The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-07
DRAWING FOR SEATS.
A Biennial Performance Which
Causes n Good Deal Of Fun.

Causes Good Deal Of Fun.
After our report closed yesterday, the mem
bers of the House began drawing for seats. 1t
was lively and interesting proceeding.
While the drawing wns In progress the men,
bers were huddled together behind the screens
on the outside OF the hall. In the meantime
small ivory balls, numbered from to 900
were placed in n box and drawn thercfrom by
q blindfolded page, who occupiedthe reading.
clerks desk, with the box in front OF him. Tho
page, on taking out n ball, passed II TO q tally
clerk, who called out the number and the name
OF the Congressman 1t Indicated and that func
tionary came forward from the crowd and
selected q seat that suited him. While this
box was being prepared and the eyes OF the
chafred and chatterod like a family of magpics
some laughing and shouting and stamping
their feet creating n frlghtful din. 81 say,
there shouted fat Ben LeFeyre, with tho
memory OF past experience In his mind,
shake that box up well,' and those around
chorus "Kenol" Other similar shouts were
frequent and the statesmen were In
q feverish heat of excitement when the draw
ing began. The first name called was that Of
Wheeler, of Alabama, whose swearing In was
objected TO Monday by Greenbacker jones' OF
Texas. His number was $50 and when his
name was announced, dapper little man,
with very full black whiskers and very thin
legs, walked nervously Into tho centre aisle
| and looked curiously around over the field OF
vacant seats about him. After n seconds
| thought, he climbed over various seats, ut tho
anchored In tho scat formerly occupied by
Bland. Browne, OF Indiana, who came next,
took the favorite scat OF Haskell, OF Kansas, on
the centre isle, directly In front OF the Speaker
and Scranton, of Pennsylvania, secured the
desk formerly occupied by Frye, of Maine.
There was, course, n great change OF location
| under this proceeding, and the favorito seats
were quickly taken, prominent in that respect
being the one formerly occupied by Gen. Gar
| field. II was first taken by Delegate Clury, OF
Arizona, but resigned by him later TO Mr.. Far
| III. ChtrnOn-
when he was former member OF the House.
Mr.. Kasson took the scat recently held by Nc.
Cook, OF New YORK. Congressman McLane, OF
| Maryland, took the scat OF Thompson, OF Ken
lucky, his old seat Just behind him having
already been secured. Carlisle, OF Kentucky,
having lost his former desk, Appropriated
Randolph fuckers old seat, and Anderson, OF
Kansas, took Ben Wilson'S seat-on tho
Democratic side, Immediately facing the
Speaker. Mr.. Hiscock selected the
| former desk OF Ryan, OF Kansas. Urner,
OF Maryland, contented himself with n rear
seat on the left of the Speaker. Holman, OF
Indiana, dropped into tho chair so long occu.
1 pied by Bragg, OF Wisconsin. Covington and
Talbot, of Maryland, did not respond when
| their names were called. Proctor Knott and
| Reagan secured their old seats. Kelley, OF
Pennsylvania, did likewise, this being allowed
| by courtesy OF the members, who did not care
\ to disturb him. When Sam Randall was
called he selected n seat far In the rear on the
| right, but Wheeler, the new member, who
had Randall's old seat politely yielded It up to
him. This placed Randall, Holman and Bragg
In bunch together--a notable Democratic trio.
| Paul, OF Virginia, secured the seat OF his pre-
decessor, Joe Johnston, on the Democratic side
| with his colleague, Fulkerson, only n few
desks away on the same side of the hall. j.
Hyatt Smith selected n rear seat, left centro,
among tho Republicans. Sam Cox wandered
around for n seat rs good as his old one when
his name was called. Wheeler came to the
front good-naturedly again, and gave him the
seat he had selected, which was formerly
occupied by Mr.. Bland. Wheeler then cap
turod the late seat OF Scales, OF North Carolina
and held on TO 1t. Joe Blackburn got seat on
tho outer row to the extremc right centre
Hoblitzell, OF Maryland, selected one neal
Blackburn. Chapman, of Maryland, selected
his desk In whispering reach OF his colleague
When the name OF Cannon, tho Utah Delegate
was called, II was received with loud laughter
as Cannon was u contestant The Speaker di
rected the clerk to reserve n seat to be awarded
TO the legal Delegate whom admitted. Haskell
who was not ovorpleased with having lost hi
favorite desk, was crowded way back to n real
seat, rear centre He is blessed with powerful
lungs, however, and will not be obscure wheI
DESTROYS Of attracting attention. Murch, tn,
Greenbackcr was forced over to the Demo
cratic side, and secured desk on The
outer row. Jorgcnsen, Ortiz and Dunnell 10
Gated In rear seats on the right centre. TIL,
last name called was that of Charlie O'Neill
Of Pennsylvania. He formerly had the bes
located seat in the House. Being last, though
but one seat was left on the Republican side
the last on tho onter row In the extreme right
hand corner, formerly occupied by the mac
poet Downcy. His discontinue created grca
laughter, but he accepted 1t good naturcdly
and Joined I'm tho merrimcnt.
After the drawing was concluded, the Presi
dents Message was read and the House ad
journed until Friday, with the understanding
that when 1t adiourns on Friday 1t will be un
til Tuesday.