Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25
AS A CAPITOL PAGE.
Stuart Robson Gives Some Remfnis-
cences of His Experience.


From the Philadelphia Times.
81 was a page in the Thirtieth and
Ttfrty-first Congresses said Stuart Rob-
son. ''and clearly remember events which
then happened, while I readily forget
many impC rtant occurrences in my mature
life. Henry Clay gave me an opportunity
to make S25 His compromise bill was
pending in the Senate, and it was taken
Up unexpectedly when many of those OPP
posed TO 1t were absent among them MIR.
Douglas There was great CONSERVATION
among those opposed to 1t. The pages
from both houses were sent in every direc-
ton looking for Mr.. Douglas, while some
Senator was put UP to talk against time.
Mere of the messengers were able to find
him. l came in from an errand in the
midst of the excitement and asked what
was the connection. Every one said:
We want to find Mr. Douglas
''Just then Mr.. jeremiah Clemens Of
Alabama came up and said: TN give S25
TO any one who will find Mr.. Douglas
IL at once inquired of the boys where
they had been, and suggested half a dozen
places where he might be found, for the
pages knew very well most Of the hau2ts
of the Congressman. We have been to
all of Them said the boys in concert. 1
hit upon a place after a moments study
where 1 thought he might be. The boys
seemed to have covered all the other ter
r;tory. l rushed out Of the door. grabbed
my hat and darted for the House. The
pages in those days had horses to ride in
going on errands. They were rather queer
horses. but nevertho less they were better
than none. Mr. Homer, the doorkeeper,
had to give US an order for one. He kept
them ready written, and they read, no
matter what the boy's name, Give Jake a
horse 1 got one, quickly ran and mount
ed one of the nags, and at the top OF his
speed dashed up the avenue. drew up
to the place. about half a mile distant.
rang the door bell and asked If Mr.. Doug
las was in. He is replied the servant
Tell him Mr.. Clay's compromise bill Is
about to pass. and he Is wanted 1mme.
diately. In minute heard MIR. Douglas
voice saying:
Great heavens, is that so?'
1.-THE servant came back and told me
to leave the horse at the door and / started
back toward the Capitol. Before 1 had
gene a great distance 1 was passed by Mr.
Douglas on the horse making for the Capt.
toll as fast as the animal could go.
thought then and / think now 1t was one
of the funniest sights 1 ever saw-this
large man with an immense body and little
short legs riding down the avenue astride
the horse, and the awkwardness with
which he sat his mount did not improve his
appearance. 1 got the go. however, for
my part in bringing Mr.. Douglas to the
great debate on the compromise bill
''As / look back to these times, now
fifty years behind me, it seems as though
everything was then conducted with great
laXity. The sergeant-at-arms used TO pay
the members IN gold and the congressman
would send the boys after 1t with the
greatest freedom. Sometimes the amount
would be small and sometimes far larger
than should ever have been trusted to
such young hands. One day / sent
to Riggs Bank, where the deposits were
kept with an order for $1,000. 1t was
banded to me in two cotton bags, very
loosely tied at the ends. After / mounted
my horse I found it difficult to carry. So
at the first cigar shop 1 came to 1 stopped,
dismounted, went in and got a piece OF
Irvine ard tied the two bags together
i then mounted and went galloping down
the avenue Just as 1 reached the corner
by the old National Hotel the horse SHE'D
suddenly and threw me off. The same
movement broke the string holding the
bag OF gold. AS they struck the ground
one burst. and the gold pieces went flying
in every direction. The lounging negroes
about the place came out and helped me
to pick them up. / was nearly scared
to death, but never lost gold piece. But
j breathed much easier when 1 landed
my treasure at the Capitol"