Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22

the elements which go to make up long-drawn
and noisy kiss; while still later specimens
OF mans ingenuity remove the neck obstruc-
ton so quietly that even tho wide-awake occu-
pant OF an adjoining committee room will
never be aware. SO far as the corkscrew can
help IL, that there is a bottle within half q
mile. There will probably be run on these
silent abstractors of cylindrically shaped frag-
ments OF that tree which botanists term Quercus
suber.
During the long recess which follows March
4 next Sergeant-at-A Arms Valentine and Mr.
zimmerman will improve great many sections
OF the northern end OF the Capitol and several
OF the proposed improvements would have
oeen attended to ere this had time permitted
MAKING NEW COMMITTEES ROOMS
Architect Clark has no. been idle. Nobody
ever saw him when he was His field is Q wide
one. but there has been q good deal Of cultiva-
ton and a very fair crop of results. Down on
the hoor beneath the terrace on the Senate
side are three new committee rooms. They
face west and are just about AS nice as anything
In the shape of rooms in the whole of the Capt.
toll Decorators are still at work. but the apart
ments will be ready for occupation by Monday
week. Two of the rooms are large and they
have already been dedicated to the service,
respectively, Of the committees on rules and
appropriations. The ceilings are lofty and
there IS an ample supply of light and ventila-
ton, The walls are psneed in ash, with oak
trimmings; the doors veneered with oak
and the mantels are in artistic accord with the
rest Of the woodwork Green tiles surround
the open fireplsces, in which are brass dogs and
imitation logs. the latter to be heated with real
gas. No assignment has vet been made of the
smaller central room. bu. there will be any
number OF chalrmen after 1t as soon as they
become aware of it's existence.
GOING DOWN FURTHER.
For the convenience of Senators who OCCUPY
these terrace committee rooms the western
Senate elevator will drop several feet lower
than 1t ever did previous to this session. To
bring this about it was necessary to cut through
16 feet of the most solid kind Of stone wall
That has been done and now the machinists
are at work readjustinG the running apparatus
The pump has been placed in one of the ter
race rooms which the pages have been III the
habit of using as a gymnasium. Nj. Virgins
elevator WILL in consequence of this new ar
rangement, have en- additional doorway sawn
out of it. and MIR. Virgins will have two doors
to look after.
flag paving has been substituted for the
rough brick floors which were III the terrace
corridors, and there is more of comfort for the
pedestrian now. The odor OF fresh paint fills
his nostrils, though, for tho terrace committee
rooms are being beautifed.
IN THE HOUSE WING.
On the House side of the Capitol there has
been just rs much cleaning as anywhere else,
but the amount OF new carpet laid is compare
lively small. The committees on ways and
means and on post offices and post roads have
had the floors Of their rooms recovered and
new carpet has also been laid in the cloak
rooms ami the House post Office. Chief Clerk
Martin has been attending to the more urgent
needs of the House III the matter of repairs
but his biggest job has been the fitting ont Of
the nine new committee rooms on the House
end of the terrace corridor. These have been
put in order and will be assigned as soon as
fy,.,a d.. ~
Capitol. The rooms. which are similar to those
that have been in use for some months on the
Senate side. each contain the inevitable long
table, a sufcIency of chairs, a bookcase or two
aud mirror. In one corner Of each is a sta
tionary washstand.
BIG ROOM.
One ofthe greatest conveniences ever planned
by Architect Clark Is now almost ready to
fulfil its mission. For years it has been evil
dent for any one conversant with congressional
affairs that The House of Representatives was
badly IN need of 4 lar &c room IN which coIn-
mittees-Eny comm:ttee-could hold uvestga-
tons to which the public could be admitted or
to give hearings Oh matters pending before the
House. That urgent need has been
supplied. for at the southern end OF
the string OF terrace committee rooms
Mr.. Clark has constructed one apartment
which will easily accommodate two hundred
people. Had the plan admitted of il this room
would have been used as committee rooms, but
It so happened that by no arrangement could
there be a sut!cIency Of natural light for two
rooms. There is ample light for one, though,
and the result Is an apartment that will be most
useful
SHORT CUT
Not little work necessary to abbreviate
the route from the House 70 these terrace apart
ments. As in the case of the Senate elevator
cix
teen feet of solid stone wall. and where the
wall once was there now IS a stairway. In spite
of this short cut members will have more walk
ing to do to reach the terrace than their sena-
toriaI brethren.
cool deal of new furniturs-that is. il will
be new IL its new situations being placed in
the House press gallery and there will be such
other improvements as may seem TO be neees-
sary.
ON THE TERRACE.
The appearance Of things on the west front
OF the Capitol has not materially changed. but
what changes there are are for the better
Much asphalt paving has been laid on the ter
race ana some very artistic lamps and flower
holders of bronze have been placed IN posi hon.
and when the spring time comes, just as the
flfty-hr5t Congress gets tired of existence, the
flower holders will be filled with some Of the
choicest varieties of floral beauty and fragrance.
Let the second session Of the Flfty-iirst Con-
gress come! The Capitol is ready!
The Capture of John Brown.
To the Editor If The EVENING STAR:
/ have read with close attention and much
interest the article in your issue of the 18th
instant entitled John Browns Raid" by Mr..
John +. Coyle, whose "reminiscences are always
so reliable and entertaining. and beg the priv
ilege of supplying the facts In two instances in
which MIR. Coyle appears uncertain. First, the
company of marines was commanded by First
Lieut. Israel Green himself and the company
being clothed In their service uniform. Sec
ond, the person mentioned as EARNED only
with walking cane captured John Brown,
&c" was, Major VIM. w. Russell of the
marine corps, who, as the marines were
leaving the depot at Washington, was requested
by Secretary Ioucey to accompany them to
Harper Ferry, the Secretary and the major
being there present to see the marines off, The
latter, IN citizens dress, at once boarded the
train as desired by the Secretary Mai. Rus
sells entering the engine house In advance Of
the marines AID with uplifted hands, without
weapons. calling upon John Brown and his
associates to surrender reached Washington
first i'll the dispatches Of Mr.. w. Prescott
Smith, the principal officer of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. there present, and after
ward was fully corroborated by Lieut. j. E.
Il. Stewart (the late celebrated confederate
cavalry officer, who accompanied Col Robert
L. Lee to Harper's Ferry, and by John Brown
himself. who. while lying wounded and suffer-
ing III the room in which he was placed after
his capture, exclaimed: Cant you let me die
IN peace?" To which Maj. Russell, who Just
entered the room, replied: Yes, you shall ="
Brown turned his head, looked at the major
and said: You were the first to enter the en-