Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-03


FLOWERS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE
SENATE.
The ante-oficial proceedings in the Senate
lacked none Of the dignity and decorum
which are popularly supposed to be the at
tributes Of that body. A. as early an hour as
II o'clock there were but few vacant seats in the
galleries. The majority of the visitors were
of the feminine persuasion, and they chatted
in semi-subdued tones and waited patiently
for the Senator's to put in an appearance.
The brown-paper shrouds had bee N removed
from the desks and the highly-polished sur,
faces shone again. At the right of the presidS
ing officers chair stood a basket Of flowers, to
which was attached card bearing
the inscription, From the propagating
gardens, with the compliments of Col. Wilson"
The very fine roses which adorned the two
stories of the basket were admired by all who
could see them. Senator Pugh was forally re-
membered with basket of roses and maiden
hair fern, and Senator Daniels desk had on its
center an unassuming little bouquet. More
pretentious was the combination of color and
odor on the desk OF Senator Blodgett. Sena-
tor Voorhees, desk was really the most
thoroughly decorated, though, for its surface
was hidden beneath two baskets, one of which
was perched up on four long grass-covered
legs.
''No FLOWERS"
On the republican side there were no flow
ers, and as one of the republican Senators re-
marked, I'VE don't need any flowers yet; we
are not dead enough"
Rev. DR.. Butler in his opening invocation
the minority of what had happened on Novem-
Der by praying for the President-elect. The
Lords Prayer concluded the petition, and in
the recital of this the chaplain was joined by
Senator ingalls, and Senator Cullom. The doc
tors sonorous ''amen" was the signal for
A CoMMINdLINo OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICAN,.
German and Hoar grasped hands and smiled,
the first quietly, the latter effusively. Black
burn and Sherman were as bosom friends.
Frye and Vest were apparently alike pleased
to see each other; and SO it was all over the
chamber
During the recess the handshaking and the
shoulder slapping process was at once renewed.
and every man on the floor seemed to be on
good terms with himself and everybody else
1t was noticed, however, that
SENATOR BLACKBURN USED HIS LEFT HAND
principally in the handshaking operation.
A friend of his accounted for this conduct on
the ground that he expected to have use for
his right hand shortly. and did not want its
muscles and nerves disturbed until that time.
Kindly remembrances continued to be brought
in by pages. A pretty bunch of roses. to which
was pinned huge card, was placed on Senator
Beck's desk, while Senator Kennas writing
space was occupied by box, which might
have contained either candy, shoes or collars
and cuffs fresh from laundry. The box ex-
cited good deal Of curiosity, because the Sem
ator was not there to open it and make public
the character of its contents.
FAMILIAR FACES MISSED.
Several Of the more prominent Senators
were not in their seats. Mr. Evarts' spare
form and deliberate movements were missing
The patriarchal Joe" Brown. of Georgia, was
looked for by many, but he was absent. Wade
E2mptOn5 martial form was away. and the
smooth features of Kenna could not be seen.
The astIte Quay was among the absentees.
He was watched for by more people than any
other Senator on either side. The chair of
Morgan was empty. and the flowers on Voor-
hees' desk gradually lost their fragrance to other
nostrils than those of the Tall Sycamore of
the Wabash" The virginians-R -Riddleberger
and Daniel-also failed to put in an appear
ance, much to the disappointment of a crowd
Of Virginia visitors who waited patiently for
them to show themselves.
READING THE MESSAGE IN THE SENATE.
As general thing the reading Of the Presi-
dents message was listened to with the closest
attention on both sides of the chamber. Glib
son, of Louisiana. wrote diligently. and so
did Blair; alongside of him. Teller followed
the reading in u copy of his own Hoar and
Hale chatted with each other in low tones,
while Chandler from Immediately behind the
pair made jocular remarks in stage whispers
The reference to the Sackville-Murchison epi-
sode caused smiles to broaden more than one
cOuntenance.
Scenes in the House.
1t was not from irreverence that the republi-
cans looked SO like smiling during the opening
prayer in the House this morning. They had
been smiling with increased good humor from
the momen; they began to assemble at 1890,
and it was difficult to suspend for prayer.
REPUBLICANS IN THE MAJORITY.
At - o'clock to-day the last session of the
Speaker Carlisle. The sound of the gavel broke
in upon the babble of many tongues. More than
quorum were present, the republicans show
ing up in greater proportion than the demo-
Gratis. All the leading men were present and
most of the smaller fry. Baskets of flowers
rested on many of the desks, and before the
floor was cleared the hall was crowded with
outsiders burdened with congratulations to
those of their friends open to such cour-
tesies.
MIR. RANDALL's APPEARANCE.
Mr.. Randall appeared in his seat just min
ute before the House was called to order. He
escaped an ovation by slipping quietly
into his chair just before PRAYER. As
soon as his presence was discovered his col
leagues gathered about him to extend con-
gratnlations on his recovery. He was smiling
and looked almost as well as ever, except that
he appeared little thinner than formerly.
He sat behind a large bunch Of flowers some
one had placed on his desk.
was in his seat when the House opened. He
looks little fattsr- than when he left
Washington in October and his face
showed no signs of suffering or despond-
ency as he returned the sympathetic
hand pressure Of his colleagues. OF course he
Is not
AS SMILING AS Mr.. REED.
That gentleman looked the embodyment Of
good nature as his friends friends gathered
around him to grasp his hand. He looked as
if he could not say cutting or sarcastic thing,
even to q democrat. He showed his good will
toward all men by breaking away from those
who pressed around him as soon as possible
and going over to shake hands with the demo-
Gratis. Even among his merry colleagues he
looked conspicuously happy.
SURVIVORS OF THE CYCLONE.
Mr.. w. G. p. Breckenridge sat behind Mr..
Mills with an amiable smile on his face. His
cousin, Clifton R., stooC talking with some Of
his friends, and not fa,' "a was Mr.. Wilson, Of
West Virginia. They both narrowly escaped