Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-22

Eccentric Individuals Who want to
Jump from the DOme-OppOrtunities
for Lovers.

| Cranks are drawn to the Capitol like birds
| about beacon light. There is an officer placed
| on duty up in the dome expressly to keep
| they from jumping of. Not day passes
while Congress ia In session that they are not
at the Capitol. Cranks, newly-mxrried folks
| and lovers tend naturally towards the dome,
with view probably Of getting nearer to
heaven. There Is a turn In the stairs that is
known as the kissing corner. It In proverbial
| that lovers never pass up to the dome without
| stopping there to-take breath. It is said that
| properly constituted girl always gets tired
when she reaches that point, and young man
was never known to object. The turn is SO stu
from neither ABOVE NOR beiow 'ngte o sna De
great temptation to rest The whispering gal
lery has become SO well known that young
the other side Of the dome and made public
property of by the echoes, are very careful to
CraaSs If thew are recog snae eIeva1lo
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 into space in pur-
suit OF eternity, but as yet only one has been
Ss one man was caught by the tail OF
ward. Many have been caught calculating
with insane eyes the distance to the concrete
below. They have always been induced to go
stairs.
There is one point in the ascent which offers
tunda. 1t is with great difficulty that crank
gets past this place. But for the presence of q
policeman the people on the floor below would
be In momentary danger Of being struck on the
head by flying crank.
Very innocent ana harmless looking men will
crowded stairs, and will at once become ne enc en-.
crossed by the beauty of great circular floor
OF the rotnnda and their eyes will get bright and
climbing over the rail in great hurry as If
they had forgot something and hadn't time 10
appears at this juncture, and the visitor is ad-
vised to take his time about it and go by way
of the stairs.
II can tell them on sight," said the policeman
70 STAR reporter. II can tell when they come
T 1Er Jump, and never give them a chance.
hey osk in their and the
pose. But presume any crank who got on the
dome would feel 1t to be his duty to Jump off.
any ADDED
sponse to an intimation that this variety of
crank was not dangerous. "They never have
to stop at every landing to rest. Some
LINES they make good deal Of noise about it.
there! But the real genuine article amt salts
stairs! Let's see, now. Let's make a calcutta ale la
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
to. There's the tomb OF Washington, under the
crypt; they always put their heads close together
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
uneasy. It's all light In the library and in the
rotunda. But they make up for this on the way
to the dome. Now, just count the landings and
you've got it! But it amt fair to call them
cranks. It's only temporary with them. The
genuine Jumper, the man with mission, and
the man who takes all mis- clothes off are all we
reckon as cranks There is no doubt that the
jumping cranks are in the majority. expect
they come from great distances for the express
purpose OF leaping from the dome. II they were
allowed to go up there would be an inquest
every day."