Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-18
THE VICE PRESIDENTS ROOM.
Interesting Apartment In the Capitol TO Be
Occupied by Mr.. Stevenson

Occupied by Mr.. Stevenson
The room occupied by A. E Steven
son as his Office at the Capitol is one
of the handsomest As well as one Of
the most historic in the way of relics
Ihere is in the city of Washington,
says Washington correspondent of
the New York World. In the Senate
wing of the Capitol there are two
rooms set aside as Offices for the
President Of the United States and
the Vice President of the United
States. The former room is by far
the handsomer OF the two, but it is
little used as an Office. The latter,
however, though not as pretty as the
Presidents. is very beautiful room.
1t is used daily as the office of the
Vice President while the Senate is
in session. and it contains some very
interesting relics.
1t is large and square. with stuc-
coed ceiling and tinted walls, and is
situated just at the end of the Senate
lobby. Its furniture consists of a
very beautiful ecru-tinted CARPET, five
large chairs, including a rocking
chair upholstered in dark-green
leather, two fiat top rosewood tables
and an office desk. There is also a
large sofa, flre-screen, drop-lights,
etc.
The fireplace is one of the old style,
wood being used as fuel entirely.
Just between the Vice Presidents
seat at the comfortable and the fire.
place is the large glass screen and
this serves to throw off the heat, but
still does not spoil the effect of the
burning hickory logs. The large
brass fender around the fire used to
protect the carpet from the sparks is
a very elegant affair, and it has been
the custom for many years 10 give to
the retiring Vice President this
fender with its accompanying poker,
tongs, etc.
In the right-handl corner as you
enter the room is small safe, upon
which is marked in gilt letters "Vice
President of the United States. "
This safe is used as a repository fol-
the electoral votes as they come from
the different States just after election
until they are counted 10 the House
of Representatives The custom pre-
walls, and probably will always pre-.
vail, that during the period when the
electoral votes are within the safe
two officers of the Capitol police force
are detailed to watch them night and
day, and they are so vigilant that
even the Vice Presidents Private
Secretary is not admitted to the room
without one of the officers accom-
panyipg him. The combination OF
the safe is at that time known only
to the Vice President then holding
the position as President of the
Senate.
The former entrance to the Vice
Presidents chamber Just outside OF
the lobby, has been for some years
closed. and the little alcove made
thereby is now used as Mushroom.
This little place contains one of the
most interesting relics in the room.
1t is a small mirror two and one-half
feet long by eighteen inches wide,
and was purchased by the Senate for
for John Adams, the first Vice Presi-
dent of the United States who was
on the ticket with Washington. 1t
has very ordinary gilt frame and is
made Of poor material. Still it caused
a great controversy in the Senate at
the time of It's purchase, some of the
Senators Directing to the price, which
was $40, saying that that amount
was ent rely too much for the govern
ment to expend for mirror, even for
the Vice President but after a
lengthy and interesting debate it was
decided to buy It. The mirror has
received every care and is now al
most in perfect condition, having
been for the last fifty years in the
care of the venerable Capt. Bassett
Another article in the little wash
room is very beautifully carved tot
let case. The calumet is of ebony
and was made for Mr. Chester A.
Arthur by his special request.
Upon the right wall, looking from
the entrance, is painting of George
Washington, considered the best of
Washington in existence. 1t was ex-
ecuted by Rembrandt Peale. In 1895.
Peale had three sittings Of Washing
ton, and at that time dentistry was
not practiced SO scientifically as at
the present day, and it is a historical
fact that at each Of these sittings
Washington used raw cotton as a
substitute for false teeth so as to fill
out the mouth and cheeks. This
adds great value to the portrait, as
1t gives his face a determined look,
which was very natural in Washing
ton.