Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-19
CONGRESSIONAL ATTITUDES.
How Representatives Sit During a
Session Of the House.
VARIOUS WAYS OF DIsPosING OF ONES FEET
THE ENvIED PLACES ON THE soFAs-MEM-
BERs WHO TAKE MAPS, AND OTHERS ALWAYS
ALERT,


near the cloak rooms on each side of the House.
They are nearly always occupied by Sleep
Ing members. The soft upholstery yields to the
weight OF its burden aud entices Sleep These
however, do not furnish accommodation for ali
the weary legislators. The rest have to sleep in
their chairs. It Is very seldom that a member
refuses to respond to a card Calling him into the
corridor. When aroused from siuilber in his
chair he will rub his eyes. read the card and
wake up on the Way out. Not one time in a
thousand will he allow il 10 DC known that he
has been disturbed, or that he has ANYTHING
more important to do than 10 come Out in Inc
lobby TO talk with his constituents. lie ,s al.
ways smiling, always urbane. But ii he Eas
pre-empted place on a sofa the case is differ
ent. ANY but newly appointed messenger
would know better than to awake "a memoer
under these circumstances. discrt ct mes.
senger would say that member sleeping on a
not discreet the other day. In consequence
there is a very uncomfortable member on the
door. One OF his most valuable constituents
called and sent in his card. The messenger
alter searching through the House came back
and reported TO the distinguished constituent
did not like to disturb him. He don't like to
be disturbed when he's asleep" The constitu-
emit looked dazed for a moment, looked at his
watch and then at the messenger. He left his
card TO be- gwen to the member when he
wakes up" The member is said TO have spent
all the rest OF the day in trying to find his
caller to tell him that the messenger was mis-.
taken.
AN ATTITUDE OF INDIFFERENCE
The attitude OF the House upon all ques-
lions" is that of indifference. Very few OF the
members In their sittingdown habits conform
to the rules in force in well regulated schools.
The chairs turn all the way around on screws
and tilt back on springs. During the session
gale. Each has his peculiar way of twisting
his legs But few sit with the graceful indo-
Of Mr. Mr. Of Heg who
lully ON the back OF his neighbor's chair. Gov.
Long is one OF not more than half q dozen who
keep both feet on the floor. The most popular
the next best thing is to throw
chair, If there is not room ON the desk. The
favorite position OF some Of the members is to
with the back hair on the ink stand of the
desk behind. Another position is with one
foot standing on Its heel under the desk in
front and the other On its toe under the chair
behind. Some members like to hold their feet
in their hands; others put them almost in their
these ssttudes and in ADDITION throw ons ARM ~,
gracefully back of their necks. Others are sat
isded with bracing both knees against the desks
their necks with their backs to their own desks
Many other attitudes assumed by members
during days session would make study for
an artiStr-Or contOrtiOntst.
wATcHFuL AND BUSY MEMBERS.
The majority Of the members are not afflicted
with nervous energy. Many sit In their seats
throughout the session without ever saying q
word, and do not change their position during
the day. Some are at work; Others are asleep.
OF Georgia, Is one OF the latter. He seldom
leaves his seat and u always watchful, setting
upright most OF the time. Mr.. Bland loils in
his chair when he b not writing letters, but he
seldom leaves It. Gen. Grosvenor. OF Ohio. is
probably the most busily occupied with corrss-
s. oos . oSy ae s ~ i .sys VI. s s
during days session. He sits upright, eQuarely