, 1886-02-09
BAH ROOMS OF The HOUSE.
h Place Where m Go to Wash
Out the Heat of a Long Discussion.

Fhe Place Where MemLers Go to Wash
Out the Heat Of = Long Discussion.
The house bath rooms are In the base
mcnt OF the capitol, in the southeast cor
ncr under the elevator, where the light OF
day never reaches, Robert is the colored
man who has for a long time been in
charge OF the baths. William Is his as
sistant. He Is younger than Robert, and
the dimness OF the light dosen't affect the
keenness Of his bright little black eyes,
and he is well-suited for the duties he has
to perform. He trims the congressmnn's
corns.
As you the gentleman that wanted his
corns trimmedy" asked William, as the
reporter passed down the dim, vaulted
corridor.
want a nice bathfp said Robert, throw
ing a couple OF towels over his arm and
taking of his glasses, so rs to get u better
look at the reporter.
"Why, do you nave "A ~chiropodist herey"
asked the scribe in surprise.
That's me- said William. ~rhat's
what / am"
Are you paid by congress especially to
take care of the members feetir asked the
scribe.
@Not exactly for hat Robert is in
charge OF the bath and I'm his assistant;
the rest is thrown in by me as n sort OF
extra, and II the members want to give
me something for it they can They
mostly do, though l never charge any
thing. They're generally mighty glad to
get rid Of n big corn, and they amt slow
about giving me something"
"How about the bathsi' asked the re
porter, turning to Robert.
Mostly all the members take 'em. The
new members come as fast as they learn
about 1t. Many of them don't know there
are any baths here, and they go n long
time fore they find 1t out, Some of the
members are very particular about their
baths. Some battle in rum, some in sea
salt and some in sulphur
Are the baths furnished by the govern
ment freet"
ayes, except the sulphur, the rum and
the salt. That we ave TO buy ourselves,
n the members pay us for it. We don't
ask any pay, but they know that 1t comes
out of our own pocket, so they generally
pay us back. The government pays us our
salaries and furnishes tubs, water, towels.
soap, combs and brushes, and such like.
There are five tubs for the members, and
they are most always full, and around the
corner are four tubs for employees. Then
there's n Russian bath, where the mem
bers get steamed. They can lie down
there and get steamed just like oysters
"This is the best bathroom" and he led
the way into n large room ut the end Of
corridor, where there was an immense
white marble tank or tub, n big marble
washstand, u shower-bath and a big sill
yer faucet hat would let in n stream Of
any temperature desired in such volume
as TO fill the tub in n few seconds. Over
head hung n silver shower-bath appar-
ntus, through which water Of any temper
AZURE could be poured down in a delight
full shower upon the bather. TIT room
throughout is newly carpeted, and was as
warm as a feather bed.
"There are two like this, said the bath
master, "and the rest nave porcelain tubs.
The employees used to rave shower baths,
too, but let them run all over the floor,
and we had TO take them out"
These bathrooms are very popular. In
the summer, during the long session, the
members 90 there to wash out the heat
of n long debate. The effects Of dinner
parties are often soaked out there in the
morning, and the members appear fresh
on the floor of the house when the days
session opens.-Washington Star.