The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-06-05

CRANKs AT THE CAPITAL.


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Eccentric Individuals whe Want to
Jump from the Dome. Upper.
tunities for Lovers.
Washington stzrl
Cranks are drawn to the Capitol
like birds about beacon light.
There is an officer placed on duty
up in the dome expressly to keep
them from jumping of. Not day
passes while Congress is in session
that they are not at the Capitol
Cranks newly married folks and low
ers tend naturally towards the dome,
with view probably of getting
nearer to heaven. There is n turn
in the. stairs that is known as the
kissing corner. is proverbial that
lovers never pass up the dome with
out stopping there to-take breath.
1t is said that properly constituted
girl always gets tired when she
reaches that point, and young man
was never known to object. The
turn is so situated that two persons
standing there can be seen from
neither above nor below. 1t offers a
great temptation to rest. The
whispering gallery has become so
well known that young folks who
don't want their secrets carried to
the other side of the dome and made
public property of by the echoes, are
very careful to keep quiet when they
reach that elevation.
Cranks, il they are recongized as
such, are not allowed to go on the
dome, but they are always hanging
around for an opportunity to slip up.
Several attempts have been made by
these adventurers to step out, into
space in pursuit of eternity, but as
yet only one has been successful.
One man was caught by the tail of
his coat just as he stood ready for a
plunge forward. Many have been
caught calculating with insane eyes
the distance to the concrete below.
They have always been induced to go
down in the ordinary way by the
winding stairs.
There is one point in the ascent
which offers unusual facilities for a
leap down into the rotunda. 1t is
with great difficulty that crank
gets past this place. But for the
presence of policeman the people
on the floor below would be in NOM
entary danger of being struck on the
head by flying crank.
Very innocent and harmless look
ing men will stop at this point as
they 60 climbing up the crowded
stairs, and will at once become en-
grossedsby the beauty of the great cir
cular floor of the rotunda and their
eyes will get bright and round at
the prospect Then they will begin
climbing over the rail in a great
hurry, as if they had forgot some
thing and hadn,t time to take the
stairs to get to it. A policeman al
ways appears at this juncture, and
the visitor is advised to take his
time about it and go by way of the
stairs.
II can tell them on sight," said
the policeman to Star reporter,
81 can tell when they come for a
jump, and / never gave them
chance. There is something in their
eyes and the way they look about
them that reveals their purpose. But
/ presume any crank who got on the
dome would feel it to be his duty to
jump off. So we think it best not to
let any cranks 60 up"
mo we don't stop lovers" he adj
ded in response to an intimation
that this variety of crank is not
dangerous. "They never have cner-
gy enough to jump off. ''They have
to stop at every landing to rest.
Sometimes they make good deal of
noise about it. The kissing Corn
err Yes, Of course they stop there!
But the real genuine article amt
satisfied with that. They stop at
every turn in the stairs! Let's see
now. Let's make calculation how
many kisses real spoony couple
who are visiting Washington ON
their bridal tour will get in on a
round of the Capitol. No, they
can't kiss in the elevator, that's
crowded; nor in the gallery; but
they look as if they'd like to.
There's the tomb of Washington,
under the crypt; they always put
their heads close together to weep
over that, and never hear you tell
them it's empty. This is particu-
larly good place, because it's dark,
and there are so many narrow aisles
near it. They'll score half dozen
before they finally get out. Next is
the engine room, and the crypt.
After that they get uneasy. It's all
light in the library and in the rotun-
da. But they make up for this on
the way to the dome. Now. just
count the landings and you've got
it! But it amt fair to call them
cranks. It's only temporary with
them. The genuine jumper, the
man with a mission, and the man
who takes all his cloths off are all we
reckon as cranks. There is no
doubt that the jumping cranks are
in the majority. Iexpect they come
from great distances for the express
purpose of leaping from the dome.
If they were allowed to go up there
would be an inquest every day."
Professors Hodges and Lee At Wells.
burg.
WELIsBuRG, May 24.-Thc Coun-
ty Institute commenced this morn
ing in the public school building,
with full attendance of Brooke
teachers. Prof. Thos. f. Hold
ges. conductor was sent by the State