 his eyeglasses, and proceeded
to read 1t. There was at irst look of
perplexity on his face, and then it was
dispelled by look of ANNOYANCE or
anger. Then he got up, read the card
again, and then sat down. Then he
handle d the card to Quincy, who has
also hite hair and whiskers, and with
his motions seemed to say, "This de-
scrlbes you, but my name is mentioned.
1t is evidently intended for YOU" Cur
ney shook his head, handed back the
card, and seemed to say, "No. it is not
for me. 1t describes you and mentions
your name. Handsome old duffer,'
drinks too much,' very good-ha ha
ha = Then they both went out into
the corridor, laughing as they went.
The doorkeeper, in the meantime, no
tlced the actions of the two gentlemen,
and became apprehensive that some
thing was wrong. He therefore ap-
preached them and said:
Gentlemen, perhaps l have made a
mistake with that card. II
"Oh, not at all, not at ALL" said Cur
ney, . this is right. Il is intended for
Sir Edward. 1t is all right, my man
handsome old duffer ha ha! har'
They didn't go back into the gallery
that day, but it is matter of surprise
to the Senator that the doorkeeper and
that page are still kept on the rolls of
the Senate by the Sergeant at-Arms.