Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-18
LIVING AT THE CAPITAL.
EXTRAVAGANT AND ECONOMI-
CAL CONGRESSMEN.

Van Buren, Jewels and Their History.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-COngression-
al aoodes at the capital vary from man.
stons with pretentiOusness almost pala-
tlal to out-of.ths-way little chambers of
the cheapest and shabbiest kind magma
BILE. Some people think that because a
Congressman draws S., 900 per year sala-
ry that his life at the capital at least is
spent on bed of roses. This idea is,
however, entirely erroneous. Some Of the
members spend for living expenses alone
four or five times the amount of their sal
ary, while the gamut of expenses runs all
the way from the high key already men
toned to Insignificant pittances OF 5000 or
500, or probably less. The different styles
| of living are the result OF as many incent-
| ives as there are men. Some are born to
luxury and extravaganza and IL Is sec
ond nature with them. Then again there
are the parvenues who have leaped into
fortune at a single bound and
mistake the spectacular for the
real stamp of gentility. Others
exist in very much the same comfortable
fashion as when at home. A few look
upon $1,000 as small fortune, and make
hay while the sun shines by saving as
much of their salary as is left after de-
frayIng the expenses of a shabby and un-
| satisfactory existence. The demagogue
posing as the sanity friend of labor often
lives rather mpecuniOusly, tearing that
an exhibition OF high living will turn
against him the men he pretends to cham
piOn, and thus lose HIM votes necessary
to reelection. a large fraction of the
single members, however, live like "j0llY
good fellows" aud Washington often
rings with the madness of their midnight
revelry. OF the class first mentioned
| Hon. Perry Belmont, of New York, is a
| good representative. He secured ana
| furnished one OF the handsomest
mansions in the city, in the be-
| lief that his position as Chairman
of the Foreign Affairs Committee would
necessitate many duties Of socialnature.
| His mother was to be the lady Of the
| house, but for some unknown reason she
has never put in an appearance and II
/ looks rather lonely and deserted. Senator
| Van Wyck, the workingman's friend and
| a foe to monopoly, owns one OF the finest
| and most handsomely furnished dwellings
! in the citV. The Senator can often be
seen in the midst of his costly bric-a-brac
and Oriental traDpings sitting in his shirt
sleeves smoking "A strOng-smellingOl old pipe
and slipping n mug Of beer. Speaker Car
! lisle lives unpretentiOusly, but comfort
/ V
| particularly noticeable feature OF his prl-
vate life is the punctuality with which he
| returns TO his rooms after adjournment
and the persistence with which be re-
mains in them. He rarely goes out in
society, and prefers the company OF few
ultimate friends to the prOmlscuOus gath
ering OF official circles. Senator Brown, of
Georgia, has been on the register OF the
National hotel for years. Gen. and Mrs.
/ ! u in a MIA n Mt
| residence, which they have nlled with
curious collection of historical souvenirs.
Thus, beneath collection of Indian
| arrows and tOmahawks in the main hall
| there stands a sofa which, IL is said, was
once the property of Mr.. Slidell. Of Louis
lana, OF Mason and Slidell nOtOriety.
Opposite is a tall clock OF an antique pat
! tern, which belonged to Dolly Madison.
| In room above are the dressing table
and bureau which eX-President Buch-
anan used at his home in Lancaster, and
which were purchased when his effects
were sold. The wardrobe in the same
room was brought to this country by
| Count de Grasse, who accompanied
| LAFAYETTE to America. In an adjoining
room is found the lamp-stand used by
Henry Clay, and so on. The L0gans are
very hOspitable and keep open house the
wear round Col. Morrison, the gallant
/
other home in Washington than Wizards
hotel. He can be seen almost any night
| seated on a sofa in the public LOBBY, his
arm cast atiectiOnately around the neck
| of some Old crOny, or with surly mien
/ drawing figures with his cane on the mar
| ble floor In front Of him, just as the humor
takes him. He is communicative and ret
| icent by turns. He is rather fond Of the
cup that cheers, but never drinks TO cX-
] IN inn ~ 10 m a "a L a N
a little more than usual, he told a
friend the following story Of him
self: A political rival OF his once
started the story that he had drawn $Ij,-
600 OF the peoples money since he was in
public life and that it was time now for
some one else to have chance Ia the dis
trict. The story had some effect upon the
voters, and 1t was only upon statistics
presented by mis- wife, showing that over
been paid out for board, tnat
the Colonel ceased to worry and silenced
the insinuatiOns OF his enemies to the ef-
feet that he had grown rich in office by a
plain statement 0f the facts,
Morrison's political rival in the House,
Samuel j. Randall, IL almost recluse.
He lives on Capitol mill in plainly fur
nlshed, modest, little house of his own.
| He il an indefatigable worker and never
seems u rest. He works way into the
night and is always 10 be found at his
desk immersed behind a pile Of dOcu-
ments, flies and papers. He suffers
greatly from gout.
Another sufferer is Hewitt, OF New
York. His trouble is insomnia. He
cannot sleep at night and is
80 nervous that the slightest
! noise disturbs him. To secure perfect
/ Quiet he has taken a house in the quietest
part OF the town where be lives with only
an old servant who takes care OF him.
Some of the richest men in Congress do
not own the houses they live In while In
Warrington. W. l.. Scott, for instance,
rented furnished house for the year AZ
| $4,000. Not being satisfied with the fur
/ niture i'm II he had 10 stored away aud re-
furnished the whole house AZ a cost OF
$4,000. Senator Fair, the millionaire
/ miner, lives at WOrmley's in modest
suite OF rooms. He gives gorgeous dim
ners. hut IN no other way docs he seem
anxious 10 make n display OF his vast
wealth.
SENATOR'S AT THE TABLE.
If there is one place better than another
/ TO learn Che breeding Oi a member IL is at
/ the dinner table. Most Of them would not
/ win a very high average II, unknown TO
themselves, they we're subjected 10 close
scrutiny by a critic while at their meals
| Washington hotels are death 10 good
table habits. Everyone seems 70 be utterly
careless. Down goes the knife and FORK
on the plate, each at right angles, with
their tips resting on either side. As the
| fftffa aldo dfahos ara omntlod tho atntaa-