Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09
CONFIDENTIAL CORNERS.
Two Spots in the House Where Solid
Comfort is Found.

MEMBERS GET TOGETHER AND TALK coNF1DES.
TALLY TELL STORIES, RECOUNT REMINIscENCEs
AND FORGET THE CARES OF OFFICIAL LIFE-RE.
PUBLIcASs AND DEMOCRATS BOTH PROVIDED.
There are two confidential corners in the
House. When a member has a very particular
story to tell that he does not want everybody
to hear, he takes the chosen confidant over 10
one Of these corners. Sometimes a mem
Der seeks the corner to hide q headache
that has come over from the night before-a
sort of LEFTOVER proof" Sometimes soli-
tary member is there moping. Sometimes two
are there, holding their sides and red with
laughter, while another sits between them with
serious expression on his face, intended to
emphasize the joke or funny story he has Just
related. These two corners are corners
OF MEDITATION Oh OF MERRMENr.
That on the democratic side-there is one on
each side-is on the extreme northeast, be-
tween the fireplace and<he wall 1t is fenced
in triangular way by big settee-if such a
monster may be called by that name-that will
seat about ten persons on each side, with a
high, padded back between them This is set
crosswise, cutting off the fireplace and the
quiet corner from the rest of the House. The
quiet corner occupies but a small part of this
triangle-it is crowded close up between two
walls. A leather sofa is pushed tight up against
the wall, and, sitting there, one looks into the
fire.
The fire! Well, it used to be fire. with big
red glowing Goals. Members sitting in the
corner would squirt tobacco juice into the
CRATE. Now it is
SNARE AND DIFFUSION.
This make-believe fireplace, without any
fire at all about it except the yellow flames of
gas jet hid away up the chimney and re-
Elected back into the face from curve of cor
rugated copper. Occasionally aImember for
gets and tries to spit in the fire. 1t does not
sizzle, 1t merely spreads out and leaves stain
on the polished copper. Then the member
looks silly. This is the only thing that detracts
from the quiet corner. All the hand painted
and otherwise civilized receptacles cannot
make up TO the back-county member for the
FIRE to spit in.
Every morning this corner is occupied. All
day long it is not left vacant. There are three
other sofas strung along the wall, lust a. soft
and springy, but the one in the corner
Is THE PRIzF.
Three congenial members will sit there with
their feet on three chairs in front of them. and
as they put their heads together and chuckle.
the rest of the House knows that IL there is
solid comfort anywhere it is there.
There Is Just such looking corner On the
republican side, corresponding exactly With
this-onlyl It is not the quiet corner. The ouiet
corner on that side is still more secreted. II IL
In the cloak room or lobby under the 'black
gallery" 1t is in the very end of this narrov
room among the coats and hats 1t il furnished
with two chairs, q water cooler, q sofa and A
wood-box- The latter is high, old-fashioned
wood-box, with a slanting lid, that has settled
down into the corner and into disuse,
BENoANISG THIS ARTIFICIAL AGE
when the glare of gas takes the place OF
warmth Now this box serves as seat In the
quiet corner. One or two members will sit on
il and dangle their legs down, while the two
chairs and the sofa are occupied by their col.
leagues. There they sit and smoke, TELLING
stories and reciting "reminiscences. II a soil.
tary member goes there with his nsvspapsrs
he Is soon surrounded by several congo MAJ
fellows who won't let him read The bri9htesi
wit and the merriest stories are reserved FOR
this corner. A member sitting on the wood
box finds his memory drifting agreeably back
70 the hours spent ON another wood-box bv
the stove in the crossroads grocery and the
recollectons Of the quaint old gossips of the
country town shape themselves into curioua
storie: that might enrich the nations collsc-
ton OF folklore.
Democrats often sit on the republican side al
the House. Republicans fear no contaeion OF
false doctrines from being in dsmocrstic
seat But IL seldom IL ever happens that {
party man IL in the wrong corner.