The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-09
Some Of The Types That Are to Be Net
With There.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW Member
His Coiossn, rho wreck
fIIiusions-,Tho Ola Mcmbor-An
All Superior Mortal who Knows
the lsopcs-Tho LoDbyist-In searc,,
oraJob.


student OF human nature, will find
much to interest him in the various
types collected and brought thither by
inc Legislature, which has recently be-
gun its session.
Perhaps the most striking type is the
new Member, who is Sloriously in his
SulleieSSneSs and soulful self-sufi-
cheney. He goes to the hotel of his
choice-wallts to it--and as he goes the
world seems very small and much In
need OF Il spanking. He wonders why
IL mas not been attended to sooner,
taxes n new hold on his resolves and
promises to look into the matter thor
ooughly and Immediately. By this time
ne reaches his hosiery. and having
a o,, fingers long and with fas-
cihated interest about the lobby, en-
Viously watching the groups Of old
members who are singing sacred
thingS around in such a. careless way
una are calling each other by their
'front.' names, emphasizing their re-
marks with sundry winks, nudges and
perhaps an arm placed effectlopateIy
about the neck Of the speaker. Ife be-
gins to speculate upon how long it will
be before they begin to call him RilJ
ana Tor the first time in his life realizes
mat he is actually the same size as
the average man. This Is the point
where he begins to become as wise as a
serpent. Ii takes but q short time to
initiate the New Member into the mys-
teries OF his Office. He catches on
quickly and it is only n few days be-
iore only the expert can detect the
difference between him and an old
member, for the secret OF his newness
Is soon hidden beneath a realistic as
sumption of sang froid nearly akin To
mat born OF long experience and MANY
batties. with the newness vanishes
ihuch OF the enthusiasm that burned
III HIS breast when he first became n
soloh' and many OF the plans that
once looked beautifully feasible now
seem absurdly impossible. The history
OIL humanity shows no figure more clio
Nuent IN all things than that of the
new Membcr crawling fearless from
tne wreck OF his own illusions to ioin
the lostling throng OF government
makers and breakers-that innumerablc
caravan which, with more or less slow
ana stately tread, threads its way to
glory or obscurity
Legislative bodies are the same thc
world over. Their members meet
snake hands, wrangle or agree and arc
violently patriotic, and the Old Mem
Der Will be known by his mental ear
marks be he voting in Washington.
making a speech in Paris, throwing
ninE territorial extension in London or
cutting down the Commemorative cx-
pehseS III Richmond. There Is about
him an air Of political ennui often as
sumed, an atmosphere or quiet non
chalance in the face OF momenious is
sues, a diplomacy. large or small, but
always more or less apparent and n
royal condescension toward the New
Member, that marks him so unmistak-
n .far 81,
though n fool, would know him at first
sight. The New Member holds him in
awe ana admiration. The general
public guages him for what die is worth.
some Took him over suspiciously and
seldom look at him again. Glory Is n
gift OF the gods and Is charity best
owed. Fortune is equally tickle and
hard hearted. Honest politics is not
paying business, especially in the Vir-
ginia Assembly. The cmolumcnts of
the office sometimes pay the cigar and
stationery bill, not always. If an
honest man comes out of a session of
the Legislature no poorer than when
he went In, he is Il Napoleon Of III
nance. The 81 a day set aside for the
lawmakers Of the State never convert
ed. any one into a plutocrat There
are no plutocrats in the Virginia Leg
!slature.
Bnt the most noticeable individual
about the Legislative halls at the be-
of the session is the man who
IS looking for job. He may want TO
be Scrgcant-at-Arms. doorkecper, as
sistant doorkceper, committee clerk,
page or what not, but whatever his
desires lie cannot be escaped during the
haunts the hotels and State House
corridors. He cannot be stunned. He
Is on The trail of the New Member and
thc Old Mcmbcr as sure as death and
as persistent as the grave. Unlike
the conscience. he never dies, is never
Siillcd, will never he downed until The
last office Is filled and there is no fur
thcr use for him TO hang around the
capitol. Then he goes to his home. and
waits patiently until next Eession, when
ne resumes the attack Some OF the
reasons advanced by the Afan-Lookinr-
are unique. considered out of
politics or from a business standpnnt
1t may be that he was wounded n tbird
OF Il century ago, or that his father
was wounded. or that his GRANDPA Their
was wounded, or 1t may be because he
had an uncle or n cousin or somebody
else VINO did something or other in the
campaign in one of n hundred counties
Or IL may be he has pull and Is a
good man To accommodates As to his
actuai qualifications for the position he
desires so ardently no one ever heard
them brought into the discussion. lie
may be as bright as diamond, or In
may be only Il cheerful idiot. That's
ms own business. No one inquiries.
The lobbyist Is the most striking
hgure OF all. He Is n picture done in
oil. His mission Is to tell the lcgIsla-
tors how to save their country. and h,.
fuifllls his mission (for 4 cCnsidcra-
tion). lobbyist would not change his
convictions for money. Certainly not:
but his convictions arc generally on
the same side that the money is. AS a
matter of fact. I never heard of a