The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-05-03
UNCLE SANS WASH-DAY.
CONTINUED from the Ninth Page

along with toilet and shaving cases, manicure
sets with files. scissors powder. and polshers.
Quinine and cathartic pills and even corset
lacers figure upon the books Of the greatest
legislative body on earth Together with
legitimate furnishings during one administra-
ton are recorded the purchase of dozens of
copies of rules for progressive euchre, pen
knives enough to stock cutlery establish
lishment, dozens of French clocks, and several
$50 fans. A S22.50 bracelet is charged along
side a six-cent knife, fork, and spoon.
Trunks alligator bags, silk umbrellas, and
embroidered shawl-straps are among the things
paid for by the people.
THE LADIES' REcEPT1oN-RooM.
The so-called 'ladies' reccption-room,
which consisted of some rugs and chairs de-
posted in one corner of Statuary Hail. has
vanished completely, and John Adams and
Joseph Giddngs look down disconsolately
upon the vacant space lately filled with ladies
more or less beautiful and attractive. Some
years ago the room now occupied by the sub
committee of Ways and Means was used as
ladies' reception-room, where women having
business received congressman aud discussed
their claims grievances. BY and by, SO
rumor has it, this semi-private apartment was
monopolized too much by women having no
business and by Congressman who preferred
to while away their time in such society to the
duller duty of lawmalling. However that
may be, the committee in authority year or
two ago seized upon the women's reception
room, and on the plea of crowded quarters ap-
propriated it for the use of the said sub-com-
mttee. About ten feet from the south side of
Statuary Hall are ranged eight massive pillars,
behind which, on either side of the door, are
two long, narrow, and comparatively secluded
spaces. Into one of these were transplanted
tan1 nj rI1C int rpo11,
ganized leather furniture. Then adding a
table, some blank cards, and genial old gen
tleman to superintend the committee wrote
placard "Reception-Room for Ladies Only,'
and, tying it with white string around one of
the huge pillars, the deed was done. The
artistic beauty of Statuary Hall has been de-
stroyed, but the properties have been preserved
and Congressman having business with ladies
is very careful that the person he meets in this
gaping audience chamber shall be worthy of
presentation to his mother or his sister or his
aunt, should such of his esteemed relatives
suddenly present themselves.
Immediately on adjournment these rugs were
rolled up, and along with the chairs, sofas, and
the superintendent table and the big printed
placard, have been stored away until next De
cember. Among the reduced number of Off
cials and watchers at the Capitol are the only
two women on the payroll of that big estab-
lishment. These are the two matrons in charge
of the ladies' private reception-rooms of the
House and Senate wings. Opening into the
House gallery on the southwest corner are two
coZy, nicely furnished apartments, set apart
for the exclusive use of women Easy chairs,
ice water, mirrors, and toilet appurtenances
are at the service of the sightseers and visitors
to the gallery. Mrs. Heart, the genial, dark
eyed widow in charge, is an Ohio woman, and,
though Republican appointee, has made her.
self so popular that she will most likely be un-
disturbed by the party's change of fortune.
CLEMENTINE.
&c bon
who has charge of the subterranean parlor ac-
corded to women in the Senate wing. Her
fine brunette complexion, silky waving hair,
| soft voice, and subdued manner but merely
| suggest the race to which she belongs Prop
| erly equipped and environed, Clementine
| might readily pass for foreign lady of dis
| tinction, so easy and well-bred is she in her
| general carriage and conversation. She holds
| her place here through the Sherman influence,
| and previous to her appointment was maid
| in the family of Senator Sherman and that of
| the late General for more than thirteen years.
| She is devoted to the Sherman family with
the old instructive habit of the Virginian serv-
ant to the masters fortunes. Nothing so de-
| lights Clementine as the recounting of the
clever sayings and generous deeds of the vari-
| Gus members of the Sherman family. OF the
| General she speaks with reverence, and proudly
| refers to his generous expenditure of money,
| of his daughters devotion, and she pictures
| John Sherman as the most genial of mCn at
| home and warm-hearted and cordial to his
| close friends. Lady visitors, especially Wash
| ingtonians, like to stop and chat with Clemen-
| tine, and they find her far better posted on
| current events than the average society woman.
| She was, of course, intensely interested in the
| election bill, and watched its fate from day to
| day with eager hope for its success. She was
| present when Don Cameron voted to lay it
aside and her disappointment was intense, and
not so much apparently on the defeat of the
| measure as that one of the Sherman family
could have voted to kill it.
"What will Miss Lizzie say y?n was Clemen-
| tines mournful remark By Miss Lizzie she
| referred to Mrs. Senator Cameron, formerly
| Miss Lizzie Sherman, and then she told how in
| other times and under other differences of
| opinion between Senator John Sherman and
| Senator Don Cameron Miss Lizzie had invari-
| ably supported her uncle's judgment.
| Until the 1st of May the entire Capitol force
| will be taking rest After that the initial
| disorganiZation for regular rhouse-cleaning will
| begin, and from July to December the hun
| dreds of cleaners painters, upholsterers, and
| decorators will get the big building in order
| for another deluge of legislation, another sea-
| son of desecration and dirt.
| Miss GRUNDY, JR.
| EOOtWeaP.