The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-25
The Pages of Congress.

fHly OF the brightest boys OF the
United States are employed at the
National Capitol as pages to the Forty
ninth Congress. Little fellows of from
twelve to sixteen years of age. each
with round, shining silver badge on
the lapel Of his coat labeled with his
number, they run in and out OF the
halls, now darting through the aislcs
under the very nose of member who
is making a great speech, now carrying
great acmfuls of books 10 one Congress-
man, and now taking letter to post
for another, or bringing a glass of
water to the man who is speaking.
Here one is moving about with a
great album in which he asks each of
the members to write his name; and
there. others are busy taking the cards
of ladies in the reception rooms to
some Congressman whom they wish to
call out
Tho 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
O page is $3.50 day, for the session,
including SUNDAYS. though there is no
work for them that day. They ycner-
orally 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 9 O'clock un-
til the House adjourns III 4 or 5. About
IA S,,f RI, l,<,1.l
the Congress often adjourns from Fri
day over to Monday.
The daily sessions begin ut noon.
but the boys must be present earlier.
and file each Congressman bills for
him. After Congress meets thoy have
plenty to do in running erranhs.
During a night session they grow worry
sleepy. and rs u general thing tloy arc
not asked to romain. When II mem
bcr 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.
Is the position a good one for the
boys? Well, on the whole, and for,
perhaps, one session, yes. Their as
sociations are not bad. and if bad boys
are discovered among those chosen.
they are quickly dismissed for fear tl.vy
may corrupt tho others. The duties Of
a page compel him to be polite and
gcntlemanly. and he learns great
deal. During the reccsscs of the House
they often discuss among themselves
bills .and questions which would be
thought beyond their comprehension,
and they delight in aping their CON
gressional masters.
There are tlirty-six pages in the
House of Representatives. and four
teen in the Senate. Two of the House
pages are mounted. and it is their duty
to carry letters aud messages on horse
back for Congressman from the Capt.
tol building to all parts of the city.
They ride to the Capitol, put the letters
in leather pouch, which they carry by
a strap across their shoulders, and then
ride of for answers to them.
Sometimes these boys carry notes to
the President, sometimes to the Sccrc-
tary Of War. sometimes to the Attor-
ncy General. and in tact. to all the
great departments Of the Government.
They enjoy their work, and they are Il
little envicd by the boys who stay nm
der cover. Speaker Carlisle. the tall,
grave, smOoth-faccd man who prcsi,lcs
over the House, has page for himself,
as have also the Scrgcamt-at-Arms az
the House and its clerk.
Often before tho House and Scnk&
meet. thcy hold " miniature Congress
of their own. One of the boys gets into
the speakers chair. and holds The ivnr,-
gavel. another stands AS clerk below
behind the clerks desk. while others
scattered about the room make speeches
just as the Congressman will do :tn
hour later.
The prince of pages and the father
Of them all is Isaac B;lssctt, who now
has charge of the pages of the Senate
as the assistant dourkerpcr. Eifly-tive
years ago. when lie was b!ack-hairrd
boy of twelve. Daniel Webster, then Il
Senator, took him on his knee, and
asked him if he would not like TO be n,
page. He has been in the emp!ay of
the Senate ever since. and during his
whole service he has not been absent
from duty twenty Youths Com.
DdniOn.