The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-05
PEMBNA

\. PEMBINA COUNTY. D
THE VICE PRESIDENTS ROOM.
One Of the Best Appointed and Fur
nished Rooms in the Capitol.
Probably the best appointed and fur
nished room in the capitol is that occu-
pied by the president of the senate, and
known as ''the vice presidents room"
1t adjoins the celebrated marble room,
IN which visitors to senators are recciv-
ed, and is intended Is the private Office
and retiring room of the vice president.
Two large windows facing north afford
. magnificent panorama, embracing
the heights of Washington, among the
features of which are the Soldiers
home. Howard university, and the sweep
OF country bordering Rock creek, made
historic during the rebellion by long
chain of Notifications and canvas CITY
which was the temporary abiding place
of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Lace curtains of an exquisite and rare
pattern partially conceal the bare out
lines of the window-frames. and the
heavy lambrequins are both costly and
magnificent in design and material.
Carpet of Turkish combination covers
the floor, and its thickness is such that
not football can be distinguished, no
matter how many people may tempor-
arily occupy the room. Luxurious-look-
Ing mahogany chairs, of q substantial
make and upholstered in red leather,
similar to the fashion SO prevalent in IL
brary furniture, ornament the inches
and corners, while a capacious blue
cloth-covered table is the central object
OF ofattracti0n. On the comfortable leather
lounge, which matches the chairs and is
placed at the left of the vice presidents
table, Vice President Henry Wilson, of
Massachusetts,, peacefully breathed his
last, surrounded by his associates of the
upper house of the national legislature.
An open fireplace, in which blazing
fire OF oak logs is constantly maintained
during cold weather, adds to the cheer
ful aspect of this apartment, and when
the heat becomes too intense for the vice
president q Japanese thrce-wingcd
screen is placed in position behind his
revolving cane-seat-chair. When it be-
comes necessary for night work light is
furnished by drop FROM the gilt, bronze,
and crystal chandelier just over the ta-
BILE, and from the same source the vice
presidents secretary obtains light for
his desk, which is placed at right angles
to the large table and close to the vim
dow in the northeast extremity of the
apartment.
Over the marble mantelpicce is a
large plate-glass mirror, occupying the
entire space between the two windows,
and the top of which touches the cell
ing. This handsome piece of dccora-
tive furniture is flankcd on either side
by bronze figures of sworded cavaliers,
and the whole is in striking contrast
to simple gilt mirror, about four feet
long by two wide, which is the only
piece of antique furniture in the room.
There is history connected with this
mirror, however, and, although it cost
only trille over $40 when it was pur-
chased, in the early days of the repub-
lie, 1t was characterized in the senate
travagancc President John Adams
was the offender, and he brought the
mirror home from Paris, and event
ually had 1T put up for his convenience
in the room used by him. At present
this mirror is in the compartment con-
tanning stationary washstand, and its
time-worn surface is not very flatterino
to those who avail themselves of it for
making an attractive toilet. OF all the
handsomely decorated and frcscocd
rooms in the senate wing of the capitol
that assigned to the vice president is
the least conspicuous in this respect.
The walls are caisomin"d white, and the
only relief to the monotony is a single
line OF green, not more than half an inch
WIDE. Visitors to this room are at
tracted by u large bust portrait of George
Washington, said to be the best picture
extant 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 be-
nign countenancc which looks down
from the canvas is any indication of the
character of the sage of Mount Vernon.
1t is amid such surroundings that the
presiding officer of the senate attends to
his affairs. and the books of reference
which he finds SO much use for are
handily arranged in a tall mahagony
bookcase, 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 q pillar of white
marble surmountcd by bust of the
late Lafayette F. S. Foster, formerly a
senator from Connecticut and president
pro tempore of the senate. Strangers
who are taken into this room by the
capitol guides are charmed with inter-
csting but not absolutely historical
stories about its former occupants. and
the bust of Foster has done duty as the
marbte presentment Of every vice presi-
dent since the independence Of the
United States was declared. Washinq-
ton Post.