The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
BUDDING STATESMEN,
The Little Follows Who Wait on the
Great Lawmakers of the Senate.

! uOOA to DIlSuG ana quick boys as can be
found anywhere. They receive APP
po1ntments on the recommendation of
Senators, and come from all sections OF
the country. There is the elongated
and dark-hued Southerner and the
ruddy-cheeked and chunky Western
boy, the quick Northerner and the
specialized New Highlander They are
paid $40 month each during the ses.
sion of Congress, which generally 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 an extra months pay in
order that they may return to their
homes. In addition to their salary the
pages make quite goodly-sized sum by
selling autograph albums containing the
| signatures of the Senators and prom
inent people whom they buttonhole for
their autographs. Their period OF
butterfly life is rather short, however,
as it generally does not extend beyond
two Congresses, the age limit being be-
tween ten and sixteen. After they
reach the age of sixteen they are COM
PEELED to leave.
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 dark black silk stockings. Their
work begins at nine a. m, when they
assemble in the Senate chamber and
get the desks Of the Senators in order
for the day, arranging the several
bills, petitions, etc, on them, after
which, unless there are errands to run,
they can amuse themselves until twelve
o'clock, when the Senate convenes, at
which time they station themselves on
either side of the Presidents platform.
After the chaplain's prayer the work
begins in earnest, and they are con-
etantly on the run, answering the snap
of the fingers of the Senators, carry
ing bills and papers to the Presidents
desk and executing the multitudinous
demands of the Senators.
The Senate usually is in session till
four o clock, when it goes into Executive
session, releasing the pages from duty
AS it is customary for the Senate to
adjourn on Thursday evening until
Monday morn ing, there is nothing for
the pages to do in the interim, and
they amuse themselves in various
ways. Some are continually porting
~ l,o
Trapper" order but the greater num-
Der are enthusiastic bicyclers, those
who are not fortunate enough to own a
wheel not begrudging paying sixty
cents an hour for the rent of one, and
many are the amusing squabbles among
them as to how many minutes one has
to ride it before another takes it, they
having hired it on shares. 1t can not
firmed gum chewers. The wide marble
bannisters on either side of the stairs
leading to the upper floors offer great
temptation to them to slide down then
head first, rather than walk down, anC
the velocity with which they go (wher
fall to the tassellated floor below
means certain death) would terrifJ
their mothers
They are all young politicians, take
deep interest in the debates and are
thoroughly posted on all topics tina
come before the Senate, and religiously
defend the position and merits of theil
respective Senatorial favorites. 1t i!
no uncommon thing, after adjournment
over some heated debate, for them t
take sides and debate the argument.
pro and con that they have heard. AnC
they go at it with vim, defying parlia
mentary law ana grammar alike, anC
just as much in earnest as though they
received s., 900 year for it. But it i.
in their playroom, the awful mysteries
of which they allow no other mOrta
eyes to penetrate, where the pages kicl
up high jinks. For good and suf1icien
reasons, apparent to the most casua
observer, this room is located in a dis
tant and secluded portion Of the Capito
building, and there they shout, laugh
J and play to their heart S content. 1t il
very seldom that quarrels among then
ever result in blows, as it means a sum
mons to appear before that awful tribu
; nal, in the mind of page, the ser
geant-at-arms, to be followed by a sus
pension of two weeks or more with los
, of pay.
Tho pages are under the charge anC
direction of old Captain Bassett, WHIT
has occupied the position, it is said
, ever since the memory OF man. H
started in as page himself and is nov
a hale, bald-headed and white-beardec
old gentleman. His post of duty is t,
, the left OF the President and behind hi
youthful charges, where he can keeI
an eye on them. 1t would seem to tax
. some ingenuity for a fourteen-year-ol'
, boy to dispose of $75 monthly, bu
} some of them rise quite equal to the oC
| casion. Others again have quite
, good-sized bank account. Those VIII
| are so fortunate as to have relatives /
, Washington OF course are well locke
l after, but those who have to trust
+ the tender mercies Of the typic5
| clearinghouse keepers become afte
, time more or less reckless. Taken a