The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-05-29
will take the place of the poorly VEN
tilated common school and the en-
eryating prayer meetings.
Cranks at the Capitol.

is an officer placed on duty up in the
dome expressly to keep them from
jumping off. Not day passes while
Congress is in session that they are
not at the capitol. Cranks, newly
married folks and lovers tend natur-
ally towards the dome, with view
probably of getting nearer to heaven.
There is turns, in the stairs that is
known as the kissing corner. 1t is
proverbial that lovers never pass up
to the dome without stopping there
to-take breath, 1t is said that
properly constituted girl always gets
tired when she reashes that point, and
a young man was never known to
object. The turn is so situated that
two persons standing there can be
seen neither above nor below, 1t
offers great temptation to rest. The
whispering gallery has become go
well known that young folks who
don't want their secrets carried to the
other side of the dome and made pub
lie property of by the echoes. are very
careful to keep quiet when they reach
that elevation.
Cranks, if they are recognized as
such, are not allowed to go on the
dome, but they are always hanging
around for an opportunity to slip up.
Several attempts have been made by
these adventures to step out, only one
has been successful. One man was
caught by the tail of his coat Just as
he stood ready for plunge forward,
Many have been caught calculating
with insane eyes the distance to the
concrete below. They have always
been induced to go down in the ordi-
nary way by winding stairs.
There is one point in the ascent
which offers unusual facilities for a
leap down into the rotunda, 1t is
with great difficulty that a crank gets
past this place. But for the presence
of a policeman the people on the floor
below would be in mOmentary dam
gerr of being struck on the head by
flying crank.
Very innocent and harmless look
ing men will stop at this point as
they 60 climbing up the crowded
stairs, and will at once becom en-
crossed by the beauty of the great
circular floor of the rotunda and their
eyes will bright and round at the
prospect. Then they will begin climb
ing over the rail in a great hurry, as
if they had forgot something and
hadn't time to take the stairs to get
to it. A policeman always appears
at this juncture, and the visitor is adj
vised to take his time about it and go
by way of the stairs.
81 can tell them on sight," said the
policeman, II can tell when they
come for a jump. and l never give
them chance. There is something
in their eyes and the way they look
about them that reveals their pur-
pose. But | presume any crank who
got on the dome would feel it to be
his duty to Jump off. SO we think it
best not to let any crank go up"
mo, we don't stop lovers" he adj
ded in response to an intimation that
this variety of crank was not dan
gerous." They never have energy
enough to jump off. They have to
stop at every landing to rest. Some
times they make good deal of noise
about it. The kissing Corner?' Yes,
of course. they stop there But the
real genuine article amt satisfied
with that. They stop at every turn
in the stairs Let's see, now. Let's
make calculation how many kisses
a real spoony couple who are visiting
Washington on their bridal tour will
get in on a round of the Capitol. No.
they can't kiss in the elevator, that's
crowded ; nor in the gallery but they
look as if they'd like to. There's the
tomb of Washington, under thecrypt;
they always put their heads close to-
Their to weep over that, and never
hear you tell them it's empty. This
is particularly good place, because
it's dark, and there are so many mar.
row aisles near it. They'll score half
a dozen before they finally get out.
Next is the engine room, and then
the crypt. After that they get I'M
easy. It'sal light in the library and
in the rotunda. But they make up
for this on the way to the dome. No.
just count the landings and you've
got it But it amt fair to call them
cranks. It's only temporary with
them. The genuinejumper, the man
with a mission, and the man who
takes all his clothes off are all We
reckon as cranks. There is no doubt
that the jumping cranks are in the
majority. l expect they come from
great distances for the express pur.
pose of leaping from the dome. If
they were allowed to go up there