The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-01-04
UNIQUE SPOT IN THE cAp,ro,
Corner in Statuary Hall, School =,
IRA ming in Social Lie.

One of the most striking scene.
about the capitol during the danv
sessions is q bout the .ladies' corner,
in the statualy hall This corner is
regarded By the Philadelphia Telc.
graph as one of tho most curious at
tachments of any legislative body.
1t is unique and full of interest to
the members. The place, which is
behind the gr eat columns and
guarded by the statues OF Garfield
and Ethan Allen, and furnished with
leather-cuycred sofas and chairs, has
been free uently described, but the
picture in ~ its fulll ess has never
been given aad porha. IS mover will
be done full justice. TIE greater
number of iadies who come to
the capitol racaivo visits in
tho galleries from their friend s
on tho floor, ana some days
tho scene there is one o. the most in
teresting of receptions. 4 ut the
confidential corner, the alA CO OF
more secluslon and comfort, is amid
the soft leather furniture behilDd the
trusty statues. Many u represcA ia
tive Of the great people spends
social half hour or so there with
comfort and pleasure, and, it is to be
hoped, with benefit. 1t serves soma
Of the uninitiat3d as a sort of school
of training for the moro extended
field of social life in Washington
l., T., 1,A at il,
q fashionable drawingrOOm or in
ladies' society under most any other
circumstances, lolls back on q sofa
beside some fair creature there with
an easy familiarity which is sure to
rub of some of his rOughness Of Mani
nor and shyn9ss. The ladies who
frequent this corner perform q great
work in the way Of overcoming tho
shyncss Of new members. In many
cases, however, those who have long,
since forgotten that they ever werea
awkward or blshful ia ladies' So.
ciety, still cling to the fabit of visit
ing this corner, and appear to tako
some delight in the relaxation it
affords from their heavy labor3 in
congress.
This institution was not started as
training school. That feature was
merely developed Incidentally. Pri-.
marily it was intended as q place;
where ladies coming to see congress.
men might sit and wait while mos.
scnger carried their cards in on the,
floor Tho backs of a line of sofas5
II St
boundary of the sacred precincts of.
blessed and beautiful, and q card
reads in big black letters, "Exclu-.'
siyely for Ladies'" etc. An elderly
man sits at u table, with two or,
three pages at his slde and blank
cards for the use OF those who do not
carry their card case. Ayellow mes
sengor sits at the entrance to keep
intruJcts out, An interesting
and lively reception is always
in progress during certain
hours of the day while The
house is In session, and the reccl ing
party is usually numerous and at
tractive, Sometimes ton or dozen
members will be among the visitors;
at one time, some seated on the sofas
and some standing behind the col.
unns or statues in earnest converse.
tion with the fair habitues. During
tho day there is constant coming
and going between the house and
this reception room. All the mem
bers who are called there do not 90
from choice, and tine woman-hater,
who is compelled by politeness to go
in response to card, may be known.
by his flushed and annoyed counter
ance and his impatienco to get away.
There are some men who cannot be
cultivated in social way, even when
surrounded by all these advantages.