Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-02-25
FRAIL HUMAN NATURE.
Legislators Who Sucoumb to the
Wles of Pretty Women.
some of tho Queer Things That Can Be
Seen in Washington by a Clever Oh
se=ver-Bright Men Who Yield
to Temptation.
Especial Washington letter.

II
There are diurnal demonstrations Of
the weakness and strength CT human
nature In the house of representatives
in great degree, and also manifestations
of humanitarian characteristics in the
senate. This observation pertains
principally to these distinguished legis-
lative bodies before and after their
daily sessions go
For an hour or more every morning
a mum Der of the representatives are in
their seats in the house endeavoring to
write letters to their constituents, but
the senators seldom enter the chamber
where dignity sits enthroned save at the
noon hour, when the gavel of the vice
president announces that 1.-The senate
will be in order" After adjournment
a great many members remain in their
places in the house, and a few of the
senators continue in their seats Upon
these occasions the doors are opened
and the public has the privilege of the
floor. The men and women from vari-
Gus sections of the country. who have
neither the nerve nor the capacity to
support themselves without the aid of
others, approach the senators and rep
resentatives with pleas for aid in secur-
ing official positions Of some kind.
MANY a statesman who has the moral
courage to face an enemy upon the
hastings or even upon the field of bat
| tie, many a senator whose dignity is
unapproachable during the sessions of
| the body of which he is member, will
| fly from door to door seeking passages
| through Hobbies and down back stair
cases in order to escape from the CAPT
| toll by way of the crypt or through the
bathrooms in the cellar, rather than
| meet half a dozen or more weeping
| women who are guarding the doors and
| parading the corridors waiting for a
| chance to beg for an Office either in the
| capitol or in some one of the executive
| departments.
| There is a rotund gentleman from
| a northwestern state whose head is
bald and whose ford face is closely
shaver. except about the upper lip,
| which is adorned by bristling and
| carefully curled mustache, who is an
! exception to the general rule. It is
we'll known that he is devoted to
"Wein, Webb und Gesang" and that
the visits of ladies, particularly if they
are young and beautiful, are as well
come to him as the flowers that bloom
in the spring. They have but to intro
duce themselves when he cheerfully
| gives them a seat beside himself,
| shakes hands with them, and retains
| their right hand within both of his own,
fondling them and looking very lover
like into their eyes, while he listens to
each tale Of woe. If the applicant for
congressional aid is in her teens, he
strokes her head in father-like man
ner and promises the earth
and the fullness thereof; but it
is well-known fact that his
promises are made to be broken.
When the ladies' reception room was
| located where the committee on ways
and means now is, this learned judge
and eloquent statesman spent the
greater portion of his time in that room
interviewing the ladies. Since the re.
ception room has been closed and a lit
tie section of statuary hall has beer
set aside for the accommodation Oh
visiting citizens of the gentler sex, he
seldom permits himself to receive
them in that public place. 1t is gener
ally believed that his moral characte,
is not above reproach. and the women
who are seen conversing with him, i
young and innocent, usually receive the
commiseration and pity of beholders.
The house is called to order every day
promptly at noon by the speaker. At {
quarter to twelve one of the messenger:
steps to the clerks desk in front of the
speakers chair, hammers upon it, anG
says: II am directed by the doorkeepel
to announce that all those who are no
entitled to the privilege OF the foo
must now retire. The rules Of the
house require the same" This stereo
typed expression is usually received by