The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-05
FEMALE LOBBYISTS.

The Washington correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Record has this to say about
the female lobbyists at the national
capital:
The female portion Of the lobby does
its work well. How the lofty and inn
perious Congressmen tremble when a
pretty girl attacks them Is il any
wonder wives visit the galleries and
watch their husbands But then, you
know, a Congressman is allowed great
liberties. Ii might be a deserving case
or a sister Of one Of his most influential
constituents; so the wife has to be sat-
is6ed. Most Of the female lobbyists 60
into the business for the money they
can make. In nine cases out Of ten they
are more successful than the men,
There are not many Of them here now,
but the Acknowledged queen is dashing
little beauty who dresses in black. She
is so lady-like and refined and can talk
business so glibly that even the crustiest
Senator falls q victim. Her receptions
are affairs to be admired, and her sup
pers are royal. This little witch resides
in fashionable quarter Of the city, and
is surrounded with all the Injuries that
money can give and a cultured taste
desire. Members 60 to her, she seldom
to them. Another figure in this pecu.
liar line is female whose face denotes
strength Of character. She is in the in
tcrest Of the Nicaragua Canal, and is the
advance guard Of the immense lobby
that will be here next session. She is
Southern woman by birth, or adoption,
l don't know which. For three years
she served as lieutenant in the Confed-
crate service without her sex being dis
covered. Then she fell wounded on the
battle field, and the secret was out
After the war she drifted into Panama,
then 20 Nicaragua, started newspaper,
and is the sole proprietor Of flourish
ing journal. Now she turns up here as
a lobbyist. Her companion is dark
eyed little club of West India girl,
sweet I6 or thereabouts, who has pref
~ foot and prcttier face. This coy
maiden is her constant attendant, and
is used to a decided advantage. Con-
gressmen talk to the elder Of the females,
but their eyes and minds are always on
the younger. She is SO shy and all that
sort Of thing, and has only come here
to see the country. But she plays her
part well. Think troop Of West India
girls, chubby and dark-eyed like this
pattern, would secure the protection and
cash of this Government for the Nicara-
qua scheme.
A thing of beauty is joy forever,
but thing Of beauty with claim in her
hand is terror to Congressman. Il
was amusing one day to see the Rear
Admiral from Camden pressed to present
a claim BY female he had never seen
before. She was a sweet, dimpled-cheek
girl of about 20, and when the gentle
man showed himself she took him by the
lapel Of the coat so as to be confiden-
tial Her story Suggested, the Admiral
declared it was impossible, and kept
moving along the corridor to get away.
Then she caught hold of the other lap
pei and waltz, d the ex Secretary into
corner, where she held him until her
story was finished. '.Whew !" ejacula-
ted Robeson, whipping the perspiration
from his brow as she moved away; "she's
a sumner" When sent for now he al
ways peeps out the glass doors before
appearing. No more summers for him.
l noticed in the papers that an ex-
queen Of the lobby here, now residing
in Philadelphia; is prominent in work
OF charity. The lady was one Of the
retinuc Of the carly days Of Pacific Rail-
road subsidies, and one Of Colonel Tom
Scott's favorites. She has fat bank
account now, and lives in luxury in
fashionable section Of the city west Of
the river. II she could only be persua.
ded to write a book on "What l know
about lobbying" she would make the
country lremblc-or at least some Of the
big men in it. She originally resided
at Wilmington, Del, and was taken to
Harrisburg by Fl. S. McComb when his
Credit Mobilier scheme was an infant.
From there she found her way to the
more enlarged sphere Of the national
capital. She was supreme at one time,
and men rose and fell before her some-
what after the fashion Of that innocent
amusement Of "Tkumbs up Thumbs
down II