The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-06-12

Fifty oil the brightest boys Vi the
United States are employed at the
National Capitol as pages to the
Forty ninth Congress. Little fell
lows of from twelve to sixteen years
of age, each with round, shining
silver badge on the lapel of his coat
labeled with his number. They run
in and out of the halls, now darting
through the aisles under the very
nose of a member who is making a
great speech, now carrying great
armfuls of books to one Congress
man, and now taking a letter to post
for another, or bringing glass of
water to the man who is speaking.
Here is one moving about with a
great album in which he asks each
of the members to write his name;
and there, others are busy taking
cards of ladies in the reception
rooms to some Congressman whom
they wish to call out.
The pages of Congress are gather
cd from the four quarters of the
United States. They are chosen by
the sergeants- at arms If each House,
and represent nearly every State.
The pay of page is 500 a day, for
the session, including Sundays,
though there is no work for them
that day. They generally save some
of their money, but they must spend
enough of it to keep themselves well
dressed. They do not have very
hard time, and on ordinary days
their hours are from 8 o'clock until
the House adjourns, at or 5.
About half of their Saturdays are
holidays, as the Congress often adj
iourns from Friday over to Monday.
The daily sessions begin at noon,
but the boys must be present earlier
and file each Congressman's bills fol
him. After Congress meets they
have plenty to do in running errands
During night session they grow
very sleepy, and as a general thing
they are not asked to remain. Wher
member wants page he claps his
hands, and the pages, who, wher
not busy, are generally standing
about the clerks desk, in front OF
the House, or sitting on the stairs
leading to the Speakers chair, run
to him for their orders.
Is the position a good one for thu
boys? Well. ON the whole, and for
perhaps, one session, yes. Their as
sociations are not bad, and if bat
boys are discovered among thos,
chosen, they are quickly dismissed
for fear they may corrupt the others
The duties of page compel him t
be polite and gentlemanly, and HI
learns a great deal. During the re
cesses of the House they often dis
cuss among themselves bills ane
questions which would be thoughi
beyond their comprehension, ant
they delight in aping their congress
ional masters.
There are thirtysix pages in thu
House of Representatives and four
teen in the Senate. Two of tn,
House pages are mounted, and it il
their duty to carry letters and ines
sages on horseback for Congressmel
from the Capitol building to all part
of the city. They ride to the Capt
tol, put the letters in leather pouch
which they carry by strap acros
their shoulders, and then ride off 70
answers to them.
Sometimes these boys carry note
to the President, sometimes to tn
Secretary of War, sometimes to tn
Attorney General. and in fact, to al
the great departments of the Gov
eminent. They enjoy their work
and they are little envied by tn
boys who stay under cover Speak
er Carlisle, the tall, grave, smootl
faced man who presides over tn
House, has a page for himself, a
have also the Sergeant-at-Arms O
the House and it's clerk.
Often before the House and Sen
ate meet, they hold a miniature Con
gress of their own. One of the boy
; gets into a speakers chair, ant
holds the ivory gavel, another stand
as clerk below behind the clerk
desk, while others scattered abou
the room make speeches just as tn
the Congressman will do an hou
later.
The prince of pages and the faith
er of them all is Isaac Bassett, VIII
now has charge of the pages of tn
, Senate as the assistant doorkeeper
, Fifty five years ago, when he was
black haired boy Of twelve, DAME
Webster, then a Senator, took hin
on his knee, and asked him if h
would not like to be page. II
has been in the employ of the Senat
ever since, and during his Who'll
service he has not been absent fror
duty twenty days.
MOST SENTENCED.
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