Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-03-28
AN HISTORIC ROOM.

Washington letter to the Boston Adver-
tiser, he will be the possessor of a room
that is both beautiful and historic.
This is the room just off from the SEN
ate chamber which is used as the Office
of the vice president. In the senate
wing of the capitol there are two rooms
set apart. one for the president and one
for the vice president. The former is
but seldom used, while the latter is used
daily Us an office and contains some
very interesting relics. The former en-
trance to the vice presidents room, just
outside the lobby, has been for some
years closed, and the little alcovc made
thereby is now used as Mushroom.
This little place contains one of the
most interesting relics in the room. 1t
is small mirror two and one-half feet
by eighteen inches wide and was pur-
chased by the senate for John Adams,
the first vice president of the United
States and the political running mate
of Washington 1t has Il very ordinary
gilt frame and is made of poor material.
Still, it caused n great controversy in
the senate at the time of It's purchase,
some of the senator's objecting to the
price, which was forty dollars, saying
that the amount was entirely too much
for the government to expend for
mirror, even for Il vice president, and
only after a lengthy and interesting
debate was it decided to purchase it.
The mirror has received every caro-
and is now in almost perfect condition,
having been for the last fifty years in
the care of the venerable Capt Bassett,
who has had it cared for as tenderly as
4 child. Another article in the little
Mushroom is q beautifully carved toilet
case. This cabinet is of ebony and was
made for President Arthur at his special
request, he experimenting tho design
and manufacture himself. On one of
the walls of the room is painting of
George Washington, and this painting
is considered the best Of Washington in
existence. 1t was executed by Rem
brandt Pcale in 1895. Peale had three
sittings of Washington, and at that
time dentistry was not practiced as
scientifically as it is at the present day,
and it is historical fact that at each
of these sittings Washington used raw
cotton as substitute for false teeth, SO
as to fill out tho mouth and checks.
This gives his face n very determined
look, and not the peaceful expression
with which he is generally credited in
portraits.
Above the painting, rolled up on its
staff. is large silk American flag. In
1885 this flag was presented to the sem
etc by the Ladies' Silk Culture associa-
ton of Philadelphia. The weaving and
the making of the flag was all done in
the United States, Of the finest of silk,
superior even to the imported article.
On the right and left of the painting
are marble husts of Lafayette s. Foster
and Henry Wilson. The former was
senator from Connecticut, and was, at
the death of Mr.. Wilson, who, during
his term Us vice president, died from
apopleXy in this very room, elected by
the senate as vice president pro TEN
pore. Near the Mushroom is very
handsome gold clock. which was pur-
chased by Vice President Dallas, and
which refuses to keep good time.
There IS also in the room large mir
FOR and Il very cxquisitcly carved book
case. The lower part of the bookcase
is used us wood box, and the capitol
guides tell strangers that "thi3 is
known as the two-thousand-dolla
wood-boX." 1t was not originally in
tended rs such, but it was found incon-
vcnicnt TO have the wood for the fire.
place stored in tho senate lobby, and
necessity demanded that the lower part
of this beautiful case be used for that
purpose. The custom has been to pre-
sent the fender, with it's accompanying
tongs, shovel, poker md other fire utcn-
sis, to the retiring vice president, and
there is also given him tho inlSstnnd
which he used while he was holding
She office.
The inl1stand is usually largo and
magnificent affair of silver. Tho
present fender and inkstand have been
in tho room for some time, as Mr.. In
gals, vice president pro tempore before
Mr.. Morton came in, either forgot to
take them away or did not care to-
Each vice president upon retiring PFC