The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-08
WASHINGTON.
Bits of Gossip From the National Capital
Luke Poland, Professor Fisher,
Beecher, Etc.

WAsHIkGToN, FEB. 5.--I went on Thursday
10 the Senate and found few people in the
galleries. think there were not more than
eight or ten members in their seats, and
these were lounging about very much as il
they were at home. Some Senator was de-
livering an deliberately prepared speech in
rather sing-song way, as If well aware that
nobody was listening TO him. ] was much
astonished at this until some one told me
that the speech would be printed, and that
it was fer home consumption. But even
then didn't feel exactly right about il. An
address on an important subject ought to be
delivered in manner worthy OF it, and it
seems 10 me man rather lowers himself
who gets mp aud races through good speech.
Yer, OF course, be can not become much en-
thused when be is addressing empty seats.
From the Senate went into the Supreme
Court Room, which was the Senate Chamber
OF forty years ago, and the localities where
Clay, Webster Calhoun and Benton used TO
cit we're pointed out to me. Around the wall,
on brackets are the bus,s of all the Chief
Justices. I expected to be much aEed by
the grandeur and dignity OF every
thing, but really have seldom been more
amused; for on g slightly raised platform
with railing round il sat eight old Judges
(the Chief Justice being ABSENT, ell white
haired, nearly ell fat, one sound asleep, and
al locking very much % ii they didn't care
whether school Kept or not" while some
young lawyer, talking very loud and very
fast, was making plea before them. The
court adjourned at o'clock, aud the funny
old Judges, IN their funny long capes, rose
and marched in Indian file to the robing
room. In passing from the Supreme Court
room to the House OF Representatives ] was
introduced to the famous
LUKE 2. POLAND,
so we'll known by his blue coat and brass
buttons and s1Ow-white hair. He IS hand
some old gentleman of very agreeable man.
mers. The public will long remember him
as the Chairman of the Credit Mobilier Com
nittee, whose report caused such sorrow to
sundry members of Congress, but which he
tried to explain away IN 1880 for the sake OF
his party friends.
On reaching the House, found it more
interesting than the two places just before
uisited. The galleries were well filled with
intelligent people, and the ladies' gallery
was quite brilliant. Many members were
absent, particularly on the Republi-
can side but there seemed to
be majority present aud there
WIS Oh OH Vi lAAc ouN iJtiNltf 1tOub TIC H4O-
ceedipgs. l had the pleasure OF hearing SIR.
Holman speak, and be certainly does honor
to the State from which he comes.
want to say Just here that l have been
greatly pleased several times OF late 10 hear
the Hoosiers very highly praised, and psrtic-
ularly have / heard the women mentioned
IS being uncommonly bright This reminds
me that a few years sgo heard an old lady
from the burnt district" OF Indiana tell
about visit she made TO Washing
ton shortly after the war. She at.
tended Methodist Sunday-school and
Was asked 10 say a few words
10 the children. On her consenting TO do SO
the minister announced that they would
now listen to lady who had come ''a!I the
way from the wilds Of Indiana" The loyal
Hoosier then arose, and instead OF speaking
Oh religious topic, as she had intended,
she made a sharp little address, in which
she endeavoTed 10 show that the people in
Indiana we're not really savage, but quite as
well informed as the people OF Wash
| ington. But things have greatly changed
since then. On Tuesday night | heard
PROFESSOR FIskE
| lecture on 1.-THE Battles OF the Revolution
He is q very pleasant speaker, though Ii was
hard to tell what his style really was. &c he
was closely confined to his manuscript. He
advanced what was to me q new idea about
Washington as q General, stating that the
| thing that he was most remarkable for was
his audacity and daring, while had always
had the impression that be was extremely
cautious. Professor Fisks dealt very harshi7