The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-28
JUDGMENT DAY.
Exciting Scene in the House Of
Representatives.

--
Sketches Of the Principal Charas
ters I'm the Drama Of Credit Mobi
Iier-Appesrauce aud Demeanol
Ofthe CuIprits-The stage and th,
Audience.
WASHINGTON, Feb, %, lS73.-"Judg
ment Day" in Congress as to-day wa
facetiously called, opened clear an'
bright. The cold Of the day previou'
gave way for the customary mild
warmth OF a Winters day in Washing
ton. The wind that swept down tn,
avenue at an early hour increased il
intensity, so that during the middle o.
the forenoon great clouds Of blindi nl
and whirling dust enveloped the long lin,
of pedestrians moving Cspitolwsrds
At the early hour OF ten o'clock tht
street cars going in the direction Of the
Capitol were crowded; the sidewalks
were filled with a jostling, eager throng
and the indications even to the mosI
casual observer were that something ot
more than ordinary interest had called
out this motley throng OF men, women
and children from all possible grades
of society. In the Capitol by ten o'clock,
the Railways adjoining the House
galleries were packed, packed with an
eager throng Of murmuring humanity
seeking to gain admission to the gal
leries. The door keepers admitted no
one until half-past ten, when the doors
were opened, and the vast crowd poured
into the galleries, filling them to their
utmost capacity in moment, leaving,
when it was all done, quite 30 many
more thronged all down the Railways
and hanging on to the staircases a. It
were by their eyelids
In the House by eleven o'clock there
was not large number OF members
present. 1t would not do for these old
actors on the political stage to bestow
any particular interest upon the coming
melodrsma by appearing too early at
the rehearsal.
PRAYER FOR THE CHRISTIAN STATESMEN.
The Rev. J. G. Butler opened the day
with a prayer especially prepared for
this occasion. He made a good point,
but which is seldom reduced to prsc-
tice-namely, that the Lord would in
cline the Congressman there assembled
to do unto others a. they would be done
by themselves. During the monoton-
GUS reading OF the interminsble journal
members began to come in, in the us-
usl indifferent manner, as If judgment
days were the most common things
imaginable. Almost every member
wore peculiarly heavy, ststesmanlike
air, as il to impress the public which
crowded and surged In massee above
them. During the reading OF the jour-
nal Sam Cox made the notiou that the
reading be suspended for moment
and the ladies out in the Railways be
admitted to the floor OF the House
Fernando Wood wanted a preference
shown for members families. Sam Cox
humorously replied that most members
did prefer their families, and of course
he would have no objection. This mo-
tion WAS not gsinsaid, aud the ladies
were allowed 10 enter In they came,
tai! ladies, short ladies, fat ladies, lean
ladies, fashionable ladies. All the
modern types Of Washington feminin
ity entered in various stages OF disorder,
occssioned by their being jostled about
in the chambers. With these addi-
tions the House began to look more
like circus than the Hall of a legisls.
tive body. The vacant space in the
rear OF the members desks presented
an unusual appearance. Instead Of the
lobbyist button-holing some impecuni'
GUS Congressman or groups OF
political idlers strolling to and
iro, there were ladies, whose
BRIGHT, GAlLY.CoLoRgD DRESSES AND
RIBBONS
made the background OF Congress look
like a parterre OF flowers. The contrast
between the flowers aud the Congress-
men was not hattering to the latter
The introduction OF ladies to-day op
the floor had several bad effects, In
the rirst place it distracted the attention
Of many of the lighter weight states.
men, and fired them with noble am
bition TO do something to distinguish
themselves in the presence Of so much
But the cold practical
management OF the keen man in the
chair dispeIled at once any roee-colorec
visions Of fame they might have con-
ceived, and brought them down very
hard to their seats, where, once subdued
they were content to remain IN their
usual obscurity. The presence OF the
ladies, ssndwitched in between mem
bers at their seats, had another danger
GUS effect. 1t was very difficult for
some OF the legislators to be ia such
close proximity TO pretty women, and
at the came time follow the thread Of
the legal arguments that passed pro
and con on this sll-important question
before the House The light weights,
under
THE HUNANIzTys INFLUENCE OF FAIR
WOMEN,
no longer felt ssnguinsry. They felt
forgiving, and ifa vote for expulsion
had Deso put at an early stage OF the
proceedings but q small minority could
have been brought to bear upon the
victims.
Shortly after half past eleven the
droning or the Journal had been finish
ed and the desks had been cleared OF
sundry tremendous documents from
government officials in relation 70 some
very important topic. in which no one
was expected to take the slightest inter
est When the desks were finally clear