The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-13
THE VICE PRESIDENTS ROOM.
One of the Best Appointed and Furnished
Rooms i'm the Capitol.
Washington Post. !


Probably the best appointed and furnished
rooms il 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 Senators are received, and is intended as
the private Office and retiring room OF the
Vice President. Two large windows facing
north afford magnificent panorama, en-
bracing the heights of Washington, among
the features of which are the Soldiers Home,
Howard university aud the sweep of coun-
try bordering Rock Greek, made historic
during the rebellion by a long chain
of Notifications and a canvas city
ing place of hundreds of thousands of sol
diers. Lace curtains of an exquisite and
rare pattern partially conceal the bare out
lines of the window frames and the heavy
lambrequins are both costly and magnificent
in design and material. Carpet of Turkish
combination covers the floor, and its thick
ness is such that not football can be dis
tinguished, no matter how many persons
may temporarily occupy the room. Luxu-
riOus looking mahogany chairs, OF subStan-
tial make and upholstered in red leather,
similar to the fashion so prevalent in library
furnature, ornament the inches and
corners. while a capaciouS blue cloth-cov-
cred table is the central object of attraction.
On the comfortable leather lounge, which
matches the chairs and is placed at the
left OF the Vice Presidents 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 con-
stantly maintained during cold weather,
adds 10 the cheerful aspect of this apart
Inent. and when the heat becomes too in
| tense for the Vice President Japanese three
winged screen is placed in position behind
l., ol,,s., oHosr h
comes necessary for night work, light is fur
nished by drop from the gilt, bronze and
| crystal chandelier Just ovet the table, and
| from the same source the Vice Presidents
| Secretary obtains light for his desk, which is
| placed at right angles to the large table and
| close 10 the window in the northeast ex-
| tremity of the apartment
Over the marble mantel-piece is a large
| plate glass mirror, occupying the entire
| space between the two windows, and the top
| of which touches the ceiling. This hand
some piece of decorative furniture is tlanked
| on either side by bronze figures of sworde
| cavaliers, and the whole is in striking con-
trast 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 a
| history connected with this mirror, however,
and, although it cost trife over $40 when
| it was purchased in the early days of the
Republic, it was characterized in the Senate
| gance." President John Adams was the
| offender, and he brought the mirror home
from Paris, and eventually had it put up
| for his convenience in the room used
| by him. At present this mirror is in
| the compartment containing stationary
washstand, and its time-worn surface is not
very fiattering TO those who avail themselves
| OF 1T for making an attractive toilet. OF all
the handsomely decorated and frescoed rooms
| in the Senate wing of the Capitol that as
| signed to the Vice President is the least con-
| splcuous in this respect. The walls are kali
somined white and the only relief to the
| monotony is single line of green, not more
than half an inch wide. Visitors to this
room are attracted by large bust portrait
| of George Washington, said to be the best
| picture extant of the Father of his Country.
| 1t was painted by Rembrandt Peale for
whom Washington sat- and the artist did
the subject ample justice, if the benign coun-
tenance which looks down from the
canvas ean oo.h is any. i indication Of
| Mount Vernon. 1t is amid such surround
| ings that the presiding officer of the Senate
| attends to his affairs, and the books of refer
| ence which he finds so much use for are
handily. arranged in tall mahogany book
case, the contents being protected from dust
and exposure by cardinal pleated silk cur
| tains and glass doors. Near the door which
| leads to the wash room is placed pillar of
white marble sllrmounted by bust of the
| late Lafayette L. S. Foster. formerly Sena-
| tor from Connecticut ard President pro tenn
| pore of the Senate. Strangers who are taken
| into this room by the Capitol guides are
| charmed with interesting but not absolutely
| historical stories about its former occupants,
and the bust of Mr.. Foster has done duty
| as the marble presentment of every Vice
| President since the independence of the
| United States was declared.