The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
CAVE OF Discomfort.
Where the Members OF Congress Give
Vent to Their Feelings.
Washington Star.


The eloakrooms of the House of Repre-
sentauVes are come to be known as the
cave of discomfort Their atmosphere
has a strange influence over statesmen. a
complete change comes over members of
the House when they pass through the
arched doors and disappear from the hail.
A sort of intoXication seems to take pos
session of them. Things that they agree TO
on the floor of the House or which they
permit to pass in silence, excite their most
intense antagonism. Men Of doCile DISPOSE
ton become defiant and timid men brave
Many of them talk brave" like prize fight
ers in training. the most daring PROPOSE
lions are made They enter even into con-
spiracieS to overturn all constituted au-
thority and to legislate without limit. Party
Ties become loose, oDHgaClonS TO parry are
forgotten, and every man becomes a leader
along some line. The strongest and most
extreme ideas are freely. expressed and as
freely applduded. until it seems as IL they
would do and dare anything.
When they get up, one by one, and pass
into the hall of the House again, it seems
as if something startling were bound TO
happen. But each man instantly becomes
himself again on entering into the open
daylight of the House. The change is as
sudden and complete as that which comes
over him entering the cloakroom. A
cloud, perhaps. may rest on his brow for
a moment after emerging from the cave OF
discomfort, but the defiant attitude meltS
rapidly away, and is succeeded by a rest
less sort of indecision, and then, as he set
ties into his seat, calm docillty comes
over him and the spell is broken. ThlS IN
tluenCe is so generally felt that 1t Is uni
versally commented upon and some of in
quiring mind have made Investigations and
experiments to determine the cause of the
strange phenomenon. Some who have trav-
eled in the south of France, or have read
of this mysterious cave of discon-
ent as Gascony ON account of the
bravado that is born there. These
cloakrooms have no window or other out
let to the open air. The daylight comes to
them dimly from a distance They are To-
Gated Immediately under the public gallery
from the speakers desk, where presdes au-
thority. The half arch of the ceiling sup
ports the soping tier of seats where the
great public sit crowded together without
respect to race, color or previous condition.
Two arched doorways on either side of
the main entrance to the hall of the House
doorways and the seats occupied by repre-
sentatives assembled to legislate are cloth
screens hung on brass rods Thick stone
and brick walls partition the cave from
the hall. Behind these walls the seclusion
and the spirit that dwells there play FRANKS
with the peaceful and strikes discordant
strains to Shatter harmony. The eye or the
speaker which ranges over the entire cham
Der. cannot penetrate these walls Except,
perhaps: to count a quoruml and It's M
fluence is unfelt by those within
Sometimes a proclamation comes forth
from the cave of discomfort, breathing de-
fiance and threatening catastrophe, but it's
authors do not recognize it when they see
it in open daylight, and 1t becomes Wair
for whom no man is responsible. There Is
the cave of discomfort breaks the mystic
rious charm and dispels illusions. This is
Mr.. Reed When. once in great while, he
enters this enchanted region, the mutter-
ings become mild and the mischieVous spir-
it of discomfort combs her hair quietly in
corner.
No harm ever comes to the House or to its
members through the existence OF the cave
of discomfort. Its influence never extends
beyond it's portals The atmosphere there
seems to draw out and absorb all the bile
and ill-feeling and when members come out
they seem to leave their discomfort and
their belligerency behind them.