The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-03-04

TAKING THINGS EASY.
trayals, have said that women in Wash |
ington are attracted more by the brass
buttons of the young officers of the
army and navy than by anything else
masculine in this city. There is an ele-
ment of truth in the assertion, but our
ladies have some higher ambitions tlHn
the slurring statement would indicate.
Senators and members of the house of
representatives come in for large
share of the attention of the fair sex.
Three-fourths of the audiences of con-
eress are made up of women and often
there are few others in the galleries.
Except few strangers and section Of
the colored population, who find the
Tublc galleries comfortable as sleep
| ing place, few men listen to the proceed
| ings of the house ard senate. For some
reason the senate, while not entirely
neglected, is not as popular with the
| gallery goddesses as is the house. 1t
may be because the senators are older
and less gallant, though there is surely
| gallantry enough in that decorous body
of sages. But in the house there are
great many young men, and few of
the youngest and handsomest are I'M
married This may account for the
| preference that is shown that branch o.
congress. There are always women in
the galleries known as the speakers
gallery" and the members gallery"
though often there is not man to be
seen anywhere above the floor of the
house.
During the very cold weather many
unemployed colored men go to the cap
itol, take seats in the warm galleries,
and, having no appreciation of the
forensic discussions, 60 to sleep and
sometimes snore so that the watchmen
or door-keerers awaken and eject them.
But despite their Indulgence and bathless
condition these poor fellows are Amer
lean citizens, and they have as much
right in the galleries of congress as
any of our prosperous merchants, man
ufacturers or milllonaires. No cards Of
admission are required to the 'gentlc-
mems gallery" or che ladies gallery"
as the signs over the doors read; but
cards are required of those who would
enter either of the galleries reserved Tor
representatives and senators.
The southeast gallery of the house Of
representatives faces the entire MEM
bership on the floor. The congressman
have but to lift their eyes above tho
dead level of their desks, and their
thoughts above the dead level of dreary
legislation, to behold a vision of love-
illness, and they often do lift both their
eyes and thoughts. Even before the
hour for the meeting of the house, the
fair habitues of this gallery come trip
ping through the corridors, singly and
in pairs and ride up in the elevator with
, the assembling statesmen, and then take
their places in the gallery, smiling
down on the most attractive branch OF
this great government. The women
who have business with the statesmen
or make any pretense of having ousi
ness with them, keep to the lower cor
rdors or sit in the corner in statuary
, hall, which has been set aside and fur
5 nished as a waiting-room. Those who
Z go to the gallery are there for entertain
) ment or instruction.
They are usually there for entertain
? ment, and many serious Irritation has
started between the girls in the gal
leries and the representatives on tn,
floor. Several years ago a congress
man from California exchanged glances
smiles and signals with gallery god
dess, end finally he went to the ga!
lery, seated himself by the girl, wa
welcomed and became the most ardent
attentive and affectionate of lovers
Just before tie close of the session o
congress the statesman received a care
from the brother of the lady and
lively meeting was held III the speaker
lobby. The brother gave the congress
2 man "a hours to marry the girl, unde
threat of death. The entrapped con
2 + gresham left town that night, decline,
5 O denomination. retired to private lif
and has never since been in Washing
; ton. He was a brilliant fellow with in
tense ambition, but he fell away GU
of sight politically because of his firta
ton with a gallery goddess.
In the galleries, however, there ar
|, many women who are diligent student
of legislation and human nature, takin
broad and sweeping view from tn
gallery elevation. Some look upon tn
entire aggregation of talent on the foo
with undivided admiration, but mos
of them are hero worshipers. each has
ing one Or more fayoTites whom sh