Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-30
FROM THE GALLERY.
A Hird's-Eys View Of the House Of
Representatives.:
Congressman and Their wires-Personal
Characteristics OF Some of the
Most Prominent
Members.


ing down from the galleries on the new
House, the verdict is unanimous that
they are a splendid-looking body Of
men-fine figures, genial countenances,
well-shsped heads and general air OF
independence and selfsatisfaction, as II
they appreciated the honor of being
members-elect of Congress. There is
nothing so successful as success and the
new Speaker has reason to congratulate
himself on initial days of his career.
His Inauguration was the most brilliant
one ever witnessed at the Capitol and
he, as he advanced up the aisle between
Ex.Speakers Randall and Keifer, to
take the oath of Office, was probably the
most admired man in the nation. II
seems refinement of cruelty to select
as the escort to conduct the Speaker
elect to the chair the man he succeeds
and the rival he defeated. Something
like
The Roman COnquerOrs
whose triumphal chariot was drawn by
The Kings they had overthrown. 1t
was remarked that Randall and Keifer
were of the same height, each about
two inches taller than Carlisle-all
three calm and selfpossessed. Mr..
Carlisle is an unusually handsome man,
tall and slender, with military bear
ing, rather youthful looking, with
bright, expressive face. His voice Is
not very good nor his enunciation dis.
tipct, and his pronunciation Is decided
" southern. Mrs. Carlisle, like her hus-
band, is n native of Kentucky, that
State so noted for It's beautiful women,
fine horses and brave, Chivalric men,
and IS a worthy representative ofSouth.
crn grace and beauty. Tall, stately and
fair, she has much social grace and
charm OF manner and is as great
iavOrlte in social Is Is her husband Ill
political circles. She is said to have
great influence over Mr.. Carlisle aad 10
nave been a potent factor in his success.
As there is no presiding lady at the
White House, and Mr.. Anthony IS n
" idOwer Mr.. Carlisle becomes the first
.ady in the land and takes official
precedence of all others.
No fear that she will not grace her
position. Thus the bloody chasm is
nridgtd at last, and we have once more
= united North and South; a Southern
IL an elected 10y Northern votes To the
second Office III the government aud a
southern lady taking official precedence
II her Northern sisters.
Young COnGrcss.gI
This is probably the most youthful
locking House Of Representatives ever
assembled. There are at least fifty
members to whom the Clerk might
have proposed the question asked of
John Randolph: Are you of the re.
uuired age? and to which Randolph's
historic reply was the first suggestion
OF the ready wit that never iorsOok him
IL his long Congressional career. But
f few gray heads, there is an ample
supply Of bald ones. Fully two-thirds
of the members are bald-headed, and
seen from the galleries that shining
white oasis in the centre Of the seat Of
wisdom seems almost like Congress
sional badge. Frost, of Missouri, is said
TO cthe youngest member, and Wait,
OF Connecticut, the Oldest. Kelley, OF
Pennsylvania, Randall, Cox, of New
York, are among those who have had
the longest and most distinguished
Congressional careers. Eaton, Kellogg
and Poland come from the Senate and
are expected To be models Of dignity
and wisdom. There are many historic
names whose mention recalls iilustriOus
ancestOrs-amOng them, Clay, of Ken
lucky; breckenridge, Of Arkansas;
M"rS", OF Mas.acl!us, tts, and Greene,
# North Carolina. We hear 70 much
II the great wealth Of many members
that the question naturally arises
Wbaa has become Of the poor men? Is
he tendency of political life to-day to
bring only rich men TO the front? Most
Of tie members are wcil-tO. do AMI many
of them milliUnaiTeS. In old times a
rich politician was an anomaly. Ii
was not considered good taste for apub-
ic man to live sumptuously or enter
tain IuXuriOusiy. There was an ecran-
rric idea that the hands grasping the
helm Of state should be clean and
hardy and that the true representative
Of the people was lie who had some
personal knowledge of toll and poverty
and could sympathise knowingly with
the hardships and burdens of the labor
ing classes. "Mais nous avons change
tout celia" Nowadays poor man IN
public life IS a rarity and capital IL the
main object of legislation. Hewitt,
Belmont, Washburn, Morse and Robin.
son ale by no means the only Congress.
>i,ral millonaires. The reports ill the
faiiy papers Of the details Of Congress.
SIGNAL banquets and lunches remind
one of the feasts Of Lucullus.
Congress aud Society,
Congress, though the fount OF all real
rower in the government, has very lit
tie social influence at the capital. There
are not two dozen members known in
the higher circles of Washington So
ciety and most of them know nothing
OF social life here beyond what is to be
found in boarding houses and hotels.
Any one attending a reception in the
West End and then going to hotel
hop, frequented almost solel y by minor
officials and members wives and daugh-
tiers, would hardly believe he was in the
same city. Ultra fashionables avoid
hotel hops and taboo the people met at
them, but nevertheless they are often
very brilliant aud enjoyable entertain
ments-much more so than the Ian
guild and lifeless conversation and mus
lcals given t,y sO-callp1 leaders role hare