The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-10-20


the Boys Amuso Themselves Interested
i'll Politics-The Boss.
bright and quick boys us can be found any.
where. They receive appointments OH the
recommendation of senator's, and como from
all sections of the country. There is the
elongated and dark hued southcrner and the
r,lddv checked and chunky western boy, the
quick northerncr and the specialized New
Highlander. They arc paid SIS {. month each
during the session of congress, which gencr-
all. lasts about eight months for the long
and three months for the short session. and
at the close of the latter it is customary to
vote them all extra months pay in order that
they may return to their homes In addi-
tion to their salary the pages make quito "a
goodly sized sum by selling autograph al
buns containing the signatures of tho scn,..
tors and prominent people whom they but
tonhole for their autographs Their period
OF butterfly life is rather short, however, rs
1t generally does not extend beyond two con.
crosses, the age limit being 10 and l6 After
they reach the age Of l6 they arc compelled
to leave.
DRESS AND DAILY DUTIES.
The pages are very neat in their dress and
pay great attention to STYLE They wear
tunic coats and knee pants, generally of some
dark material, and affect black silk stockings
Their work begins at 9 a. nl.. whrl, they as.
Semhc in tho senate chamber aud get tho
desks of tho senator's in order for the ,lav. ar.
ranging t.!c several bills, petitions. etc, on
thcm after which, unless there are crranls
to RIM fllpv Cou n,O,,cc ,,ut;l ~
o'clock, when the senate convcncS, ct which
time they station themselves on either side of
the presidents platform. After tho chap
lain's prayer the work begins i'll earnest, aud
they arc constantly on tho run, answering
the snap of the fingers of tho senator's. carry
ing bills and papers To the presidents desk
and executing the multitudinous demands Of
the senator's.
The senate usually is in session till 4
o'clock when it goes into executive session,
releasing the rages fro.n duty. AS it is Gus
tomary for the senate to ad,iourn on Thurs
day evening until Monday morning, there is
nothing for the pages to do in the interim,
and they amuse themselves in various ways.
Some are continually pouring over, novels of
"l'he White Eagle, the Trapper," order, but
the greater number are enthusiastic bicyclcrs,
those who arc not fortunate enough to own Il
wheel not bcsrudging paying sixty cents an
hour for the rent OF one, and many are tho
amusing squabbles among them as to how
many minutes ono has to ride it before an
other takes it, they having hired it on shares.
1t canHot be denied, also, that some arc con-
iimcd gum chewcrs. The wide marble ban
nistcrs on either side of tho stairs leading to
tie upper floors offer great temptation To
them to slide down them head first, rather
than walk down, and the velocity with which
they SO (when fall to tho tesselated floor
beneath means certain dcath would terrify
their mothers.
WELL POSTED on POLITICS,
They are all young politicians take deep
interest in the debates, and are thoroughly
posted OH all topics that come before
tho senate, and rcligiously defend the posi-
tion and merits of their respective senatorial
favorites. 1t is no uncommon thing, after
adjournment over some heated debate, for
them TO take sides and debate the arguments
pro AMI con that they have heard And they
go at it with n vim, defyins parliamentary
law and grammar alike, and just as much
in earnest as though they received $1,000 Il
year for it, But it is il their playroom, the
awful mysteries of which they allow no other
mortal eyes to penetrate, whero the pages
kick up high jinks. For good and sufficient
reasons, apparent to the most casual oh
server this room is located in distant and
secluded portion of the Capitol building, and
there they shout, laugh and play to their
hearts content. 1t is very seldom that quar-
rc's among them ever result in blows, us it
means summons to appear before that aw-
full tribunal, in tho mind of Il page, tho ser-
geant-at-arms to be followed by suspension
of two weeks or moro, with loss of paw
Tho pages arc under the charge and drcc-
tion of old Capt. Bassctt who has occupied
the p sition, it is said, ever since the mem
ory Of man. He started in as page himself
and is now II hale, bald beaded and wlito
bearded old gentleman. His post Of duty is
10 tho left of tho president and behind his
youthful charges, whcro he can keep un eve
Oh them. 1t would seem to tuke souo inrc.
nuity for a l4-ycar-old boy to dispose Of S15
monthly, but some OF them rise quite equal
to the OCCASION. Others agan havo quito Il
good sized bank account Those who are so
fortunate as to have relatives in Washington
of course are well looked after, but those who
have to trust to the tender mercics of tho typ.
iral boarding house keepers become after u
time more or less reckless. Taken rs II whole
they arc very gentlemanly, we'll meaning
lot Of boys, and are said to be great inn
provement on the force Of former sessions.
Senator German was once q page, and tho
story is that he frequently had his ears
pulled by Capt. Bassett on occasions when
he lapsed from grace.-New York Graphic.