The evening times., 1896-08-03
Young Menand Out Dark
Nooks aud Corners In which to Tell
the Old, Old Story-what Times
Reporter Saw-Chaperons. Badly
Needed.

| watchmeD and from the world in general
| as to escape attention. The only persons
| passing that way were belated couple OF
| lovers now and then, and they were SO
much Interested in each other that they
| did not notice the dogs and cats 1t was
| near midnight, and stopped for half an
hour Just to watch the impromptu menag-
erie. Col. Bright will have to clean out
those cats and dogs before he can have
the park full OF squirrels that The Times
was telling about the other day"
On account OF this friends experience
Times reporter strolled over to the Capitol
last night and spent an hour wandering
about the grounds. He didn't see u single
cat and only one dog. May he it wasn't
cat and dog night. But it was good night
for something else.
NOT DOGS, BUT
That one dog was lying at the foot of the
huge bultress that stands out just west OF
visible, and rs the reporter had just come
on the grounds he supposed he was at
the beginning of the show. But two min
utes later he saw thatthe dog mad company.
and not other dogs, either. A handsome
young fellow was sitting out some two feet
from the marble wall, fun in the light.
Something that he was apparently much
more interested in than he was in his fine
black Newfoundland, was resting in the
shadow between him and the wall. 1t
was hardly likely to be a masculine friend.
As the reporter strolled UP TO the fountain
Ia see II any lilies were In blossom, he saw
that 1t was very pretty girl. half reclining
OH the high stone coping that runs AROUND
the semicircie hack OF the fountain and In
incIoses mass OF willows and a luxuriant
growth OF grasses and shrubbery. AS he
stood at the fountaiD listening to the soft
play OF the falling water, he was sure he
overheard soft, sweet, whispered nethings
that did not come from the couple ne had
Just passed. By peering sharply into the
deep shadows, as he apparently looked
Closely at The lilies, ne could see the outlines
OF at least two forms, and noticed floating
white robes that never could have belonged
to nan or even bicycle girl. The only
being they>could have fifty clad beside the
one they actually belonged to is an angel.
The couple were undoubtedly enjoying the
evening in that secluded recess with the
music OF the water aud the light of the stars
as ii setting TO their ioye ma king.
The reporter climbed the big steps over
OH the east side OF the statue OF John Mar
shall. formerly chief justice OF the Supreme
Court of the United States. As he looked
down when half way up to the top of the
terrace, standing near the entrance TO the
terrace committee rooms, a gentle man
came laboriously, with much shuffIinE of
his feet, up the Maryland avenue approach
OH the west. He was evidently under
some spell. His legs wobbled so and his
feet got twisted up with each other to the
extent that he could hardly support his
hat in place, to say nothing of his dignity
WHAT THE STATUE SAW.
He reeled across the pavement in front
of Chief Justice Marshall without pa wing
any attention whatever to that worthy,
and as he reached the Pennsylvania ave
nue. approach seemed determined to sit
down and consider his relations TO the
world, and especially to the portion in,-
mediately around him. He seemed in
eminently fit condition TO take his Eear-
ings and find out exactly where he was at.
But his legs protested against any such
surrender OF his dignity. They were
out for walk and were able to do their
duty, whether his body could keep up with
them or rot. So, after several manifcs-
tations Of his entire confidence in the ca
pacity of the heavy halustrade TO take
care OF his weight, ne wobbled off down to
Pennsylvania avenue, and the gentleman
and lady and big black dog walked out
beside Marshall's statue aud laughed over
his sing ular antics.
Tue reporter turned to go up the stair
and saw through an open window of
committee room, looking out on the ter
rtace. the form Of burly colored man.
with his head thrown hack, asleep in his
chair. The room was brilliantly lighted, .
and on the tables were scores of bills,
claims and other papers. When the plaza
at the top Of the terrace was reached no
cats nor dogs were there. but a number
OF men and women. On the front steps
were n,en sitting apart enjoying the view
over the city OF in groups of two and three
discussing politics or business.
CHAPERoNES BADLY NEEDED.
At the first turn to the right was a
young couple in the shadow, talking con-
They We're sitting on the low
coping that surrounds the beds of myrtle
''ieh thSii icct over the IrOnI-
Ten steps further brought the big col
uinns at the western entrance of the House
side with their deep shadows There is an
electric light at the ecenter of them, but this
,nly serves to intensity the gloom in the
shadows. The forms were clearly visible in
outline from the lamps and arc lights In
The distance, but no features could be made
1ut unless very familiar.
The first couple were at the base of the
'irst Column and the gentlemen had his
iead in the lady's lap, the second were be-
sween the next two columns and the Do
'ition was Just reversed The lady, taste
'ully dressed in white lawn, was stretched
Put ON the steps with her head pilIowed
On her escorts knee. The next couple, q
title farther along the coIopnadc, were
resting close to each other and talking
Throughout the grounds were other
couples and threes promcnading and enjoy
ng the beauties ofthe park On the eastern
tcps two or three groups were seated. |
Dut not close enough to the observer to |
lisclose eanythingnnusual. The wholesome
the propriety of a number Of
h haperones.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FOR FIFTY YEARS! 9