Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-31
THE WILTED HOUSE.
The Effect OF the Warm Wave Up0n the
Legislators.

COSTUMES WORN BY MEMBERS - EFFORTS 10
KEEP COOL VESTS VERY GENERALLY IA.
BOoED-PALM LEAF FANS AND THIN coATs-
A LANGUID INTEREST IN BUSINESS.
The Congressman, as a rule, are in no condi.
ton to begin the work of repairing fences as
soon as they get home. When the very hot
wave struck the House in the middle Of the
week members hung limp in their seats, and
not even the excitement OF closing week
could arouse in them more than a languid in
terest. The evolution of Congress through the
various periods of q session is interesting to
observe. At the beginning Of a session they are
stiff-backed and energetic,-very anxious,-par-
ticularly the new members, very anxious to do
something. When the height of the social sea-
son strikes them they begin to think less of leg
islation. and frequently fall asleep in the day
time About Easter time they "swear OFF, and
begin to REFORM turning their attention to &C
conplishing something that will please their
constituents and secure their denomination.
When hot weather comes upon them with
their work still undone they become democrat
lied and desperate, but their first energetic
movement melts their collar and they collapse
and become utterly indifferent-ready to accept
fate, and pray for an early adjournment.
t This first appears IN their att
the House reached that stage OF utter abandon
Inent The most fastidiOus became utterly in
different to their personal appearance.
Hardly q man could he seen writing at his
desk. Half the House had on their cheap Office
coats, more or less mussed and wrinkled from
being lolled in. Black alpaca and striped
seersucker coats of cheap quality are most
worn. and some of them are SO wrinkled that
weather. Fans are not usually carried by MEM
bers, but few have reached that point when
they resort even to this feminine artifice fol-
back in his seat dressed in q light suit. with =
palm-leaf fan in one hand and u handkerchief
In the other first wiping and then tanning.
IN Ia afrit fvrfr
ter blue, though the coat tails are unused from
being sat upon too much, and after he comes
out OF a fight with the democratic party
cools off with big palm-leaf.
Cutcheon, of Michigan, wears a thick suit
and palm leaf. Most OF the other members
tan themselves with the Record. Mr.. Randall
seems not to mind the changes of weather, and
always appears in the House in q frock coat of
black broadcloth. Morrison wears black
the House, and occasionally the eye rests on q
whole suit OF that airy material. Gov. Long
has sui. In dark stripes, so has Gen. Hender-
son. Weaver and Brumm, the two green
hackers, try to keep cool in coats of pOngee.
Sowden and Bayne wear pongee coats. Hall
wears a seersucker of pronounced stripes.
The coolest looking man In the House is
Reid. of North Carolina, who wears black
trousers Of some thin material and a fine
greenish tinge yellow. The wind fiut-
tiers through the coat when lie walks, and he
Is the envy of all his associates. The two
Kansas men, Peters and Perkins, wear seer
sucker. Holman wears thin brown calico coat.
West and Little wear black alpaca coats without
vests. Eldridge wears black alpaca with striped
seersucker vest. HiscOck, OF New York, sticks
TO thick cloth clothes. Stone, of Massachusetts,
wears striped sc, sucker suit entire. Vests are
generally tabooed and suspender buckles can
generally be seen sticking out from under
members coats.
Some who have enough energy otry to keep
temperatures wear thin vests. White vests are
quite numerous, and Mr.. Hiestand, OF Pennsyl-
Xania, wears buff vest with a thin black suit.
Burleigh of New York, Forney, of Ala
lama, Allen, of Massachusetts, Bennett, of
Nortn Caroilna, johnson, OF North Carolina,
johnson, OF Indiana, and Halsell of Kentucky,
are all conspicuous tor their white vests. Mr..
frederick takes great comfort in a full suit of
seersucker. MIR. Singleton wears the same
style coat both winter and summer, varied only
by white vest 1t Is OF heavy blue cloth with
black velvet collar. or ali the members, Mr..
Baker, of New York, seems to find most diff
nculty In keeping cool. He is about the heav-
lest man in the House, smooth lace, bald head
and much loose flesh about him. He dresses
in black alpaca, and sits with his legs spread
apart, his sleeves pulled up to the elbow, one
handkerchief on his knee, one on his desk and
an immense palm leaf in his hand. He seems
to suffer, but is good natured.