St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-12-15

ever seen since the fathers" left thei
coy quarters i'll Independence Hall. t,
continue their debates amongst tn,
(then) quagmircS of Washington.
But let us make haste slowly, ant
review the occurrences of the day Th,
''Opening Day" of Il Congressional srs-
sion Is always replete with interest, and
the galleries are sure TO be crowded
but this being Il day of extraordinary
interest, in view of the exciting politi-
cal complications, they were ore,
crowded. That Is To say, the Hous,
galleries were; for in the Senate thcI,
WAS considerable room to spare. A.
early aS ten o'clock. Il dense avalanch,
of politicians and Sight-Sccrs began
coming down PENNSYLVANIA Avenuc to-
wards the gates of the Capitol. which
seemed. like the North Pole. to possess
Il magnetic Influence and draw people
towards it from the north and south.
east and west. BY degrees. the vast
building slowly filled up; and aS if the
ronvcrying currents of humanity meet
ing under the lofty dome which is sur
mounted hy the statue of Liberty. were.
there met 10y opposite influences oI
forces. they again divided and went in
| opposite directions, one current going
towards the Senate and another towards
the House. The former appeared to hc
the negative and the latter the positive
pole of attraction; every body knew
pretty much what the Senate was going
to do. but no one could foIcsee what
political capcrS the House might under
take to cut and as curiosity is an
"ovcrpowcring element" (as Weller, Sr..
would say. in that wonderful comhina-
ton which we call human nature, il
follows that 10y far the biggest current
| lively tiny stream t." go 10y the straight
| path to the Senate
Arriving at the hall of the House. the
first thing to claim the attention of the
visitor were the black drapcrirs over
the Speakers chain. commemorative of
the death of Speaker Ken. Somhrc
and dusty, they cast a gloom over the
room which had. at this time. Il peculiar
significance. At that early hour (tcu
o'clock.) the floor was already pretty
well filled with members. cX-mcmberS.
and members elect. and the galleries
were rapidly becoming crowded : IL very
large proportion of their occupants he
ing ladies. with or without escorts. by
degrees aS the a>semhIage on the tlool
and in the galleries grew dcuScr, the
atmosphere became insupportablN hot
and close, and the fair sex were using
their fans as vigorously as on Il July
day. Seated ut Il vacant desk was an
artist from Frank Leslie's. dcttly sketch
ing the scene before him, while another,
from the Graphic, was similarly en-
ploycd. making Il bird'S-eNe view of the
hall and its occupants from his elevated
standpoint i'll the reporters gallery.
About eleven o'clock, 'Bluc Jeans
Williams, the Governor elect of In
diana. came into the hall, and was i'm
mediately. and before he had il chance
to exchange congratulations with his
colleagues and introduce his successor.
Mr.. Humphries, taken in tow by IN old
lady with il striped shawl, grey hair
put up in papers, and black gloves
ripped open at the tinger-cnds, who
evidently, to judge from the peculiar
cadence of the movement of the eX
tended left hand foretnger. was ''giving
it" to the Indiana Governor, who seemed
to take it good naturedly enough. al
tcrEatcly shaking and nodding his
angular head, and only now and then
making futile effort to escape. when
the aforesaid old lady Immediately |
would go for one of the huge horn but
tons (aS big as trade dollars) which
adoln his blue jean suit, and pin him
down to his chair in Il hopeless sort OF
way. Finally, by making sudden
jerk. he managed to tear him
self away, leaving the old lady to eX-
postulate with the horn button which !
she held in her hand, and, becoming
diSguSted, consigned to the obscure
depths of her pocket.
1t was curious to see men of both
parties. who had but Il few weeks be
fore been viifying each other on the
stump. greet each other here with slaps
pon the shoulder, and shake hands as
friends. And when, after
the contest between the names OF Gar
field and Randall, the latter had been
duly elected Speaker, it was Mr. Nc
Crarv. of Iowa, (who had nominated Mr.
Garfield.) and Mr.. Cox, of New York,
(who had nominated Mr.. Randall,) VIII"
were selected to conduct the latter, arm
in arm. to the Speakers chail, and, not
knowing exactly how to go about the
business. it was, to say the least anus
ing to see them step upon each othei