The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-05-04
Some of Those Who Have
Sat in the Gallery of the
Assembly Chamber.
HOW THEY CHEER THE MEMBERS.
Their Presence Spurs On Their
Friends to Greater Eloquence
and Activity.

lery. For many Of the members iegisIa-
tive duties would loose one-half Of their
charm II it was not for the throng Of
pretty women who watch the proceedings
SO closely from the elevated benches on
the speakers right
Moreover the architect who planned the
State House. and allotted so much space
for the exclusive use for the ladies was
wise in his day and generation. The
presence Of wife, sister or a friend
closer than a sister beaming down upon
him has spurred many member to
efforts he would never have otherwise at
tempted, and which in many cases re-
d ound TO the benefit Of the stage.
THE DusKY KEEPER OF THE GALLERY.
Monday night Is the great gala night
when the galleries are filed with the
beauty and fashion of Trenton. Then is
IL That Baron de kaIb, the colored demo-
cratic doorkeeper of the ladies' gallery, is
in his glory. The baron Is an institution.
He is short and inclined to be fat, with
complexion as black as night, which is
relieved by a carefully waxed mustache
and imperial of inky wool On Monday
nights he appears in fau1tles5 evening
dress and wears flaming boutonniere.
He is most polite in his attentions to the
ladies and conducts them to their seats
with grace and flourish which paraiyzes
all who see it. He supplies them with
diagram of the House and points out all
the members as they appear on the floor.
The baron comes from Newark, where,
when he is not engaged in political work,
he presides over tonsoFial establish
ment. A barber shop is too ptebian for a
man of The baron's standing IN the State
He has considerable influence among the
colored voters of Newark, and he gener-
ally uses that influence in behalf of the
Democratic party. He has been door
keeper Of the ladies' gallery for two or
three sessions now, and the Republicans
claim that the position is given him sim
ply to have him at hand to shave the
members.
However. be that as 1t may. the Baron
is certainly an artist in his line, and TO
submit ones face to his skillful manipu-
lations is luxury which is relished by
Democrats. Republicans, AIugwumps and
Prohibitionists alike.
TIE GALLERY ON MONDAY NIGHT.
The ladies always arrive early Monday
night. The best seats are TO be had ia
precisely the same manner as the early
worm Is caught, and then they girls like
to sit and watch the members
as they come into the chamber. and
greet each other after desperation of four
days. This must be a most interesting
spectacle, for the ladies at least, it is to besO
inferred from the manner in which they
Gran their neeks to see all thar can be
seen and hear the jokes and tallies Of wit
which fly about. They have but little
difficulty to hear as the acoustics of the
chambers are admirable.
The only thing about this scene which
the girls find fault with is the fact that
the seats of the Hudson delegation are
directly beneath them, and those on the
front benches only can catch glimpse Of
the jolly Potts and the studious Erwin by
leaning over the rail, while The Byronic
features of Murphy and enticing smile OF
Mullone are entirely invisible TO those
who have to siton the back seats.
There is bright, viyacious young lady
a relative of one of the State officials, who
is a frequent visitor TO the gallery, and in
conversation with a friend not long ago
she said:-"The sceue feom the gallery
somehow or other brings to my mind the
old colosseum. and | often imagine nv
self one of those Roman dainsels who
used to decide a poor fellows fate by a
mere twist of the thumb. Only don't
have much 10 say about the issue of the
fight Your legislative gladiator fights
ana then decides for himself whether he
has won or lost. Then you see as YOU sit
up here and gaze down upon the floor you
can't help but think that you are looking
upon the arena, and then those arched
doorways to the cloak rooms remind YOU
so much of the entrances through which
the gladiator stepped into the arena
or was dragged out by the heels
when the fight was over to be thrown to
the dog. Only after the fight of these
days the vanquirhed member drags him
self through the entrance and throws
himself to the dog's-head and other sooth-
ing brands of modern time
II of which shows that the vfT1ru 1adx
is of an observant turn of mind and has
penetrated the mysteries of the cloak
room.
FACES THAT BECOME FAMILIAR.
As the session wears on certain faces
become as familiar in the same place in
the gallery as those of the members in
their seats. There is one petite brunette
whose flashing black eyes have sparkled
and snapped at the Speaker and members
from the same bench over the clock every
day since the session began.
Storm and sunshine are the same TO her
apparently, and no matter what may tran
spire to keep others away she is always
on hand. She is there at extra sessions,
when, together with q young lady com
panion who accompanies her, she has been
the sole occupant of the gallery. This de
votion has caused much speculation as to
its cause, and the consensus of opinion at
this time is that it is ell bestowed upon
"
clerk of the House.
Behind the first large pillar from the
Speakers desk the 0bservant have fire.
quently observed tall, dreamy girl. with
a wealth of blonde hair and a Ianguid air
that is most fetching.
As a general thing she seeks the seclu-
sion Of the pillar, where beneath its
shadow she eau observe all that is going
on without attracting too much attention
10 herself 1t is only when Tommy Noon
an, the fascinating reading clerk, is rail-
reading things through at his beitenact-
edsnatesemly gait that she forgets herself
and shows her pretty face with such a
wrapt expression upon IL that there is no
mistaking who it IS that brings her there.
And when Tommy offered his now his
torical prayer the other morning she was
the most devoted listener in the House.
There has been rumor floating about
the capitol for some time that Thomas }.
intended to join the ranks OF the beLe-
diets.
Father Abraham Nash, the pride Of the
Camden democrats, also has an admirer
IN quaint little old woman, who is fire.
quent visitor TO the house and who after
wards declares that it is great scheme
that the members laugh so loud at the
old gentleman's picturesque elnquence.
There are four men on the floor, however,
who are greater favorites with the gal
lery than s'Dominiev Smith of Newark.
The Dominic" Is most benevolent
looking little gentleman, whose gray
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