The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-04
UNIQUE SPOT IN TIE CAPITOL.


One OF the most striking scenes about
the Capitol at Washington during the
daily sessions is about the "ladies'
corner" in the statuary hall. This
corner is regarded by the Philadelphia
Telegraph as one OF the most curious
attachments of any legislative body.
1t is unique and full of interest to the
members. The place, which is behind
the great columns and guarded by the
statues of Garfield and Ethan Allen, and
| furnished with leather-coyered sofas and
chairs, has been frequently described,
! but the picture in all its fullness has
never been given and perhaps mover will
be done full justice. The greater num-
Der of ladies who come TO the capitol
receive visits in the galleries from their
! friends on the floor, and some days the
scene there is one Of the most interest
ing OF receptions But the confidential
corner, the place of more seclusion and
comfort, is amid the soft leather furni-
ture behind the trusty statues. Many a
representative of the great people spends
social half hour or so there with COM
fort and pleasure, and, it is to be hoped,
with benefit. 1t serves some of the un-
initiated as sort of school OF training
for the more extended field of social life
in Washington. He who would be
quite i'll at ease in fashionable drawing
room or in ladies' society under most
any other circu instances, Tolls back on a
sofa beside some fair creature there with
an easy familiarity which is sure TO rub
off some of his roughness of manner and
shyness. The ladies who frequent this
corner perform great work in the way
of overcoming the shyness of new mem
bers. In many cases, however, those
who have long since forgotten that they
were awkward or bashful in ladies'
society, still cling to the habit of visit
ing this corner, and appear to take some
delight in the relaxation it affords from
their heavy labors in congress.
This institution was not started as q
training school That feature has
merely developed incidentally. Prim-
arily it was intended as place where
ladies coming to see congressman might
sit and wait while messenger carried
their cards in on the floor The backs
of line OF sofas up against the columns
from the boundary of the sacred pre-
cincts of blessed ard beautiful, and
card reads in big black letters, "Exclu-
! sively for Ladies'" etc An elderly man
sits at table, with two or three pages
at his side and blank cards for the use
of those who do not carry their card
case. A messenger sits at the entrance
to keep intruders out. An interesting
and lively reception is always in pro-
gress at certain hours of the day while
the house is in session, and the receiv.
ing party is usually numerous and at
tractivc. Sometimes ten or a dozen
members will be among the visitors at
one time, some seated on the sofas and
some standing behind the columns OF
statues in earnest conversation with the
fair habitues. During the day there Is
cons AIT coming and going between
the house and this reception room. All
the members who are called there do
not go from choice, and the woman
hater, who is compelled by politeness to
90 in response to card may be known
by his flushed and annoyed countenance
and his impatience to get away. There
are some men who cannot be cultivated
in social way, even when surrounded
by all these advantages