The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-15
The Pages q Congress.

Fifty of the brightest boys of the
United States are employed at the ma
ucnal Capitol as pages to Congress.
Little fellows of from twelve to sixteen
years Of age, each with round, shin
ing silver badge on the lapel of his coat
labeled with his number, they run in
and out of the halls, now darling
through the aisles under the very nose
OF member who is making great
speech, now carrying great armfuls of
books to one Congressman, and now
taking letter to post for another, bring
ing glass of water to the man who is
speaking.
Here one is moving about with great
album in which he asks each of the
members to write his name; and there
are others busy taking the cards of
ladies in the reception-rooms to some
Congressman whom they wish to call
out.
The pages of Congress are gathered
from the four quarters of the United
States. They are chosen by the SER
geants-at-arms of each House, and rep
resent nearly every State. The pay of
page is two dollars and half day,
for the session, including Sundays,
though there is no work for them on
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 adj
journs, at four or five. About half of
their Saturdays are holidays, as the
Congress often adiourns Friday over to
Monday.
The daily sessions begin at noon, but
the boys must he present ear Ter and
file each Congressman's bills for 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. When a member
wants page he claps his hands, and
the pages, who, when 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.
There are thirty-six pages in the
House of Representatives, and fourteen
in the Senate. Two of the House pages
are mounted, and it is their duty to car
ry letters and messages on horseback
for Congressman from the Capitol
building to all parts of the city. They
ride to the Capitol, put the letters in a
pouch, which they carry by a strap
across their shoulders, and then ride
off for answers to them.
Sometimes these boys carry notes to
The DraCiIant copo atip,ac IN tho Sao-
rotary of War, sometimes to the
Attorney General, and, in fact, to all
the great departments of the Govern
ment. They enjoy their work, and they
are little envied by the boys who stay
under cover. Speaker Carlisle. the
tall, grave, smooth-faced man who pre-
sides over the House, has a page for
himself, as have also the sergeant-at-
arms of the House and its clerk.
The pages are chosen by the SER
geant-at-arms of the two Houses, and
before they are admitted to work they
must take the oath of allegiance to the
United States.
is the position a good one for the
boys? Well, on the whole, and for,
perhaps, one session, yes. The asso-
Citations are not bad, and if bad boys are
discovered among those chosen, they
are quickly dismissed for fear they may
corrupt the others. The duties of
page compel him to be polite and gen.
tlemanly, and he learns great deal.
During the recesses of the House they
often discuss among themselves bills
and questions which would be thought
beyond their comprehension, and they
delight in aping their Congressional
masters. Youths COMPANION.