The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-22
coddesses Of the Gallery.

Women make NJ the chief audience at
the house. Nearly every day a greater
number and variety of hats and bonnets
than would stock a fashionable milliners
shop for a spring opening are assembled
in the galleries. and a great variety OF Ia
ces look from under these studies IN
head dress. The very pretty faces, If not
as many as the pretty bonnets, are not
few. Women are the most constant VS.
itors at the capitol. A speaker who can
clear the galleries Of nearly all Of the
male population is apt to find an appre-
ciafive audience in the ladies gallery.
If he Is at all good looking his speech Is
certain Of attention in that quarter.
However bare the other galleries may be,
the ladies galleries are never empty on
occasion while the house Is in ses-
sion. When a member in any way noted
for his ~gallantry is to speak the seating
capacity is apt to be taxed. There are
ON ladies who are at the capitol nearly
every day, no matter what may be going
on. They sit in the front row a~ndiwaieh
the proceedings with equal interest, If 1t
is a roll-call or wrangle. They are always
there.
Others come only when something es-
pecial is going on. There are certain
members whom they always come 10
hear. They never miss 8 great speech
and are always present when the fate of
some especially interesting bill Is decid-
ed. They are habitual congress goers.
There are two strikingly opposite classes
Those of one class are usually old, and
are frequently angular and wear glasses,
They often carry a pencil and scraps Of
paper, upon which they sometimes take
notes. They are looking f0rsn intellectu-
al trest and these bits Of paper are to
take some home on. Some Of them care
only for the eloquence that drsps from
the tongues Of the statesmen, taking of
10 be preserved many Of the striking
words and expressions. Others are poll
ticians. and get excited over everything
that is going on before them. This is moi
the spring bonnet class, and they haven
p~atience to listen TO roll calls or TO ST
out a dull day. They are the oongres
sional blue stockings, and when there j
nothing intellect ual in the house Of
senate, many Of them go into the library
to commune with old volumes.
The other class wear tailor-made suit
and display the spring bonne;s. Thel
are Younger, or look so, and add colo
and a freshness TO the scene. They ar
much more constant than the Others an'
appear Just as well pleased, whether it j
Z dull or a lively day. As long as tn,
house is in session and the members ar
on the floor they find something TO in
terest them. At times some Of them an
Joined by members in the galleries, an,
then for awhile these cease their earnes
attentions to the floor. They are the pref
ty girls the sring bonnet girls. A buncl
of them, IN flowers and laces n brigh
colors, is the flower garden Of the grea
waste Of galleries, whereupon the eye
of the members love TO rest. There j
one corner convenient 10 the ladies dress
ing-room where there are mirrors, etc
and they can see 10 straighten thei
bangs. Here they sit and look sweer
more interesting than interested. som
Of these gallery goddesses carry books i
their hands-school books or mus
books a big geography or history. On
or " occasionally carry little praye
books and hymnals, such as are carrie
in the hands in neat little cases to ehurcl
on Sunday. One beautiful little creatur
with the face of the Madonna carries
small Bible, which she often reads dun
ing ron call, or Y e during a burst Of e
oquence from some member who doe
not interest her.-Wddtuggfon Sar.