The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-18
looyvRlcur. 1911

f&AsA>,yE'
&ESW HE stranger who finds his
way TO the gallery of the House evinccs
much interest In its members If he
has Captain Kennedy, the King of the
Guides, at his side. he will lombard
him with questions and receive pic
turcsquc replies. hut he must use his
ears and eyes
The most picturesque man upon the
Aoor Is undoubtedly lion Richard
Vaux. lie is magnificent specimen Of
fully-ripcned American manhood. II
was while he was SECRETARY of the
American Legation at London I'M
der Hon. Andrew Stevenson. OF Vir-
ginia. once Speaker Of the House of
Representatives, that VnuS danced
with Queen Victoria John Vnn buren, is
said to hnvc charmed her Majesty. but
she was absolutely cnrapturcd with
Vaux. lie is said to have danced with
far moro grnce and case than Prince
John. lila natural independence is so
great that he bids dcfinncc to the Gle
ments. lie avows that he never wore
an ovcrcont lie wears black broad
cloth trousers and no drawers. lie re-
CARDS them rs cffeminate. His chest
is inclosed in red 0nnnci shirt. winter
and summer. In fact, as far as under
wear goes. Vaux is clothed very much
like the country boy half century ago
who attended district school where the
teacher boarded round" Outwartlly
he resembles statesmen of the time of
Louis XVI. He has long. curling locks.
powdered by seventy-four winters The
yellow tingc. however. is distinct. lie
lis as vigorous in voice and limb rs u
man Of forty years. When thoroughly
aroused ne PAGES the arena in front of
the Speakers desk. shaking his tawny
leoninc locks and awakening the echoes
iof the House. He reflects honor upon
tho great city That sent him to Goa
gress, and has brains enough to dis
tribute among q dozen ordinary Con-
gressmcn.
Tho next man to attract the strangers
attention would probably be John w.
Chandler. Of Massachusetts. lie hns
the appearance and the graccs of
French Marquis of the oldcn time
Among them nrc violet eyes. Grcciau
features, checks tingcd with the rutldy
hue OF health. bnshy grny hnir and Il
neatly trimmed beard md mustachc
Broad-chcstcd digniiicd. dccp-.onrd and
Extremely gracious in manner, rs he adj
dresses the House he looks like bishop
IN diocean convention. Nor does he
talk In vain. Ills speeches arc frcighted
with logic and adorned with the stream
Iers of cloquence. Ills dress is pcrfcc-
ttion In cut. cit and .nentncss. A diamond
iof the first water sparklcs upon his
snowy shirt front. The old Bay State
Snevcr hcd more attractive Representa-
Tive lie Ia the chairman of the worlds
Hair committee. and Us such recently
visited Chicago. There he throw Ros-
well +. Flower in the shade, and pro-
duccd n profound impression Further
moro he materially assisted in unravcl-
ang the snuri in which the board of
managers had become involved.
Away OF to Chambers right the
stranger win see another veteran sit
ting with arms folded, us straight US IN
arrow. lie nlso has thick grny hair and
q bristling mustache. Ills eyes art blue.
and his face wIiie and scanned with uge.
Iie wears a close buttOncd frock coat
and pays strict attention 10 the proceed
iings in tho House. This veteran was
Spcalscr OF the House over thirty-five
years ngu There is no one on the (loor
who wns q member when he presided
The picture Of this ex Speaker hangs in
the lobby outside. Its dark hair. black
mustachc. storm features and command
ing pose indicate the manner in which
he bore himself during and after the
fierce struggle that placed him in the
Speakers chair. lie is General Nathan
icl T. Banks. In this House General
DanlB' voice has rarely boon heard. Ills
years make him pcnsive. bat he is OK
Hrcmcly olscrvant.
II seems TO require some pension
bill for .hc benefit Of an old army com
r;dc to t..ing him to his feet. When hc
docs spca {. members crowd around him
TO hear him lie stands with his hoad
well up. and cnunciates his sentences
in clear tone of voice. urging his
points upon the attention OF his hearers
with graceful gestures. General Banks
1s nearly scvcnty-five years old De-
spite his Ggc. he seldom fails to uttcnd
i1lrc meetings of his commieteeS. Ills is
n familiar figure upon Pennsylvania
iCvcnuc. hr,n-in-nrm with his CHEEKY
faced wife. he frequently walks to this
loot of Capitol Hill and returns after
t.ic llouBc has adjourned. MIR. Springer
iOf illinois. Some months ago. introduced
n bill giving the General an ample pen
sion That bill still siccps IN commit
tee. IL it could be placed upon the cal
cndar and brought before the House
ian the regular order Of business. there
rs little doubt that it would be passed.
Tho integrity. patriotism ard services OF
tbs General have never beer questioned.
His income Is small and the time il
is,ort In which the Nation can show itS
GTatitudo for his services.