The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-10
THE NATIONAL HORROR.
The Art of ExPectOration as Practiced By
COngressmen-GOvernm SpittOOns.

COngreSsmen-GOVernm Sp1ttOOnSs
Washington Letter.
One of the things which most forcibly strikes
the observer at the Capitol not only the strangers,
but others who see the Capitol daily and yearly.
is the vigor with which the art of eXpectoration
is cultivated by the average statesman. You
may speak of him as sluggard when public
business is to be attended to, upon tarlf or
other topics of national import, but he should
never be so classed when the question of expec-
toration is in the list, All through the great
Capitol building there are spttoons in great num-
bers. To speak of them by dozens or scores is
scarcely worth while. They are to be counted by
hundreds. They are in every hall and corridor.
You can scarcely walk a hundred feet without en-
countering them. AT every convenient corner, at
the foot of every stairway, at every landing
upon the steps leading to the galleries, at
the head of the stairs beside door ways-every-
where-you find them. Some are of white earthen-
ware beautifully decorated with flowers and
figures some are of dirty dark tobacco-juice
yellow, some are as large as a peck measure and
of some leathery material, so that you may kick
them several yards as you unexpectedly stumble
against them in gazing at the sights about youi
some are of lrOn immovabe, and still others OF
that primitive fashion which remember in
country stores-a box filled with sand. Not only
are they TO be found in numberless profusion
in the lobby ard corridors, but they are equally
numerous in House and Senate. This is espe-
cially true at the House end of the Capitol
There are hundreds of them there, furnished,
too, it is said, at good round price by a mem
Der of Congress who owns spittoon factory
somewhere There is little, open, semi-eir-
cular space just in front of the Speakers desk,
and, as if it is not enough that there should
be one at the desk of every member, there
is row of them about the edge Of this
semi-circle. AT these the statesmen wildly
fire as they pass and repass in front of the
Speaker, OF stand on the outer edge of this cir
Gle, bill in hand, waiting to ''catch the Speakers
eye" They usually manage TO hit the mark
about as often % they catch the Speakers eye
and the result is that the carpet along the edge
of this semicircle is "a sight" 1t is no uncom-
mon thing tosee a statesman striding across this
open space, striking his toe against one of these
cuspadors and send it flying like a football
among the shins of his fellowexpectorators, to
the infinite amusement of the flock of page boys
who stand hard by, and to the great detrment
of personal dignity on the part of the statesman
in the open space at the rear of the seats there
are more, while at every desk, where one is de
sired, it is to be found. They in the cloak
rooms, in the Hobbies. i'll the committee rooms
everywhere-bv the hundreds and hundreds. And
yet there are not enough. 1t would seom that
the only way that you can make sure that a
statesman will spare the carpet on the floor is to
inaugurate system of wearing a cuspidor a
watch is worn. The floor Of the House is Gov
cred with very handsome and costly velvet car
pet, such is seen upon few parlors, even the
most fashionable, and yet to see q congressman
sit or stand and deliberately bespatter it with to
bacco juice rather than take two steps, Or per
haps, turn his head to reach spittoon is a
daily and hourly experience with the observer in
the Capitol Every corner, whether covered
with costly carpets or of beautifully patterned
tiles, is made a target, and you cannot look in
any direction, in House. or Senate, or lobby, that
the eye is not greeted with these unsighty stains
in corners and out Of them, within easy shot Of
euspidors, and at half way stations between