The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-07

some of the Persons One May See Passing
Through the Apartment 1t Shelters.
Representatives and Senators, officials,
Pretty Women and Journalists.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, April 17.-There is one
spot in the Capitol which never grows old
to the veteran habitues of the big build
ing. It is the great rotunda, where the
most majestic architectural proportions,
works of art of historic interest and a
steady stream of pretty women and
famous men combine TO attract the eve
and enlist the attention. There are
benches here, and one may sit down and
watch the kaleidoscope of human figures
set In beautiful frame of marble and
fresco. Directly through tie rotunda
passes the walk which thousands take
every day from senate to house, or house
to senate. In one door and out the other
all the famous Americans have passed
during the last fifty years; each day that
congress sits scores of men whose names
are known all over the country may be
seen strolling along singly, in pairs, or
groups.
The senator or representative even the
verieSt stranger may know, for states
men always pass here bareheaded. Their
hats are hung in the cloak rooms, and
these they do not take the trouble to get
on starting for committee room or the
other end Of the Capitol. Not so with
the newspaper men, who are almost as
numerous and as well known here as
senators and representatives. Journal
lists are never seen in the corridors of the
Capitol with bare heads, though they
have coat rooms as spacious as those
used by the members of the two houses.
No one can tell why one class Of men
who earn their living in the national
state house habitually appear with hats,
while another class are always bare
headed; but such is the fact
As the men and women come and go we
notice other peculiarities and eccentrici-
ties. No one appears to walk through this
hall without pausing, or at least slowing
his pace. There is so much to see, so
many lines of beauty which one may
never before have observed, that instinct
lively the eyes wander hither and yon.
Simply as an experiment in observa-
ton we sit down to note for a half hour
the notable or known men and women
who pass. This is always an interesting
experiment, no matter where tried. 1t
is doubly interesting here, for it is e spot
that stands midway between the two
houses of congress, a spot in which his
tory is centered and where history is
still being made. The very first couple
to attract our attention are men whom
one would hardly have expected to see
together. They are Mills and Gear, of
the ways and means committee-theo one
q representative of Republicanism and
the other of Democracy. Gear we OBJ
serve to be a carelessly dressed man of
so or more years, with a face thickly
bearded, and way of dropping his head
down toward his breast which many
thoughtful men have.
Mills looks older than his companion,
but as matter of fact is not so old His
complexion is as ruddy as that of girl,
and his eyes have the twinkle of kindli-
ness and good nature. Neither of these
party warriors seems to care a rap about
his dress, though both, thanks, most
likely, to their good wives, are entirely
presentable At first sight one would
say that neither was a genial man, yet
this is but another illustration of the rule
that appearances are deceitful, for two
more companionable, informal, delight
ful men do not walk these marble floors.
AS we step UP the two men are talking
about Secretary Blaine and the scheme
of international reciprocity which he is
said to have devised.
There is one thing l can say about
Mr.. Blaine" remarks Governor Gear.
- He has the most phenomenal memory
l have ever known. A few DAYS ago
was calling on the secretary, when he
asked me 10 sit down. Gear. said he,
you are the very man l wanted to see.
For long time | have been wanting to
ask YOU about some families which left
my old county in Pennsylvania thirty
years ago and settled IN the part of Iowa
which you now represent in congress. !
How are the SmiJlsons getting along?
And the Browns And Mr. Blaine went
on, added Governor Gear, ito make in
Quiries about no fewer than twenty-five
families, d member of which he had not
seen for more than q quarter of a cen
fury. He not only remembered the
names. but characteristics and family
histories, and when my own memory was
at fault, thcuch | have known nearly
every family he made inquiry about, he
described the heads 90 me with such par
that l coGld not fail TO recall
them had ! ever known them. \ very
remarkable thing was thar be could re-
member the names of nearly all the girls
whom these men had married and also
the names Of their children, and among
the children whom he remembered are
many of the best men in my state"
At this point the group is enlarged by
the addition Of q figure which ten or
fifteen ys-~s @.-a was well known in the /