Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-04-27
FUN WITH ECHOES.
SOME JOKES GUIDES PLAY on VISITORS TO
THE CAPITOL.
The Mysterious Voices That Awed Group Of Dis
tinguished Britishers-An Evolutionary
EchO-Scaring Swell
Darkey.
SpsciaL Conespondenee ofMe Reqisler.

Special Correspondence Of the Register.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April a, 1890
In September, 1857, an international con-
vention Of physicians and surgeons was
held in Washington. Eminent practition-
ers from every sectien of the civilized
world were present. Among them were
several noted Englishmen. They visited
all the public buildings, went down to Mt
Vernon, had dinner at Marshall Hall, were
driven out 10 Arlington and the Soldiers
Home and were feted at the Pen
sion building. The English surgeons, like
all Englishman, were great pedestrians.
Some of them wandered miles from the
city. They appeared at Bladensburg, Sill
YER Spring, Cabin Johns Bridge and other
resorts One hot day TWO Of them walked
from the Arlington Hotel to the capitol
They were arrayed in white duck suits and
wore cork helmet hats. II was their tlrst
visit to the immense marble editice. After
shuddering at GreenOugh's statueof Wash
ington, and admiring the magnificent mar
BILE group of Persico illustrating the dan
gers ofthe early settlers, they climbed the
broad brownstone steps leading 10 the main
entrance to the Capitol
Finding the rOtunda somewhat crowded
they drifted into statuary hall. The hall
is semi-circular-shape like a clean-cut
half moon. The massive columns sup
porting the ceiling are of Potomac marble,
better known as calico rock The statue
stands between these columns. The tes-
seated pavement is of marble, black blocks
alternating with white ones. \ small
dome surmounts the hall. Its ceiling has
the properties of a sounding board. An
elliptic arch spans the base of the half-moon,
facing the House wing of the building.
The English surgeons surveyed the
statues with much interest. The gigantic
form of old Ethan Allen in marble glover
ed at them The statue of General Ma
thaniel Greene confronted them, stern
faced and patriotic Thomas jefferson and
Alexander Hamilton one in bronze and the
other in marble, surveyed them. II was
warm without and quite close within the
hall.
While the Englishmen were gazing at the
patriots, one of them was startled by
voice from above. In measured tones came
the words:
Take off your hats while in the presence
of these noble American heroes"
They seemed TO come from the gallery
where the great marble clock is located.
The cork helmets were quickly removed.
The Englishmen stood with them in their
hands and glanced at the gallery with a
half-expressed 'beg-your-pardon' upon
their lips. To their establishment the gal
lery was empty. They saw no one there.
Before their wonderment had ceased the
same stern voice, coming from the same
quarter intoned the words:
Now that you have honored these great
American patriots, you are at liberty to re-
place your hats
OTheir heads were again covered. They
looked at each other as though dumbfOund-
ed, and then cautiously surveyed their sur
roundings. There was no one else in the
hall of statues. They walked over towards
the statue of Robert Fulton, so as to sur
vey every part of the hall and OF the semi
circular gallery. Still no one was to be
seen. While they were viewing the gal
lery the face of one of them turned white.
He heard these words coming from under
his very feet: