The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-27
ooDoessrs or THE GALLERY.
Women who Watch tho Proceeding.

Women who Watch tho Proceedings OF
Congrcss-Two Opposite Glasses.
Women make up tho chief audience at the
house Nearly every day a greater number
ard variety Of hats and bonnets than would
stock fashionable milliner's shop for
spring opening are assembled in the galleries,
and great variety of faces look from under
these ''stusiies" In head dress. The very
pretty faces, il not as many as the pretty
bcnnets, are not few. Women are the most
constant visitors at the Capitol. A speaker
who can clear the galleries OF nearly ell OF
tho male population Is apt TO find an appre-
ciative audience in the ladies' gallery. IL he
is at all good looking his speech IL certain OF
attention in that quarter. However bare
the other galleries may be. the ladies' gal
iaries are never empty on any occasion while
the house is in session. When a member In
any way noted for his gallantry is to speak
the seating capacity Is apt to be taxed.
There are some ladies who are at the Capitol
nearly every day, no matter what may be
going on. They sit in the front row and
watch the proceedings with equal interest,
whether it is a roll call or wrangle They
are always there.
Others come only when something especial
is going on. There are certain members
whom they always come to hear. They
never miss a great speech, and arc always
present when the fate Of Some especially in
teresting bill is decided. They are habitual
congress goers There are two strikingly OPP
posito classes. Those OF ono class are usually
old, and are frequently angular and wear
glasses. They often carry pencil and scraps
of paper, upon which they sometimes take
notes They are looking for an intellectual
treat, and these bits Of paper are to take
some home on. Some OF them care only for
the oloquence that drops from the tongues OF
the statesmen, taking down to be preserved
many 81 the striking words and expressions.
Others are politicians, and get excited over
everything that is going Oh before them.
This is not the spring bonnet class, and they
haven't patience to listen to roll calls or to
sit out a dull day. They are the congres-
sional blne stockings, and when there isnoth-
ing intellectual" in the house OF senate,
many Of them 20 into tho library to com
munc with old volumes
The other class wear tailor made suits and
display the spring bonnets. They are
younger, OF look so, and add color and
freshness to the scene They are much moro
constant than the others, and appear just as
well pleased, whether it is q dull or lively
day. As long as the house is in session and
tho members are on the floor they find some
thing ~ interest them. At times some OF
them arc joined by members i'll the galleries.
and then for while these cease their earnest
attentions to the floor. They are tho pretty
girls; the spring bonnet girls. A bunch Of
them, in flowers and iaces and bright colors,
is the flower garden Of the great waste OF
galleries. whereupOn the eyes Of tho mem
bers love - rest There is one corner con
venient to the ladies' dressing room where
there are mirrors etc, and they can see to
straighten their bangs. Here they sit and
look sweet more interesting than interested.
Some Of these gallery goddesses carry books
in their hands-school books or music books;
a big geography or history. One or two
occasionally carry little prayer books and
hymnals. such rs are carried in the hands in
neat little cases to church on Sunday. One
beautiful little creature with the face of the
Madonna carries a small Bible, which she
often reads during roll call, or even during
burst OF eloquence from some member who
does not interest her.-W ashington Star