Evening star., 1897-05-04
WASHINGTON D G., TUESDAY, 18s7-FoURTEEN PAGES.
CAVE OF DScoNTENT
A Place Where Representatives, Sometimes
Wax Bold.
But They Usually Lose the Air of
Bravad0 when They Return
to the House.

The cloak rooms Of the House of Repre-
sentatives are come to be known as the
!! 'cave of discontent.'' 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 hall
sort OF fntoxication 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
tion beco. defiant, and timid men brave
Many of them talk brave" like prize
fighters in training. The most daring propo-
sitions are made. They utter declarations
of independence with much fervor and
earnestness as was ever shown by an Irish
American society freeing Ireland by reso-
luton. They even enter into conspiracies
to overturn all constituted authority and to
iegislate without limit. Party ties become
loose, obligations to party are forgotten
and every man becomes a leader along
some line. The strongest and most extreme
ideas are freely EXPRESSED and as freely ap-
plauded, until it seems as If they would do
and dare anything.
INTO the hall of the House again, 1t seems
as II something startling were bound to
happen. But each man instantly becomes
himself again on entering into the omen
daylight Of the House. The change is as
sudden and complete as that which comes
over him on entering the cloak room 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 a rest
less sort of indecision, and then, as he set
ties INTO mis- seat, calm docility comes
over him and the spell Is broken. This in
huence Is SO generally felt that it is uni
Versally commented upon, and some of in
qu1r1ng mind have made inyestiga tions and
experiments to determine the cause of the
strange phenomenon. Some who have
Travelled in the south of France or have
read much Of the French people, speak of
this mysterious cave of discomfort as Gas
ceny, on account of the bravado there is
born there. These cloak rooms have no
window or other outlet to the open air.
The daylight comes to them dimly from a
distance. They are located Immediately
under the public gallery, just off that part
OF the hall most remote from the Speakers
desk, where presides authority. The half
arch of the ceiling supports the sloping
tier OF seats where the great public sit
crowded together Hithsut respect to race,
color or previous condition.
Where Harmon " In Shattered.
Two arehed dooRways on either side of
the main entrance to the hall of the House
open Into the cave" fRnd between these
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 pranks
with the peaceful and strikes discordant
strains to shatter harmony The eye of the
Speaker. which ranges over the entire
Chamber, cannot penetrate these walls lex
cept, perhaps. to count a quorum), and its
influence is unfelt by those within
sometimes proclamation comes. forth
from the cave of discomfort, breathing
defiance and threatening catastrophe but
its authors do not recognize it when they
see 1t In the open daylight, and 1t becomes
q waif for whom man Is responsible
There is said to be but one man whose
presence in the cave of discomfort breaks
the mysterious charm and dispels Illusions
This is Mr.. Reed. When once in a great
WILLIE he enters this enchanted region, the
mutterings become mild, and the mis-
chievous spirit 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 its portals. The atmos-
pnere there seems to draw out and absorb
all the bile and III feeling. and when mem
bers come out they seem to leave their dis
content and their belligerency behind them.