The herald., 1896-12-15

oath, modified one being administered
to fit the circumstances.
1t is funny thing, illustrating the in
consistency of this great and glorious
republic, that every slip of girl who
enters Uncle Samuels employ to count
coupons or patch muster rolls, or paste
seed bags, Is required to make solemn
oath that she has never borne arms
against the government, and pay %
cents for the privilege out of her own
poor little pocket!
On the senate side President
Stevenson called his boys to order on the
stroke of r. and prayer was offered by
the blind chaplain, Rev. Mr. Millburn,
and presently both houses took recess
while awaiting the presidents message
Most of the members remained in their
seats during the hours of waiting. and
the galleries were packed as closely as
nature slowed away her seedlings. Gu
rious strangers Wiled away the time by
pointing out to one another. with canes
and umbrellas the favorite lions in the
arena below. The colored man and
brother, ensconced as usual in the
warmest and cosiest corners, TRANQUILITY
sank into the arms of Morpheus. In the
ladies' gallery fans t1uttering in jeweled
fingers, and bright eyes sparkling under
picture hats, entice many a Solon to
force a passage through the throng to
the smiling object of his consideration.
Among other distinguished visitors were
General Mcmahon and General Horace
Porter of New York sitting side by side
in the senator's gallery. MI Mark Han
ma, the champion wire-puller of the late
campaign was brought in by Senator
Sherman, and with the modesty which
so distinguishes him he took a seat away
back in the farthest row right under
the "Picadilly weepers' of the bust of
President Arthur. The diplomats were
out in full force and feather. Sir Julian
Pauncefote, big and beefy as ever, sat
pompously in the front row. as becomes
the ambassador of the queen upon
whose domain the sun never sets. Close
by him sat pretty little Mustapha Bey,
the new minister from Turkey. accom-
panied by his secretary, Norighn Eff
fendi and couple of attaches. Musta-
pha Bey, called the Apollo of the diplo-
matte corps is already pet among the
ladies. With his dear little fez upon his
shining black locks his dark eyes gilt
tering below like jet beads set in bronze.
he looks like a slim, chocolate-c -col.,red
candle under an extinguisher The
Spanish ambassador, Senor Depuy de
LONE. was conspicuous by his absence,
but his two secretaries We're on hand to
look out for snags in the presidents mes
sage concerning Cuba. Mons. Pateno-
ire, the French. ambassador, and his
young Philadelphia wife, were interest
ed spectators. and even far-off Hawaii
was represented by Minister Hatch and
Mr.. Cooper. Many of the desks in both
senate and house We're laden with flow
ers the remembrances of loving friends
and bids for benefits to come Mr.. Vest
of Missouri, the shortest man in the
senate, was completely obscured be-
hind two tall bouquets, and his colleague.
Mr.. Smith, who is by no means small
man, was not much better off. Senator
Mitchell of Oregon had four towering
bouquets-rathep ar! embarrassment of
riches in that line. Hon. j. d. Hicks had
an enormous basket of roses, surmount-
ed by yellow ribbon on which the word
"HickG" was printed in letters large
enough to be read a mile away; and a