Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-07
ZEN AT FIFE CAPITOL

thing would repeatt Itself, and there would
be fewer things tor4alkt about, but though
the same things age dQne over and over
again, each newcoanef gives individuality
to the act SO that J&fteh all there is some
thing new under tile 4}Sun-in Congress at
least. 1t is alwayst abe amusing sight to
see the feminine contingent of the newly
elected statesmen wearing the honors Of
the hour, just befqiei the order comes to
clear the floor. They are fond of going
there and sitting iH the seats that their
mankind may fill ifn lucky in drawing
They do it with such an air, too OF
course they don't go there much after the
first week two, for they soon learn that
1T is not considered the smart" thing by
women who have enjoyed a term or two of
congressional honors. A very funny thing
so crisply fresh and fashionable in at
tire as to give the impression that she
was almost new wife as her husband
was Representative. sat on the floor of
the House in one of the chairs in close
proximity to that occupied by Speaker
Reed last Congress. until the order came
to clear the floor. Then she made her
way to the members gallery, and with
an air that Zenobia might have envied
flashed her special pass in the eyes of the
doorkeeper. and made for the door despite
the crush of women there who held similar
passes.
nc Is crowded., madam, said
the courteous custodian of that particu-
lar door
But I want to go in" she returned in
naughty surprise.
There isn't room for another sleeve in
this gallery just now" was the firm re-
ply"
But 1 am the wife of Representative
So and So" she demonstrated. land If you
don't make room for ME in there 1 shall
see that you lose your head tomorrow for
this piece Of impertinence. My husband
said that there would be a seat specially
reserved for me. and If you have put some
to cay else in IT you can just put her out"
The custodian stood firm. however, and
when the little woman found that the
others were laughing at her, she went
away in high dudgeon. The doorkeeper
still wears his head
X Il X
II the House were to be benched instead
Of chaired. what in the world would the
free-and-easy members do for something to
put their feet upon? Oddly enough, too, the
men who put aside; their dignity in that
manner are eastern, members. The south
ern members like to dispose themselves on
the sofas, or loll over two or three chairs.
Representative Tarsney Is never happier
than when he can stretch out at full length
with cigar in his mouth on one of the
lobby sofas, and with good story teller to
Keep him company. Mr.. Bailey likes to
rose In that manner also. The western con-
tirgent are nervously energetic and unless
busy over papers at their desks they stroll
abou: with hands in their pockets.
i: r x
VIII the rule against smoking he oh
served during this Congress? Everybody
knows that Speaker. Reed objects most
strenuously to smoking on the floor, and
was never himself guilty of breaking the
rule. although user of the weed. Ger
tainly the observance of the rule would be
good sanitary preca ution, because nothing
so soon fouls the''hir as stale tobacco
smoke. and the bits of cigar stumps and
ashes rise in an impalpable powder all day
long to the injury of eyes. throat and lungs
Of those on the floor. as well as those in the
galleries. -
X * * x
One of the laughable incidents of "open-
ing day occurred in the rotunda 1t was
crowded with new people, who were in
tent on seeing everything the first day
Among others were a new member and his
pretty young wife. He was showing her
the wonderful unfinished frieze and, plump
little body as she was she nearly tipped
he rself over in trying to look up. Here
lean against YOU she said to her hus-
band, and gave him a little push to the
rear. AS he moved obedient to her wish
es. friend created him. and he turned to
rot knowing this. planted herself firmly
against some one in the rear. and gazed
I'll she was tired. then turned and caught
me arm that was resting akimbo on the
male creatures hip.
Come on now and let's see that six
tced Pete that they told US about at the
house." she said. cheerily. leaning on the
oGmfortable arm. Say" she continued,
do you think you will draw your salary in
time to get me the dress 1 want to wear to
The New Year reception at the White
House? OF course. they will have one,
and l want to look nice. you know
c,il ffn 8
the arm. Il am afraid my wife would OBJ
ject to my buying q dress for a strange
woman. And then there was a scene and
a hysterical wife looking for husband
whose back was not as handy as she had
thought.
X Xxx x X
"Oh. dear! 1 am so disappointed" gushed
fair creature. as tall'"Si Sulloway, the
Salva1ionist," stepped forward to take The
oath Of office. Il did so hope he would wear
red shirt and thump his tambourine
when things pleased him." He looks as
though he could thump most anything that
INSTRUCTED his way" murmured another
fair dame. and then they all concluded that
Re was austerely picturesque-looking. any
how. Two others who have the privilege
of the floor will always attract attention.
One Is Colonel Dick Blue Congrassman-at-
large for Kansas, whose gray locks nang
In tangled mass of curls about his shpul-
ders, and whose strongly marked face. with
ltS nea'E EYEBROWS, SHOWS rugged deter
plination and character and the other is the
rev chaplain. whose tall slender form is on
ly thought less attenuated than that of In
gals of Kansas. whom he strongly resem-
bles. and who has command of language
scarcely second to the ex-senator.
X X X * X
mo Mans Land Is what the northeast
corner of the House ought to be called, for
there are populists.~ republicans and demo-
Gratis over there, and nobody seems to
want to claim it: no one sits there II he
can help 1t. Can 1t be possible that the
members dislike 1t because it is so close
under the ladies' gallery that they can
neither see nor be seen by the fair sex?
X X X x X.
Speaker Reed has pretty taste in neck
ties and is fond of gazing into shop WIN
dows where they are displayed He seams
to be rather fonder Of red than any other
shade. and often wears baby blue that is
singularly appropriate for his infantile ex-
preston at times. The tie that he wore en-
Monday was blue. with small red spots,
and he had evidently tied 1t himself Ex-
Speaker Crisp always wears a black string
tie. and has never learned to tie Row
properly. so that his tie stands north by
northeast most of ths fine. Allen of Mis-
neckgear. which was such nice match for
his hair The cn66ract between himself