The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-04-26
MISCELLANY
pIcruREs PROM THE HOUSE.


Correspondent Looks Down Upon Con.
grcssmen From the Gallery.
In a Washington letter to the Cincinnati
Enquirer appear some impressions Of visit
to the House of Representatives. The cor
respondent says; AS you look on this i'm
mense floor, with its green carpet lghtened
with little green stars; the gilt aud buff
walls reaching to the galleries; the galleries
deep, and comfortable and drinking up
sound hnngrily the deep-embossed ceiling
With its symbols painted on glass; the oak
clock opposite the Speaker, in the gallery,
supported by the Indian and a hunter, and
dominated by a spread-eagle of bronze, you
are first astonished at the want of order-at
the running of dozen pages up and down
the conversation of members standing up or
leaning over each other; the indifference
of many members to the proceedings as they
write letters, read newspapers, or clap their
hands for page; and at the intrnders, the
clerks standing around or loafinp OF the
back seats under the galleries W.. see ut
the open doors people coming in, rushing
ont dropping into the smoking rooms,
which gap out like little cabins or coves
and next you hear the Speaker from his high
box, with the gavel forever in hand or near
it, calling out this or that; and then clerk
in u resonant voice, which sounds above
everything, you say to yourself How do
they understand anything here :? Can they
do business at all -? What hall to ruin the
human voice iu :"
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 a fine head, the eyes of a
student Cooking little sore, as il by night
work., and black hair ON pale, high fore
head. 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 1900 votes, the descendant of
Rufus King, the first Senator from New
York State. Unobtrusive, modest, with be-
coming spirit of New York quiet nature,
Congress for his family name and the pro-
gress of events, young Belmont up to the
present time has not provoked single criti-
csm upon his manners.
Now take that man with the red hair, with
a long tuft of red beard a tall, wiry figure.
rapid and nervous action of the hands, bald
topped head, with the red streaks of hair
crossing it that is James Bedford, 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, student, positive, Indifferent about
forms, feeling his liquor quickly, if he takes
any, and do more work in twelve hours than
the whole Massachusetts, delegation, because
he represents the community with work
to do, with ten thousand interests lying di-
rectly ON this government Our Western
congressman carry their Indifference of
dress and appearance to such extremes that
a Frenehman whom once brought here to
make some sketches as an artist remarked
q Are these congressman They look IKE
bisons"
Turn now to third type of 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 wearing
a suit of cloth, beneath which you see small,
peculiar feet in shapely boots. This is the
only Spaniard in this Congress, or, rather,
Mexican--Ronualdo Pacheco--one of the
four California representatives Yonder is
a man named Dunnell, from Minnesota. He
is a six-footer, with huge, broad shoulders,
and loud speaker, with ideas of the Senate
and of various things. He has been six
times sent to Congress from the new state
he distinguishes and the anecdote is cur
rent of him that when the resolution passed
Congress to give oil the members back pay,
be, who had been waiting for years to build
himself o house, telegraphed home " Begin
to haul sand at once" The sand was haul
ed and the house was started, but the back.
pay was reconsidered, and then the terrible
message flashed over the wires Haul no
more sand" Thus originated the express
sion 80 current in the Northwest He's
got plenty of sand into him.