The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-20

the ar Ought 70 be passed over ice, and be
sends good Part of the air through the
heating pipes in warm weather in order to
cool II. There are more than three miles
OF these pipes in the capitol. the most of
which are underground, and the air. by
racing around through them, gets cooled
on In addition TO these arrangements
there are fans to take the bad air out of the
capitol, and the ceiling OF each house OF
congress Is perforated, in order that the
bad air may escape. The most careful
means are taken to render the congress-
men comfortable. and one OF the instru-
merits which the engineer has is one to test
the humidity of the atmosphere. This is
tested by single human hair. Human
hair absorhs moisture like . rope, and it
becomes shorter when wet. This hair is
six inches long, and il is laid on dial.
The hand or pointer of the dial moves
backward or forward IS the moisture in
the hair varies. and in this way the ar can
be perfectly regulated.
The bathrooms of the capitol have never
been more patronized than they are now.
Fifty members of the lower house take two
baths daily. and nearly every congress-
man gets his tub at Uncle Sans expense
during the hot weather. Ben lie Feyre. Of
Ohio, used 10 speRd about half his time in
the bath tub during the sum mer, and he
was one of the few congressman who get
fat on the Russian bath There are nine
bath tubs in the basement under the
House, and each bathroom is as big as
The ordinary hotel bedroom. The tubs
are immense, and Tom Reed or George
Barnes or any OF the latest men in con-
gress can roll about in them without graz
ing their elbows or their knees. Some of
these tubs are of marble, and in one OF
them Reagan was bathing when be was
called up 10 vote on the Morrison Dill. He
came MP IN a blanket, and, like the bed
bug, got there Just the same.
Some members take a bath Just before
speaking. 1t makes one feel like a new
man, and when they get on the floor In
stead of feeling hot and tired they start of
as fresh as q daisy. A number OF the
members like the Russian bath. and even
in these hot July DAYS you will find some
of the greatest men of the country, dressed
in nothing but 8 towel. sitting In the
steam room and drinking cold water until
the perspiration runs down their cheeks
and of their backs in rivuiets. From time
to time some of them will 60 off and take
plunge and then come back TO sweat again.
After they have been we'll rubbed down
and sprayed OF with cold water they come
out 81 peace with themselves and all the
world. Not few OF them bring their con-
stituents here to battle. and the senator's as
q rule are fully as fond of the public baths
as the members OF the House. In the SUI
preme court basement there is sort OF
an electric bath which it is said will almost
make dead man think and, which is re-
sorted TO by such members of congress and
the Judiciary who are very tired from over
work or overdrink the night before, and
who want TO put themselves in immediate
trim.
Speaking of the Senate, the members of
our so-called House of Lords are quite as
undignified in their dress as the represent
tatiyes. A large number of them wear no
vests at all, and | saw ''Zeb" Vance this
afternoon walking through the chamber
with great beads of peariy sweat Standing
on his handsome forehead. He was fam
ming himself violently, and vast expanse
of boiled shirt showed out between the
frocks of his light gray Blu mess suit. He
had evidently come to the capitol in hur-
~, for his shirt was soaked with perspira-
ton and it chung to his person. Piatt of
Connecticut is another vestless senator.
Vance and Platt are about the same height,
but Vance weighs 80 pounds and Platt
weighs LIS. He is as thin as q rail, and his
six feet of bone and skin look longer and
thinner than ever in his summer attire