Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-03
GOOD eyANTERS.
Tho Vice Presidents Private Room
prob,bIv tho host annointed and hes

Probably the best appointed and best
furnished room in the Capitol is that
occupied by the President of the Senate
and known as the "Vice Presidents
Room" 1t adjoins the celebrated
Marble Room, in which visitors to Sen
ators are received, and is intended as
the private office and retiring room OF
the Vice President. Two large windows
facing north afford. "a magnificent pano-
rama, embracing the heights of WASH
ington, among the features of which
are the Soldiers Home, Howard Uni
yersity, and the sweep of country
bordering Rock creek, made historic
during the rebellion by long chain of
fortifications and a 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 outlines of the
window frames, and the heavy lambre-
Quins are both costly and magnificent IN
design and material. Carpet of a Turk
ish combination covers the floor, and its
thickness is such that not football can
be distinguished no matter how many
persons may temporarily occupy the
room. Luxurious looking mahogany
chairs, of a substantial make and up
holstered in red leather, similar to the
fashion so prevalent in library
furniture, ornament the inches and
corners, while capacious blue-cloth-
covered table is the central object OF
attraction.
On the comfortable leather lounge,
which matches the chairs, and is placed
1T the left of the Vice President S 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 fire place, in which blazing
fire of oak logs is constantly maintained
during cold weather, adds to the cheer
full aspect of this apartment, and when
the heat becomes too intense for the
Vice President japanese three-winged
screen is placed in position behind his
revolving cane-seat chair. When it
becomes necessary for night work, light
is furnished by drop from the gilt,
bronze. and crystal chandelier just over
the table, and from the same source the
| Vice President secretary obtains Light
for his desk, which is placed at right
angles t. the large table and close to the
window in the northeast extremity OF
the apartment.
Over the marble mantel-piece is
large plate-glass mirror, occupying the
I entire space between the windows, and
the top of whichtOuches the ceiling. This
handsome piece of decorative furniture
! is flanked on either side by bronze
figures of sworded cavaliers, and the
whole is in striking contrast to a 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 trifle of $40 when 1t
was purchased in the early days of the
republic, il was characterized in the
Senate chamber as ''plece of shame
less extravaganza. President John
Adams was the offender, and he brought
the mirror home from Paris, and event
ually had it put up for his convenience
in the room used by him. At present
the mirror is in the compartment con-
tanning a stationary washstand, and its
time-worn surface is not very flattering
to those who avail themselves of it for
making an attractive toilet.
OF all the handsomely decorated and
| frescoed rooms in the Senate wing of the
Capitol that assigned to the Vice Presi-
dent is the least conspicuous in this
respect. The walls are kalsomined
white, and the only relief to the monot-
ony is single line of green, not more
than half an inch wide. Visitors to
this room are attracted by a large
portrait of George Washington, said to
be the best picture extant of the Father
of this Country. 1t was painted by
Rembrandt Peale, for whom Washing
ton sat, and the artist did the subject
ample justic, if the benign countence
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 mahogany bookcase,
the contents being protected from dust
and exposure by cardinal pleated silk
curtains and glass doors. Near the
door which leads into the wash room is
placed 4 pillar of white marble sur
mounted by bust of the late Lafayette
L. ;. Foster, formerly Senator from
Connecticut and President pro tempore
of the Senate. Strangers who are taken
into this room by the Capitol guides are
charmed with interesting but not abSo-
lutely historical stories about its former
occupants, and the bust of Mr.. Foster
has done duty ae the marble present
ment of every Vice President since the
independence of the United States was
declared.