The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-09
AN HISTORIC ROOM.
The Vice Presidents Apartment
at the Capitol
Some of tho Iaseresting Relics Of the
Former Holders of the cncc-A
Singular Custom of RseirinS
Occupants.

As soon as Mr.. Stevenson takes the
oath of Office as vice PRESIDENT. says a
Washington letter TO the Boston Adver-
tiser, ne viii be the posse1soa of room
that is both beautiful aud historic.
This is the room just off from the SEN
ate chamber which is usesl 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
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 alcove made
thereby is now used as a wash-room.
This little place contains one of the
most interesting relics in the room. It
is small mirror two and one-half fee;
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 very ordinary
gilt frame and is made of poor material
Still, it caused great controversy in
the senate at the time of its purchase,
some of the senators Directing to the
price, which was forty dollars, saying
that the amount was entirely too much
for the government to expend for a
mirror. even for vice president, and
only after lengthy and interesting
debate was it decided to purchase it.
The mirror has received every care
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
child. Another article in the little
wash-room is beautifully carved toilet
case. This cabinet is of ebony and was
made for President Arthur at his special
request, he experimenting the 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 Peale 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 the mouth and checks.
This gives his face 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 SEN
ate 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 busts of Lafayette S. Foster
and Henry Wilson. The former was a
senator from Connecticut, and was. at
the death of Mr.. Wilson, who, during
his term as vice president, died from
apoplexy in this very room, elected by
the senate as vice president pro tenn
pore Near the Mushroom is a 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
ror and a very exquisitely carved book
case. The lower part of the bookcase
is used as a wood box, and the capitol
guides tell strangers that ''this il
known as the two-thousand-dollar
wood-box." 1t was not originally in
tended as such, but it was found incon-
venient to have the wood for the fire.
place stored in the 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 its accompanying
tongs, shovel. poker and other fire uten-
sis, to the retiring vice president, and
there Is also given him the inkstand
which he used while he was holding
the Office.
The inkstand is usually large and
magnificent affair of silver. The
present fender and inkstand have been
in the 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 pre-
sents the room with some ornament,
and Mr.. Morton's gift viii be an easy
chair of the most approved design
Altogether the room is a most delight
full retreat, with its large square form,
succeed ceiling, tinted walls. ecru
carpet, rosewood tables, mahogany
chairs and massive desk Besides the
room is the custodian OF the electoral
votes. for here stands the little steel
safe where the electoral packages OF
electoral votes are placed as fast as
they arrive in Washington