Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-01-13


One of the most striking scenes about
the Capitol during the daily sessions is
about the Ladies' Corner in III"
Statutory Hall. says a Washington let
ter writer This corner is one of the
most curious attachments of any lrgiS-
lative 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. ana furnished with lelth-
er-covcrcd sofas and chairs. has b on
frequently described. but the picture
in all its fullncSS has never been given
and perhaps never will b" done full
justice. The greater number of LADIES'
who come to the Capitol receive visits
in the galleries from their friends on
the floor. and some days the seen"
there is of the most interesting of To-
ccp,ionS. But the confidential rur.Hr,
the place of more SccluSion aih e, III
fort. is amid the soft leather fEi':iiIure
behind the truSty statues. Many Il
representative of the grr;l people
spends II social half hour or So ;hrr"
with comfort and pleasure. and, Il is
to be hoped, with benefit Ii ser rS
some of the uEiniliatcn as Il sort of
school of training for the more rN1rnl-
ed field of social life in Was ing on.
He vino would b" quite i'll ut ease in Il
fnShGnahl" drawing room or in lad rS'
society under most any other cirt''im-
stances lollS back on Il sofa beside
some fair creature there with an easy
familiarity which is sure To r.h off
some of his rnughncSS of manner md
ShynrSs. TIL" ladies who frequent this
corner perform Il great w"l';, in tn"
way of overcoming the Shynr>> of new
I,, I,,,,,
those who have long since fHrgnt'rn
that they were awkward Of b'shiul
in ladies society. still cling to the habit
of visiting this corner and ;3pn""r to
take some delight in the relaxation it
affords from their heavy laborS in Con
grrSS.
This institution was not started as
Il training SrEro That fc, trrr has
merely developed Incidentally. Pri-
mArily it WAS inlrld"d as Il place where
ladies coming to see tun-a'SSm"n
might sit and wait while Il E,rS.Scnsrr
carried their cards in on til" floor. The
backs of IL liEc of sofas up against the
columns form the boundary of the
sacred precincts of the blessed and
beautiful. and Il card reads in big black
letters "EXrluSv"ly for Ladies'" etc.
An elderly man sits at Il table with
tWo VI lHItf IbiS,t'S Hl HIS Sttt anu
blank cards for the use of those who
do not carry their card cases. \ ycl-
low messenger sits ut the entrance to
keep intrudrrS out. An interesting and
lively reception is always in progress
during certain hours of the dly while
the House is in session. an the re
criving party is usually numerous and
attractive. Sometimes ten or Il dozen
members will be among the visitors
at one time. some seated ON tiir sofas,
and som" standing behind the collnmS
or statues in earnest conversation With
the fair hahitnrS. During the day there
is Il c0nStrant coming and Z ,lg be-
tween the House and this receptions
room. All the members who are called
there do not go from choice: and the
wnm,n-hatcr. who is compelled by
p"litcnrSS To 90 in response ln Il card,
may b" known by his flushed rn.l an
noyed cuuntrnancr and his imu ':irncc
to get away. There are some men who
cannot be cultivated in Il social way.
even when surrounded by all tIlrS" adj
vantngrS.