The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-02-04
PICTURES FROM THE HOUSE.
A Correspondent Looks Down Upon Co
gressmen From tho Gallery.

As you look down on this immense
floor, with its green carpet lightened
with little green stars the gilt and buff
walls reaching to the galleries the gal
leries deep, comfortable and drinking
up sound hungrily; the deep.embossed
ceiling with its symbols painted on
glass the oak clock opposite the Speak
er in the gallery, supported by the In
dian and hunter, and dominated by a
spread-eagle Of bronze, you are first as
tonished at the want Of order-at the
running of a dozen pages up and down
the conversation Of members standing
up or leaning over each other; the in
difference Of many members to the pro-
ceedings as they write letters, read news
papers, or clap their hands for page
and at the intruders, the ex members,
the judges, the committee clerks stand.
ing around or loaing on the back seats
and under the galleries. You see at the
open doors people coming in, rushing
out, dropping into the smokiBg-rooms,
which gap out like little cabins or coves;
and next you hear the Speaker from his
high box, with the gavel forever in his
hand or near it, calling out this or that;
and then clerk in a resonant voice,
which sounds above everything, you say
to yourself: elbow do they understand
anything here ? Can they do business at
ALP What hall to ruin the human voice
I'M"
Observe that young man with the
slight limbs, slight figure, and rather a
miniature every way, sitting in one of
the groups in front, with rather n fine
head, the eyes Of student docking a
little sore, as if by night-work,) and
black hair on pale high forehead. 1t
is Perry Belmont, son OF the New York
banker. Just past his thirtieth year,
and out of Harvard College nine years
ago, he beat, by some 1000 votes, the
descendant Of Rufus King, the first
Senator from New York State. Unob.
trusive, modest, with becoming spirit of
a New York quiet nature, and also very
anxious to attain something in Congress
for his family name and the progress Of
events, young Belmont up to the present
time has not provoked single criticism
upon his manners.
Now take that man with the red hair,
with long tuft Of red beard, tall, wiry
figure, rapid and nervous action Of the
hands, bald-topped head with the red
streaks Of hair crossing it; that is
James Belford, the only Representative
on the floor of the youngest State in the
Union. Lean as he is you could make
two or three Belmonts out Of him. He
is only forty-four years old, free fellow,
a student, positive, indifferent about
forms, feeling his liquor quickly, if he
takes any, and he can do more work in
twelve hours than the whole Massachu-
sets delegation, because he represents
the community with work to do, with
ten thousand interests lying directly on
this government. Our Western Con-
gressmen carry their indifference of dress
and appearance to such extremes that a
Frenchman whom I once brought here
to make some sketches as an artist re-
marked: care these Congressman My
God They look like bisons!'
Turn now to third type of a man.
On one Of the rear seats, far off from
your eye, you easily distinguish man
Of most erect bearing, with rich, black
beard, dark, yet pale skin, very black
hair, and wearinga suit Of cloth beneath
which you see small, peculiar feet in
shapely boots. This is the only Span
lard in this Congress, or, rather, Mexican
Romulado Pacheco-one of the four
California representatives. Yonder is
man named Dunnell, from Minnesota.
He is 4 six-footer, with huge, broad
shoulders, and loud speaker, with ideas
Of the Senate and of various things
He has been six times to Congress from
the new State he distinguishes; and the
anecdote is current Of him that when
the resolution passed Congress to give
all the members back pay, he, who had
been waiting for years to build himself
house, telegraphed home "Begin to
haul sand at once" The sand was
hauled and the house started, but the
back-pay was reconsidered, and then the
terrible message flashed over the wires
"Haul no more sand" Thus originated
the expression so current in the North
west: "He's got plenty Of sand into
him %