Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-12
DECEMBER -, 1879.
THE ASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS AND
INCIDENTS on THE FLOOR sUFERFICIAL
HOLES FEOM UNCLOIpF mEIGnTs.

I THE ASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS SCENES AND
INCIDENTS on THE FLOOR -sUrERFICIAL
HOLES FROM USCLOrDFD HEIGHTS.
WAsHNGToN ID. C., Dee /, 1879
To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times.
The assembling of Congress has been des-
OF Thunder never return TO these scenes
OF their glory or their shame, as the case
may be, without exciting renewed interest.
| Upon their words and ballots depend, 10 Il
/ great extent the welfare of larger human
interests than almost any other nationality :;
hot in present population, but in closely
prospective population, in wealth, and in all
that relates, in the wonderful future, to the
ameioraton of human government When
we think of our remarkable age and of this
miraculous country, what wonder that the
mediocre men, who are majority of both
houses, become transfgured and grand If
man is great in his own destiny, if the
judge is august in his power over human
rights and human life, what must be the
imperial functions are transferred. But it
is time To start for the Capitol. The day
is superb. The crowd will he great, for
the old resident and the stranger within the
gates are equally anxious to see Congress on
this first day. The session will not begin
until II III. precisely, but already at II
O'Clock Pennsylvania avenue is alive with
groups of ladies and gentlemen, all moving
in one direction. Ne Capitol will hold this
immense throng, for the rotunda and lobbies
are spacious. but only favored portion will
be able to secure admission to the galleries
Happy, on these crowded occasions, is the
correspondent whose ticket admits him to
the reporters gallery, from which serene
height he may look down upon and scru-
are, their frequently portrayed or caricatur-
ell faces recognizable even to strangers
What American citizen is there that is not
acquainted with the physiognomies of
Conkling, Thurman, Bayard, Logan, Ed
munds, Gordon, and others? Their faces tell
but little of the perils they have passed dur
ing the summer; and some of them have
passed perils. Some have eentheir political
hopes shattered. Some have gone through
the fire of investigation. But the face of the
politician, like that of the ideal diplomatist,
is isimperturbable. Some well -knownfaces are
missing-among them being Mr.. Blaine, who
is watching the Democrats in Maine, and
Lamar of Mississippi, and Judge DAVIS.
This letter must be mailed in few minutes,
and can only add few notes taken from
the galleries of the House and Senate.
Large fire places, with wood fires, TO i'm
prove ventilation and add to the cheerfulncss |
of the legislative cavern, have been placed |
in the hall Of the House.
Tie desk of Vice President Wheeler is
decorated with gigantic pyramidof flowers. !
Senator Edmunds wears a blue frock coat, |
and looks in fine health.
Young Congressman Acklen smokes II
cigar and examines the cards attached to the
that had been placed on hi. desk.
Mr. Conger and Mr. Garfield hold each
other by the hand and lool, towards the
other end of the Capitol.
The Capitol police have new and handsome
uniforms.
The latest thing for ladies is 10 crochet in
he galleries. The printer will please not
say coquet, that would not be news.
Fernando Wood was always the most
Frenchy looking Congressman in the House,
lut now, since he has been in Paris all Sum
ner, he looks more so than ever
Congressman Kelly appeared in the same
suit in which hc interviewed Bismarck, i
mean the ..s-, coat and sack-like trousers
hat have ern through the longest
Congressional career
Randolph Tucker and Gen Eppa Ilunton
we're the only members that were observed
o hug each other conspicuGlIsly, like bears
That shadow Of a man. Alexander H.
stephens, wheeled himself in and STAYED
trough the roll-call. lie looks as if breath
would blow him away. Yours, Nix.