Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-15
1.-THE CAVES OF Discomfort"
cLoAKRooMs At THE NATIONAL cArI
Toll AFFECT ALL WHO ENTER.

The cloakrooms of the house OF repre-
sentatives are come to be known AZ tne
sscaves Of discomfort" Their atmos-
phere has strange influence over states
men. A complete change comes over
members Of the house when they pass
through the arched doors and disappear
from the hall. A sort Of intoxication
seems to take possession 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 an
tagonism. Men Of docile disposition be-
come defiant and timid men brave.
MANY of them ''talk brave" like prize
fighters In training. The most daring
propositions are made. They even enter
Into conspiracies to overturn all consti-
tuted authority and to legislate without
limit. Party ties become loose, obligsJ
tions to party are forgotten and every
man becomes leader along some line.
The strongest and most extreme Ideas
are freely expressed, and as freely ap.
plauded, until 1t seems as II they would
do and dare anything. :,
When they get up, one by one, ana
pass into the hall OF the house again, u
seems as II something startling were
bound to happen. But each man In
stantly becomes himself again on enter
| ing into the open daylight OF the house.
The change Is as sudden and complete as
that which comes over him on entering
the cloakroom. A cloud, perhaps, may
rest on his brow for moment after
emerging from the cave Of discomfort,
but the defiant attitude melts rapidly
away and is succeeded by restless sort
of indecision. and then, as he settles into
his seat, a calm docility comes over him,
and the spell Is broken. This influence
IA so generally felt that II Is universally
commented upon, and some OF inquiring
mind have made Investigations and ex-
periments TO determine the cause OF the
strange phenomenon.
Some who have travelled In the south
OF France, or have read much OF French
people. speak Of this mysterious cave OF
discomfort Gascony on account OF the
brayado there is born there. These
cloakrooms have no window or other
outlet to the open air. The daylight
comes TO them dimly from distance.
They are located Immediately under the
public gallery, just of that part OF the
hall most remote from the speaker .
desk, where presides authority. The
half arch Of the ceiling supports the
sloping tier Of seats where the great
public sit, crowded together without re-
spect to race, color, or previous condi-
ton.
Two arched doorways on either side oil
the main entrance to the hall OF the
house open into the ''cave," and between
these doorways and the seats occupied
BY representatives assembled to legis-
late are cloth screens hung on brass
rods. Thick stone and brick walls parti-
ton the leave" from the hall. Behind
these walls the seclusion and the spirit
that dwells there play pranks with the
peaceful and strike discordant strains
IN shstter harmony. The eve OF the
speaker, which ranges over the entire
chamber, cannot penetrate these walls
Except, perhaps, TO count quorum) =
and its influence Is unfelt by those with
In.
Sometimes a proclamation comes forth
from the cave Of discomfort, breathing
defiance and threatening catastrophe,
but It's authors do not recognize 1t when
they see IL In the open daylight, and II
becomes a waif for whom no man is re-
spon able. There IL said TO be but one
man whose presence In the cave OF dis
content breaks the mysterious charm
and dispels illusions. This IL MIR. Reed
When. once In great while, he enters
this enchanted region. the mutterings
become mild, and the mischleyous spirit
OF discomfort combs her hair quietly in
corner. No harm ever comes to the
house, or 10 It's members through the
existence OF the cave OF discomfort. Its
influence never extends beyond Its por-
tails. The atmosphere there seems to
draw out and absorb all the bile and III
feeling, and when members come out
they seem To leave their discomfort and
their belligerency behind them.-Wash'
ingtOn Star.