The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-09
How Shtesmen's Wives Watch Their
Lords from the Galleries.

Lords from the Galleries.
1t was in order to limit the space
which loafers of a most OBJ 'ectionable
character used daily to fill in The House
gallery several years ago that the
House OF Representatives decided to set
apart certain portions of the gallery to
De reserved Tor those who had cards of
admission thereto, given them by the
members. One gallery is exclusively
for the families of Representatives, or
those whom they and their wives regard
| IS such.
One Representative said at the time
it was decided to reserve this gallery
that it was done so the members could
know exactly in which part of the gal
lery their wives were kelv to be, SO
they would know which way to dodge
ii they wished to avoid their gaze. When
Lent comes, as they have more leisure
from social duties, ladies of the FAM
lies of members of both Houses of Con-
gress have more time to spend in the
galleries of the House or Senate, and
wives are often interested spectators of
scenes upon the floor OF either chamber.
Some of them become much absorbed
in watching the fate of the bills
in which their husbands take special in
tereSt, and their faces show their cha
grin or triumph in tie course of the de-
bate. One of them, whose husband lad
been suffering severely with bronch tbs
when he was forced to go to the House
to look after bill of great Importance
| in h district. used to 20 there daily
few weeks ago while there was a pros
pect for the bill coming up. and car
ried with her box o; quinine pills, and
regularly sent from her seat in the
members gallery" an al ectionate
note and dose of the medic ne to her
husband on the floor of the House when
the time arrived for him to take it.
Thus she strove to brace him up tor the
contest in the same spirit as Spartan
wives equipped their husbands for battle.
The day his bill was voted down she
mad waited several hours with sachel
containing the pill-box in hand and as
soon as the vote was announced, which
was against her husband. she rose in
diynantly. packed up the medicine. and
went home with lessened faith in it's
brac NO effects.
The wives, of course. do not fail to
watch from the gallery the demeanor of
their respective husbands i'm their seats
below, especially when cards are
brought in to the latter. One lady will
say to another: There goes card to
your husband; wonder if it is a Ialy or
gentleman wants to see him. There he
goes out; let's see how long he stays.
and then we'll know whether it was q
man or woman. There he comes in
n Tain. SO it must have been man who
was wait nc for him; he'd have staid
longer if it had been a woman, Ger
tainly"
While some of the incidents in this.
gallery are highly amusing, others are
often very annoying. For instance,
lately, loving wife, who was listening
intently t. her husbands speech. heard
a lady behind, who was evidently IN
aware o. her presence, say: .Is that
Smith speaking again, now? IL seems
to me he is always talking. and yet he
never has anything to say"
An all-night ses ion of the United
States House of Representa- es, es-
pecially when it is occasioned by a dis
cussion which requires either political
party 30 muster its full strength. and
cau-es .'call of the House to be or
dered. and the Sergeant alarms to be
instructed to bring in absentees, always
has some ludicrou5 features outside the
hall, as well as some productive of an
nOyance TO the families OF members of
the House as much rs to themselves.
During such night session, not long
ago, the wife of one of the colored Rep
was left alone in the mem
bers' gallery until late hour; all other
occupants OF that gallery having
left in the early part of the night.
Size could not go home alone. and her
husband, who was on the floor of the
House, was locked in, so he could not
leave to take her home. 1t is the Gus
tom. as soon as call of the House is
ordered. to loc!; ali doors of exit or en-
trance to the Leg slative Hall. not only
20 prevent those mem ers who are with
IN from going away without permission
Of the House, but also to prevent those
absent without leave getting in cept
n the custody of the Sergeant alarms.
who has been ordered to arrest them
md bring them to make Their excuses
1t the bar of the House. 1t was not
Until the co ored repr sentative could
III, coed in obtaining the formal leave
,f the House TO 90 home with his wife
an he promised to return as soon as
ne had done), that he could 10 n her in
,de gal cry and accompany her to their
'esidence. WdShtn jon Cor. Chicago