Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-05
THE CONGRESSIONAL CORN
FIELD.
Discoveries Made by n Reporter in the
House Bath Room,


House Bath Room,
From TIE Wdshin0toR Star.
The gas is always burning dimly in the
bath rooms of the House, and Roterts
eyes are almost gone. Robert is the
colored man who has for long time been
in charge Of the baths. William is his
assistant. He is younger than Robert,
and the dimness OF the light doesn't effect
the keenness OF his bright little black
eyes, aud he is well suited for the duties
he has to perform. He trims the Con-
gresSmen's cOrns. William is rather n
bright mulatto, and very spry. Robert Ia
darker In color has chin whiekers, and
looks rather sedate with Eyeglasses on.
But the glasses don't help him much; be
has 10 take them off to rest his eyes, and
he can't see much with them.
The House BATH. rooms are in the base
ment OF the capitol, in the southeast
corner, under the elevator, where the
light Of day never reaches. The gas, like
Roberts eyes, Is very dim and can'treach
very far.
lis you the gentleman that wanted his
corns trimmed - asked William as the
reporter passed down the dim, vaulted
corridor.
want a nice bathY" said Robert,
throwing u couple OF towels over bis arm
and taking Oft his glasses 50 as to get
better look at the reporter.
why, do you nave a chiropodisl
hereY' asked the scribe.
THAT'S me-" said William. "Thaps
a hat am"
That's him." echoed Robert. Then he
added: "He's n mighty clever hand al
it. I've seen him take corn as big as
my thumb nail out oV'a members foot
and never draw toe red. Some ov the
members have mighty big cOrns. He's
mighty clever bout it. II you've got an
cOrns you'd better let him get hol OVEN"
While his praises were beng thus SUM-,
William stood mOdestly by Whetting an
ODD shaped little knife on the palm OF his
hand.
Il used to be a little clever in that line
myself" continued Robert. ops cut the
cOrns of lots OF members, but my eyes got
700 bad now on account OF that gas an |
can't see to do it. That gas is mighty bad
on the eyes, and 1t takes bright ones like
bis TO see to cut c0rns and not draw blood"
CONGRESSIONAL cORNs.
"DO many of the Congressman have
corns" asked the reporter, conscious
that he bad made discovery. This is
new field OF study"
"YOu mean the co~n-feldp Yes, sir;
that's big field OF labor" re nlied Will
lam seriously, unconscious of his very bad
pun. "MOstly all of them has corns.
Some of 'em has pretty bad ones. There's
Mr.. -" then he stopped himself sud
denly and added: II disremember bis
name, but he's got awful bad teet. Some
how never notice the names OF those VIII
come to me with their feet. rs got most
OF those who mas heen in Congress long
time in pretty good trim. Some of them
when they drst come in are mighty bard
TO handle. Their ieeDs in bad condition.
With the ingrOwing nails and the corns
and buniums they has a pretty hard time
IL amt those city gentl men with tight
saOes that has the bad feet It's them
That hasn't had no one TO tend to 'em.
Why there's -, but. as | was saying,
mostly disremember their names. How
sOmeYer, there amt many that don't nav e
c0rns, aud most of lem are bad. That
gentleman whose name just didn't know
had the most curious corn l ever saw. He
couldn't scarcely walk about. 1t was a
great big fellow just under his big toe
nail, but got him oIt."
Are you paid by Congress especially to
take care ol the Members feetW said the
scribe.
Not exactly for that Robert is in
CHARGE of the bath and am mis- assistant,
tue AENl 10 thlNN II III ny iut ae a 1OIb "
extra, and ii the Members want 10 give
me something for It, they can. They
mostly do, though | never charge any
thing. They're generally mighty glad to
get rid OF big corn, ami they amt slow
about giving me- something"
THE BATHS.
Chow about the bathsr asked the re-
porter, turning to Robert.
''MOsty all the members take 'em. Mr..
NJ rrsOn, l reckon, IS the only member
that never did. Mr. Carlisle IS only been
here once or twice in his life, aud Mr.
Randall comes only when his rheumatice
IL very bad. Mostly all the rest come
down pretty regu lar once or twice a week.
Mr.. LIE Fevre always cones three times
week. The new Mem efs come as fast q
they learn about II. Many of them don't
know there are any baths here, and they
90 a long time fore they find it out. Some
oil the Members are very particular abOul
their baths. Some batne in rum, some in
sea salt, and some in sulphur"
Are the baths furnished by the govern
ment freer
Eyes, except the sulphur. the rum anC
the salt. That we has TO buy ourselves
aud the members pay us for it. We don't
ask any pay, but they know that 10 comes
out Of our own pockets, so they generally
pay uo bdOhs nc pays lb
our salaries and furnishes tubs, water,
towels, soap, combs and brushes and such
ike. There are five tubs for the members
and they are most always full, aud
around the corner are tour tubs for en-
plOyes. Then there's a Russian bath,
where the members can get steamed
they can lie down there and get steamed
Just like oysters"
THE BEST BATH ROOM.
''This is the best bath ROOM" and heled
he way into large room at the end Of
the corridor where there was an immense
white marble tank or tub, "a big marble
washstand, a shower bath and big sil-
yer faucet that would let IN a stream Of
any temperature desired In such vol.
ume as ~ I'LL the tube in few seconds.
Overhead hung silver shOwer.bath ap-
paratus, through which water OF any
temperature could be poured down In
delightful shower upon the bather. The
room throughout is newly carpeted and
was as warm as a feather bed.
"rnere are two like this" sald the
bath-master, "and the rest have pOrce-
lain tubs. The employees used 10 have
too. but let them run all
over the floor, and we had To take them
out"
These bath rooms are very popular. In
the summer during the long session the
members go there 10 wash out The heat o.