National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-11
THE CAPITOL.
'scENEs IN THE wAlTINo-RooM.
eraphic Sketches OF the Various Characters Who
Call Upon Members ofConsress- Who
Rave Axes 90 Grind-Thelr Treat
ment by the Solons.

ana 70 take as It's legitimate prey all IL can urlVc
ITO cover"
Going to the House on busincss-n claim, an APP
pointment, foreign mission, or n pension, think
which you will--we were pioted to the waiting
ROOM" from whence we were told rules" re-
CURED us TO send a card to whomsoeyer We de-
sired TO interview-in this instance the chairman
of committee The waiting room DO you
know what II ISL An entrance way converted by
the spreading about Of chairs and lounges into
waiting. place. Where is it2 Just in the rear of
the Speakers desk, on the left-hand side OF the
corridor leading to the elevator dark room
lighted only by the glass entrancedoor, venti-
lated not at all Expensive leather-covorcd
lounges, easy-chairs, deep and luxurious, covered
underby the same chilling material; huge mir
TOR, into which every woman looks as she passes,
table, water cooler. and wooden bucket
make up the furnishing of passage-way whtchis
to some veritable bridge of signs" just within
the entrance is the table, behind which sits
languid young man much bored by his duties,
which are to write tho names of members asked
for and send the paper slips in by two
pages-jolly, rollicling lads-detailed for tho
purpose. He took our card with an
air of such sublime condescension that Won
dered If found so much top-loftiness at the bot
tom Of the ladder what would discover at the
topmost rung He took the card, we meeky took
the seats TO which he waived us, with the comfort
ing assurance that 1t might be an houri As in
truth II was but very brief hour, since from our
vantage ground screened from sight, yet seeing
oil, we had SO much that was novel to distract the
attention and occupy H. ,pind. There were but
few when we arrived, bot after twelve the space
filled as by magic; everybody seemed TO know
every one else, and If they had no acquaintance
they soon made one through the common cause of
AN AXE TO GRIND.
There was an amazing interchange of histories,
and II was entirely ones own fault If she did not
hear the business other nolgbor. An old lady-the
Honorable Mrs Skewton Fall, with wealth Of
Bnow-white wig or natural growth Il am not clever
enough to say), her eye.lashes as coloress hung
over faded china blue eyes, her other features ac-
Centuated (may use the word 2)--disagreeably ac-
centuated. She was covered under by long SILK
furlined, Embroidered cloak-sat near the center
pfthe room, hanked on one side by DR..
Mary Walker, restless, nervous, and shah
billy dressed in suit of brown cloth
presumably second hand, since 1t was sew
eral sizes too large for her. him, or 1t, as you
choose. She held her soft felt hat in one hand and
a cane in the other with which she persistently
tapped the ting, to the no small annoyance of
her companions, on the other side Of Mrs Skew
ton was female who must have sat for Dickens
portrait of miss Jane Murdstone." GLOOMY
looking, severe, dark, with heavy eyebrows
nearly meeting over her large nose, as II being
disabled by the wrongs Of her sex from wearing
whiskers she had carried them to that ac-
count" / thought 1t ali over and / know
IL 10 nave Deen Jane ncr very sen. lney ndu
womans rights to advocate and woman's wrongs
to avenged If the members had been sent for at
the point of the bayonet they could not have filed
forth more obediently, more solemnly, or in
greater numbers. Standing near this trio, in the
centre of the hallway, the target for n hundred
eyes and game for fifty tongues, each looked as II
he would like TO rum but did not dare to.
A DAsHING WOMAN IN DEEP MOURNING,
made after the most approved fashion; three
yards Of crepe yelling looped and pinned to and
streaming from a tiny bonnet, with white cap,
trlpped into the scene and stood in MS conspicuous
aposition as she could find. Rather graceful
figure. but her face hard, so hard that even
the "fringed bang" could soften the bold features.
Her hands, slender shapely hands loaded with
diamonds or Rhino stones were used as accom-
paniment to her tongue she held quite q reception
and truly, had she been In the sanctuary of her
own drawing room, presiding at II morning recep-
ton, her manner would scarcely have been more
degage. Our attention was diverted from her by
the entrance OF -, a member so well known in
society that pen picture, no matter how crudely
made, would easily be recognized therefore If he
Is tall short stout slender, blonde bruno,
shall not say, but will write instead that he is one
of the cleverest men in the House, cultured in his
tastes, marked in his abilities, quick at reparee
rich In bonmots and happy, or ought to be, in the
companonship of wife scarcely less gifted thar
himself and the centre of a coterlc made up of tho
most charming and delightful people In oui
Vanity Fair. Scarcely year.. back this couple
happened with the writer to be of the
sixteen guests at dinner given by Q
hostess to whom all the Washington worlt
loves to pay court. He wasat his best, and we al
pronounced him the most fascinating raconteur We
had ever listened to, Gndmy memories Of him have
always been golden; but since the other day the
thought of him will ever be in shadow. He Ell
tered with the careless, easy, always-a accustomed
to nir so familiar to US, looked over the crowd o
IVA N - fnotu
lighted, and he went eagerly forward with boil
hands outstreched to greet-whom? The sweet
faced. quiet lady, who, book in hand, sat in well
sheltered corner, with, but not of this motley
crew? On no. but coarse featured, metallic
voiced, loudly dressed, banged and banged
painted and powdered, and patchouli- perfumet
young woman, who in answer to his greeting
show are your almost shouted, First rate!'
/ THOUGHT WOULD CRY ALOUD
my establishment II was so entire--so surprisin &
With as great composute as though In his wifes
salon they took seats on sofa and were soon In
animated conversation, broken by earnest laugh
ter, all about people and places, possibly re
spectacle but of n grade so far below this man tina
am ever since lost in wonderment as TO tn,
swhy" and the chow" Dear mel If his compan
ion should some day with one of her associate
walk into the drawing room of his wife thos
who might be present could appreciate my sur
prise. In direct contrast TO this, and while
we were still catching our breath, Mr.. Aldrich
of Illinois, came to the door, in answer
to a" card CALI He Is Of medium height, we'll
built wel-dressed man, looking more the soldie
than the merchant-a stern, non-sympathetlc face
He stood moment with a semi. bewildered air
evidently saw no one whom he knew; his uncer
tainty gave way TO hesitation, that to decision
and he spoke to the "card man." who called 70
Mrs. Blank. She came slowly from the recess il
the rear of his chNir-a poorly clad sick appearing
woman-holding by the hand child of tender age
not better protected from the weather than his un
fortunate mother Mr.. Aldrich advanced, his man
ner repellant his countenance like tbs sphjnx
With resigned air he took the letter ste offered
and with careless glance started down he page. 4
movement Of the woman made him ook TOWARD
her. She seemed Ill, her face blanched and tn
pinched features looked still more worn and tn
deep shadows left Under her eyes by the care the,
had seen darkened The sight touched his heart
lie spr0ng for chair, In which he PLACED
her, seated himself near her, and CAV
the closest attention to her story, which sh
told without tears-for women never weel
when the hurt Is very severe, and with no flrthe
evidence Of emotion than lay In the tense vote
and quiyerlng lip. With pathetic quiet OF ton
and manner she told that for which she sorrow
fully and sorrowing sought lie returned to hi
"desk," and in little time brought her Il lcue
which must have had more IN It's meaning thai
the mere uncertainty Of hope, for rs she whket
away this honest man saying kindly things a
they went her poor, tired face had rested look
not on 1t when she entcTed--poor creaturol 4
which of these two should men give their need 0
respect and women pay their tribute Of admira
ton?