Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-08
CRANkS AND LOVERS.
The Trouble They Cause Policemen at the
Capitol.

The Trouble They Cause Policemen at the
Capitol
/ Cranks are drawn to the capitol like birds
about a beacon light There is All Officer
pIa I'D on duty up in the dome expressly TO
keep them from jumping or Not a day
passes while congress is in session that they
are not at the capitol Cranks, newly mar
ried folks, and lovers tend naturally toward
the dome, with view probably of getting
nearer TO heaven. There is a turn in the
stairs that is known as the kissing corner.
/ 1t is proverbial that lovers never pass I'D
to the dome without stopping there to-take
breath 1t is said that a properly cunstl-
tuted girl alway gets tired when she reaches
that point, and young man was never
known TO object The turn is so situated
that two persons standing there can be seen
from neither above nor fellow 1t offers a
great temptation to rest The whispering
gallery has become SO well known that
young folks VINO doat want their secrets
carried to the other side of the dome and
make public property Of it by the echoes
are very careful to keep quiet when they
reach that elevation
franks, If they are recognized as such,
are not allowed to 60 on the dome but they
are always hanging around for an oppor-
tunity to slip up Several attempts have
been made by these adventurers to step out
into space in pursuit of eternity, but as yet
only one has Teen successful One man was
caught by the tail of his coat lust as he
stood ready for plunge forward Many
have been caught calculating with insane
eyes the distance to the concrete below
They have always ben induced to go down
iu the ordinary way 10y the winding stairs
Very innocent and harmless looking men
will stop at this point they 90 climbing
up the crowded stairs, and will at once be-
come engrossed by the beauty o. the great
circular floor OF the rotunda, and their eyes
will get bright and round at the prospect
Then they will begin climbing over the rail
in q great hurry, as if they had forgotten
something and hadn't time to take the stairs
TO get to it A pol ceman always appears
at this Juncture, and the visitor is advised
to take his time about 1t and go by way OF
the stairs.
Il can tell them on sight" said the police
man TO a reporter Il can tell when they
come for jump, and | never give them a
chance There is something in their eye,
and the way they look about them that re
veals their purpose But | presume any
crank who got on the dome would feel it TO
be his duty to Jump of. So we think it
best not to let any cranks go up
No, we don't stop lovers" he added, in
response to an intlmation that this variety
OF crank was not dangerous. They never
have energy enough to jump OF. They
have to stop at every landing to rest
Sometimes they make good deal of noise
about it The kissing cornerr Yes of
course, they stop therei But the real gen
uine article amt satisfied with that They
stop at every turn in the stairs Let's sce,
now Let's make a cal ulation how many
kisses a real spoOney couple who are visit
ing Washington on their bridal tour will
get in on a round of the capitol No. they
cant kiss in the elevator; that's crowded;
nor in the gallery, but they look as il they
like to There's the tomb of Washing ton
under the crypt; they always put their
heads close together TO weep over that, and
never hear you tell them that it's empty.
This is a particularly good place, beclu Sc
it's dark and there are SO many narrow
aisles near it They'll score half dozen be
fore they finally get out Next is the EN-
gine room, and then the crypt After tn at
they get uneasy. It's all light in the library
and 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 isn't fair to cal them crank> It's only
temporary with them w ashinston Star.