The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-21
THE HOUSE FROM ABOVE.
CoyGREssMEN As THEY APPEAR
FROM THE GALLERIES.

viewa-ReEulhrs Who Lie in Wait for EpI
Eodes-Show Below and show Overhead
WASHINGTON. Aug. 20.-As the mountain
are round about Jerusalem. so are the gal
leries around the Hall Of Representatives a
Washington. Here, however, the similitud
ceases: there is nothing cherishlng or pro
tectlng about this overhanging Gordon OF spec
ta>nrs in that great oblong box OF a room
Father does It seem TO the members below a
constituting a mammoth eye. the eye oil tn
public. alert and never sleeping.
The gallery in its entirety Is comprehen'
sive, including all sorts and conditions OF mer
and also Of women. There are seats for the
general male public. the doors to which are
marked Gentlemen" This same spirit ol
optimism desiRnates other seats for Ladies'"
Then there ia the members gallery. reserved
for the families OF Congressman, and the ex-
ecutive and diplomatic galleries. sacred to
high officials. domestic and foreign. More
truly representative than oil the others Is the
private gallery. admittance TO which is through
cards from members. and 1t partakes delight
fully OF the nature OF a privilege especially to
tourists from afar who are all wound up to be
impressed. Lastly. there is the press gallery.
The common galleries Of the House are as
peanutty as those OF the Old Bowery. They also
WOO the tramp to sweet sleep. like the seats in
City Hall Park on a sunshiny day. There can
not be anything symbolic about the diplo-
matte gallery; IL is usually empty. Sometimes
assallow. foreign looking little boy will break,
for the moment. the continuity of the fat door
keepers dream. Sometimes a bevy OF Gayly
dressed Cinnamon will give n tea-chest-cover
touch to the scene. But in general the diplo-
mats keep away: popular government is so in
comprehensive to them that they dread TO
mako it moro 30. When they do come. they
look as though they wished they hadn't. Per-
haps. however. this aspect is merely the
hauteur Of station.
Nor is the executive gallery. Immediately ad-
Joining. in much greater favor with those en-
titled to its seculsion. The trouble is that this
0eelusion Is more apparent than real. While the
fair women who sometimes come and nibble
bonbons are removed from vulgar touch. the
notice which they attract must be overwhelm-
ing. The order eyes right" never meets with
moro complete obedience. and the inquiring
hum OF who is she?" is followed by the an
swering hum Of misinformation These two
galleries. then. are attributes OF power. like
the place ever ready at the head of the table
for the absent master.
The members gallery Is too personal to Con-
gress to have much individuality. It's main
characteristic Is a pleased smile. Here ZONE
the good wife. and Johnny from school and
AAAco -hulys JuSb ouN III NllttIs u leu III
And il they are the only ones who
really do take full advantage OF his high priv
llege, their satisfaction is Just as limitless.
a member confused by Jest and laughter
about him. and mortified by seeing the leader
whom he had hoped to impress engrossed in
reading the Congressional Record, of all things,
has regained pluck and endurance through the
OF bright eyes, even as doughty
knights in n tourney were wont to recover
rom a resounding whack through the same
Inspiration. Utilitarians may claim that on this
Tery account the members gallery should be
closed. since it encourages the output Of Con- |
gressional eloquence; but then it should be
'emembered that while members talk they
ire doing nothing worse. Sometimes tragic
Genes have resulted from this conjunction OF
loan in the gallery and Darby on the floor.
LAST spring. in the height OF the riot attend |
ng the adoption Of the Cuban resolutions. a
all, dignifled lady rushed through the corri-
Tors In q state OF distraction pitiable to be-
hold. for it was Mt her husbands head that
he file of documents had been thrown. And
yossips around the Capitol still tell how, years
ago. when q Southern Senator was forced.
struggling and shrieking. off the floor OF the
Senate. his poor wife. who had gone there In
Ill the flush OF pride and hope. was borne
I~enseless from her seat in the gallery.
The private gallery is by far the most com
prehensive in its interests. Every visitor at
Washington has n member TO call upon: even
he Indian from Oklahoma has his Delegate, |
every Congressman Is only too happy to |
1elige a constituent with a gallery ticket;
hence here may be found q gathering purely
The occupants, too. come not to
est. to %criticise. or to be admired: their pur-
oQse is to see and to hear the whole show.
There is a perpetual craning OF necks, a con-
inual pointing OF hands, while the heated air
Uses Is Ike a huge inteErogation point; $50
o easily recognized for one thing; he is s Such h
Then he is 80 big, and SO deliberate in his
n oc6 ahnnt ana q 81 t6 dn6i dIraBl one has heard SO
have only to march out Upon the eu stage
md stand silent and still. and their audience
Till shrek with laughter. Mr.. Reed has much
he sam Influence upon his admirers from
Then there is the Speakers clerk. whose
law that one. looks at his fingers ends
R 2 tae h very : e so{d t o. b sesin tbs the fI Hs l points
companion. a silver gilt affair that looks
Is II it had stEayed from one Of the Roman
rom one TO another what mysterious power
his symbol possesses, and how no Congress-
VeI's words: "Take away that bauble.'
The pictures OF Washington and lafayette.
IN either side Of the desk. also attract notice.
y to recognize the former and as many more
,eriying equal satisfaction from misnaming
he latter.
That is, George the Fourth. the Prince Re-
said a well-informed young lady from
be West Q few months ago. Il know him by /
lis high stock"
Many recognitions of those on the floor are
ully as exact. Visitors always provide them
elves with u diagram Of the seats and so
members. For all that, ,Dalzell Is often
for Dingley and .Dingley In turn for
IressmeP are prone 70 sit in any other seat
'robably sought after more than any other
member. which shows the advantages OF the
Similarly Lewis of Washington is
ne OF the sights, and when he begins TO
peak curiosity IL redoubled.
My" exclaimed an old lady recently, how
hat young man do go on, His tongue seems
D be hung In the middle"
sometimes the local member adds consider
ton TO Kindness and comes up to point out
he celebrities-the other celebrities-to his
onstituent., Then. indeed. there is plain
ailing, while those less favored slide along
he seats in hopes OF catching q few stray
lords from the great man.
There 10 one popularity about the view Of
he House from the gallery. and that ia that n