Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-17
TIE vIoEPREsIDENrS BOON
One OF the Best-Appointed aud Furnished
Rooms IN the Capitol.
IWashington Post.

One Of The es,.Appointed aud Furnished
| Rooms 10 the Capitol.
Washington POST
Probably the best-appointed and
furnished room in the Capitol is that
occupied by the President Of the Senate
and known as 1.-THE Vice presidents
Room" 1t adjoins the celebrated
Marble Room, in which visitors to
senator's are received, and is intended
as the private Office and retiring room
Of the Vice-President. Two large win
dows facing north afford magnificent
panorama, embracing the heights OF
Washington, among the features of which
are the Soldiers Home, Howard Uniyer-
sity, and the sweep ofcountry bordering
Eock creek, made historic during the
rebellion by long chain Of forti6ca-
tons and canvas city, which was the
temporary abiding-place Of hundreds
of thousands Of soldiers. Lace cur
tains of an exquisite and rare pattern
partially conceal the bare outlines OF
the window-irames, and the heavy
lambrequins are both costly and
magnificent in design and material.
Carpet Of a Turkish combination
covers the floor, and its thickness
is such that not football can be dis
tinguished, no matter how many per-
sons may temporarily occupy the room.
Misunderstanding mahogany chairs, of
a substantial make and upholstered in
red leather, similar to the fashion so
prevalent in library furniture, orna-
ment the inches and corners, while a
cspacious blue cloth-coyered table is
the central object Of attraction. On
tie comfortable leather lounge, which
matches the chairs and is placed at the
left of the Vice Presidents table, Vice
President Henry Wilson, of Massachu-
sets, peacefully breathed his last, sur.
rounded by his associates Of the upper
house Of the National Legislature. An
open fireplace, in which a blazing fire
Of oak-logs is constantly maintained
during cold weather, adds to the cheer
full aspect OF this apartment, and when
the heat becomes too intense for the
Vice-President, a Japanese three-wing-
ed screen is placed in position behind
his revolving cane-seat chair. When it
becomes necessary for night-work, light
is furnished by drop from the gilt,
bronze, and crystal chandelier just
over the table, and from the same
source the Vice-President secretary
obtains light for his desk, which is
placed at right angles to the large table
and close to the window in the north
east extremity of the apartment.
Over the marble mantelpiece is
plate glass mirror, occupying the entire
space between the two windows, and
the top Of which touches the ceiling.
This handsome piece Of decorative fur
nture is flanked on either side by bronze
figures of sworded cavaliers, and the
whole is in striking contrast to a sim
pie gilt mirror about four feet long by
two wide, which is the only piece of
antique furniture in the room. There
is a history connected with this mir
ror, however, and although it cost
trhe over $40 when it was pur-
chased in the carly days Of the
republic, it was characterized in the
Senate Chamber as ga piece Of shame
less extravaganza. President John
Adams was the offender, and he
brought the mirror home from Paris,
and eventually had it put up for his
convenience in the room used by him.
At present this mirror is in the COM
paTtment containing a stationary wash
stand, and its time-wOrn surface is not
very ilattering to those who avail
themselves Of it for making an attrac-
tive toilet. OF all the handsomely
decorated and frescoed rooms in the
Senate wing Of the Capitol, that as
sI;ned to the Nice-President is the least
q nspicuous in this respect. The walls
ekalsonined white, and the only relief
f. the monotony is a single line ofgreen,
1t more than half an inch wide. Wis
iors to this room are attracted by a
large bust portrait Of George Washing
ton. Gaid TO ho tho best picture OEtant
of the Father of His Country. 1t was
painted by Rembrandt Peale, for whom
Washington sat, and the artist did the
subject ample justice, if the benign
countenance which looks down from the
canvas is any indication Of the charac-
ter of the sage Of Mount Vernon. 1t
is amid such surroundings that the pre-
siding officer of the Senate attends
to his affairs, and the books
of reference which he finds so
much use for are handily ar
ranged in a tall mahogany book
case, the contents being protected from
dust and exposure by cardinal, plated
silk curtains, and glass doors. Near
the door which leads into the wash
room is placed pillar of white marble
surmounted by bust Of the late La
fayette F. S. Foster, formerly sena-
tor from Connecticut, and President
pro tempOre Of the Senate. Strangers
who are taken into this room by the
Capitol guides are charmed with inter
esting but not absolutely historical sto-
ries about its former occupants, and
the bust Of Mr.. Foster has done duty
as the marble presentment of every
Vice-President since the independence
of the United States was declared.