The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-26


so hot that Pennsylvania avenue was
nearly deserted and resembled a street
at high noon in some equatorial city.
The heat was more than oppressive. 1t
created a lassitude that induced somno-
lence, and men were seen asleep in
restaurants and on the street cars.
They were even more sleepy in the gal
leries of the senate. The debate drag
ged YEARLY, ana the intonations of the
speakers became drearily monotonous.
The vice president listlessly Tanned
himself. and members of the house
who thronged the senate chamber III
dulged in cat maps on the sofas.
While the senators and representa-
tiyes were gasping for fresh air, the
atmosphere outside Of the capitol was
much worse Many Of the asphalt
pavements became softened under the
action of the sun, and tremendous
waves of heat arose from the streets.
Negro hucksters went to sleep upon
their wagons and hackmen on the cap
itol plaza crept within their vehicles
to escape the rays Of the sun While
waiting for fares. Hardly a breath or
air was stirring. The flags on the mar
BILE edifice hung limp and motionless,
and the very dome became torrld. a
few wheelmen appeared in the streets,
moving over the hot pavements me-
chanically but listleSsly. The concrete
walks became springy, and those using
them frequently left footprints behind
them The robins disappeared from the
parks, and even the domestic sparrow
(frangella domestica) sat in the plinths
of the corinthian columns painting for
breath.
1t was as hot day as has been seen
In Washington in many year. CON
gressmen had been broiling in a SINH
lar heat for three days. Crash suits
were in great demand. Scores suffered
from prickly heat and burnt Hour ana
carbonate of soda were in great de-
mand. Dogs dropped in shady places
with lolling tongues and legs drawn
out Flies settled in swarms in the
beer shops. The great green house III
the botanic garden fairly streameG
with heat, while the rare palms and
eXoticS surrounding 1t were Watered
morning and evening.
Fifteen thousand employees IN the oe-
partments, sweltered in shirt sleeves
and challie waists, while their chiefs
of division, arrayed in light Hannel.
pcngee and crash suits sought COM
fCrt in breeZeS created by electric fans.
These fans are furnished at the eX-
penSe of the people, and cost from SZO To
$35 apiece Electricians say that the
running expenses for each fan average
from 81 to Sc per month.
There were some startling surprises
among the statesmen in the capitol
No two were dressed alike. Some wore
crash suits with belts, and others the
same without belts. In most cases
a crash waistcoat was discarded. a
few were exceedingly natty in ap-
pearance, notably one gentleman from
Pennsylvania. He had a pongee coat,
a white silk shirt and a flowing tie OF
the same material. His trousers We're
of fine white duck. He wore no waist
coat, and the trousers were held i'll
place by a white leather belt with d
silver buckle. The suit was set Off
with light tan shoes and light Mackl-
nav hat. 1t was the neatest rig seen
in the capitol on that day, everything
being perfect in fit and harmonious In
color.
Then there were others-old-timers
who wore broadcloth coats and doe
skin trousers, W thOut waistcoats. Some
varied the costume with ancient alpaca
coats. The value of the coat was some
times indicated by the stain left upon
the shirt collar under prOfuSe perSp1ra-
ticn. Light cassimeres were used in
abundance, some close-ftting and
others baggy and loose. There were
white duck suits so thin as to show the
color of the stockings and underwear.
The white flannel seems no longer pop
ular, and the SeerSucker suit, once so
common, has en,ire'y disappeared.
A Southern senator, known from the
st. CrOiX to the Rio Grande, wore calf
skin boots and black brOadcloth suit,
antique in style, but extremely roon1y.
The legs of the trousers were nearly as
large as the smOkestacks of a MiSsiS-
\, IL
ed frOck coat as commOdiOuS as the
mansion of Southern planter before
the war. This apparel, however, was
thrown into the shade by a suit worn
by a representative from the Pacific
coast. He was attired in snuff-colored
raiment, with a bright yellow waiscoat,
q Spino!a collar and a light-colored
ltnotted tie The tout ensemble was
rendered complete and unique by point
ed patent leather shoes, fawn-colored
gloves and a chimney pot hat that
would have excited the admiration and
envy of the Prince of Wales.
Speaker Reed was dressed plainly and
mconspicuously. He wore a dark sack
coat and dark trousers, with tanned
shoes, black derby hat and Madras
shirt Of pink hue. 1t was in admir-
able contrast to the suit worn by him
In the hot days attending the first ses-
sion of the Fifty-first congress. AT that
time ne appeared III a SeSISucheT suit
and neglige shirt, wearing Oxford ties,
straw hat, and a dark blue silk sash,
knotted at the side.
Another strange combination was a
coat and Waistcoat of Kentucky tow,
a narrow tie Of white lawn, and trous-
ers of light cashmere. 1t was worn by
the chairman of one Of the great ma
tional committees in the last campaign.
A renowned Western senator, breezy
and portly, wore a blue serge ample in
dimensions and apparently extremely
comfortable. A New England senator,
who never turns hair no matter how
hot the day or debate, appeared in
steel-colored French cashmere The
fitting was the inspiration of tailor
far above the average All the states
men were in summer garb, giant and
pigny, fat man and lean. Cooling
drinks were in demand in both cloak
room and restaurant, and buttermilk
drinkers were surprised to learn that
the supply had given out before s
o'clock
While the atmosphere was enervatine
In the streets Of Washington, it was
absolutely enfeebling for those ap-
preaching the city by railroad The
uemulous waves Of heat arising from
the city were plainly seen by the per-
spring passengers miles away. The
dome Of the capitol seemed to be
sWerving, the Washington monument
was curved and crooked, and the gold
en- cupola of the new library building
was as creased and squatty as Dutch
mans cap. They lay upon the horizon
shadowy and indistinct, as If limned
On the sky by a brush dipped in q
weak solution AS seen from the line
of the Pennsylvania railway, away be-
yond the Eastern branch of the Po-
tOmac those monuments of WaSbipp