The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-03
THE SENATE GALLERIES.
Curious People Who Go to Get Birds
Eye View OF Statesmen.

Washington Letter in Philadelphia Tele-
graph.
All dag long there is a receding wall of
faces on the four sides of the chamber
gazing eagerly down into the arena, like
a picture from ancient Rome. There is
constant disputatiOn carried on in an I'M
dertone as TO the relative merits of the
champions. and approval or disapproval
occasionally breaks out into applause
grumblng. Smith is trying to explain
the situation to his neighbor Jones, who
who thinks he knows more about ii him
self. and bets are made on various moves
In the proceedings and on the final result.
of course, money is not held in the air
as at a race-track, but ii quietly changes
hands right in the galleries.
The character of the male portion OF
the audience is unusual. Those who take
only curious interest in the thing are q
very insignificant number and almost as in
significant is the number of those who
strangers attracted by this contest, and
they are of two as markedly distinct
Hundreds of them belong 10 the upper
class OF business men whose interest i'm the
outcome IS SO great that they are drawn
that fatal fascination of interest which has
proved disastrous To many claimants
who have once put their faith in Congress
and nave been chained TO the chariot wheels
OF the conqueror. Demagogue
They are men who have seldom before
sat in the galleries of Congress- aud now
II pals on their business sense The sI1b
tleties of legislative methods they do not
understand, and their patience Is sOreIv
tried; but their very Impotence and anger
hold them here TO watch the game ont
Sitting shoulder 10 shoulder and knee TO
knee with them are men of another class
!n contrast TO the -well-dressed. white
skinned and soft-handed banker and mer-
chants. They are perhaps not as NUM- rous
as the others, but they are equally stran-
gers TO legislative halls. and are quite as
apt TO attract the eye.
They f.e plainly and often shabbily
dressed lot. Some have bronZed faces and
rough hands. with heavy lines in their
cheeks and across their brows. like men
who work In the factory or at the forge
by day, and often at night assemble to-
gether 10 talk over their condition and
grope about through the mysteries OF polit-
Teal economy. Along in the class with
them are men with whisk..s and sunburnt
hair, homeSpnn clothes. and heavy boots.
who put their hands up 20 their ears for
trumpets when PETER. or, KYLE, or Irby
talks Further down the scale come the
pale-faced thln-liDped. Wild-eyed men, who
listen eagerly 20 all that Is said. and run
their fingers nerTOusly through their long
hair wheE the bankers OF Wall street are
mentioned when the Oft-repeatcd phrase
about the masses and the classes occurs
Hour after hour this strangely assorted
audience sits and watches the fight and
the rise and fall OF the tide OF excitement
can De seen passing back and forth ov0-
the eager faces. Interest approval anger
and impatience alternately light and darken
the countenances. and the undercurrent
OF antagonism is observed IN tn dark looks
exchanged and the impatient Jerk of the
shoulder or was OF the head