The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-01-21
coNeRgssMeu STARED AT.
Curious Poapio Ivhn Use Opera Glasses and
- Ask Questions In tho Galleries.


Yes, they ask a good many curious
questions" said one of the old doorkeepers
Of the House galleries as he remarked upon
the stream of people that ebbs and flows
through the doors leading to the House and
Senate galleries. "They ask good many
odd questions and say good many curious
things. As rule, the average American
citizen who comes here and spends few
hours or day or two in the galleries goes
away with very poor idea Of Congress.
And it is not to be wondered at, for unless
one is pretty we'll informed GA affairs per-
tanning to Congress IL is hard to toll much
of what is being done down there. have
pretty hard time of il sometimes trying to
tell them something about it,"
(" Are your visitors inquisitive, then p
Very. They ask the strangsst ques-
tons, and keep me standing up hore half
an hour at time pointing out people of
prominence to them. Their chief curiosity
seems to be about tho Speaker. They ask
more questions about him than you can an
swer. Some of then bring their opera glass
es with them, and sit for hours studying
the faces on the floor OF the House. An
noying to the members, did You say 2 Well,
I'd like to see the member of Congress that
Is at all disturbed by being the object OF
scrutiny through opera glasses or otherwise,
especially if the sorutinizer is pretty wo-
man, rs is the case with most Of those who
carry lorgnettes. Why, it's no uncommon
thing to see them posing in their seats or
on the sofas for the benefit OF some one In
the gallery that they suppose is looking at
them"
What members ore most asked for ?"
"Well, that's pretty hard to say. Among
the men folks there is curiosity TO see such
men as Randall and Carlisle and Morrison
and Hurd. With the women it's different
think about tho most asked for and
most talked of men by the women Ia Phil
Thompson. The women all want to soc
him. What, that little boyish looking fell
low p they say. Why, he don't hook as if
he had killed anybody We sometimes
have good deal of difficulty in distinguish
ing him. He has brother who Ia 80 much
like him that 1t is difficult to tell them
apart"
" But his brother has never been men,
Der of Congress, has he, and Is therefore
not entitled to go on ths floor ?"
No, but no goes there all the same.
You bee they ARE twins, and so much alike
chat only their intimate friends can tell them
apart, and tho result is that when John, thu
brother, comes here on n visit, as he doea
every winter, he walks right In past the
doorkeepers, who suppose it is Phil. Why,
they arc SO much alike that one time, when
Phil was Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,
John took his place in tho court, and did
half the work in . case during Phirs alb
sence without anybody knowing tho differ.
ence.n
Anybody else who Is special attrae
ion ~
I" Yes; there's Richelieu Robinson, tn,
famous twister of tho British lions tail.
They generally take look at him, aud wan,
to know who that old man with the LONG
white hair Is. He always sits just in front
of tho Speaker, and attracts good deal Of
notice for his peculiar appearance.
At the Senate end Just now tho chief At
traction Is Senator German. He is looked
upon as the Moses of the Democratic party.
He is eagerly asked for, and is the subject
Of some very odd remarks. "That little
boy ?" they say of him. 1t seems difficult
for the average observer TO understand that
SO small body and face 80 boyish can DO
the Senator German, admitted by nearly
everybody to be the successful manager of
the recent campaign.
One thing that is noticed by The expert
'nced observer here Is that the members
,eem to come In better dressed than usual
this year. This is especially true on tho
Democratic side. The Republicans as class
have been better dressera than the Demo-
Gratis, but the latter sinoo their victory seem
to have spruced up a good deal. Looking
over the House now, 1t Is pretty hard to find
man who may DO said to be really shabby
or slouchily dressed and this could not
have been truthfally said eight months ago.
---Neio York Sun r