Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-04-07
THE VICE PRESIDENTS ROOM.
Interesting Apartment In the Capitol to Be
Occupied by Mr.. Stevenson.

| THE VICE PRESIDENTS ROOM.
Interesting Apartment In the Capitol to BE
| Occupied by Mr.. Stevenson.
The room occupied by A. E. Steven
son as his Office at the Capitol is one
| of the handsomest as we'll as one of
| the most historic in the way of relics
There 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.
tits 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 center-table 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
very elegant affair, and it has been
the custom for many yearssto 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 s'Vice
| President of the United States. I"
This safe is used as repository for
| the electoral votes as they come from
| the different States just after election
| until they are counted in 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-
panying 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 washToom.
This little place contains one of the
most interesting relics in the room.
1t is 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 its purchase, some of the
Senators objectng TO the price, which
was $40, saying that that amount
was ent rely too much for the govern
ment to eXpend for a mirror, even for
the Vice President but after a
lengthy and interesting debate it was
decided to buy 1t. 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 toi-
let case. The cabinet 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. It was ex-
| ecuted by Rembrandt Peale in 1875.
Peale had three sittings of Washing
ton, and at that time dentistry was
not praeticed so scientifically as at
the present day, and it is a historical
| facJ 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
| it gives his face determined look,
! which was very natural in Washing
I ton.