The herald., 1898-11-13

The place looks as if it had just gone through
a grand disrobing scene. Speaker Reed S
desk is a sight to make angels weep. 1t
stands silent monument in the midst OF the
surrounding wreckage, as smooth, expansive
and inexorable as the speaker himself.
George Washington and General Lafayette,
a little dusty about the coat-tails and the
nose, respectively glance deprecatlngly from
their frames at the massive marble edlflee.
Small boys scale its dizzy heights; tiippant
brides pose in its huge crevices and peep
saucily at their spouses over its massive
top; camera fends level their instruments
boldly at its broad sides, and one little red
checked urchin was caught pounding vigor-
ously upon its green baize cover with par
of iron skates, supremely happy in the ex-
citement of playing at making laws
The clock above the speakers desk looks
as though time itself had ceased with the
speakers hammer and the flow of last
springs eloquence. Around the walls the
famous paintings have been left hanging, but
the floors are bare and dusty and rise in semi
circular tiers of rough and unstained planks.
The very registers are getting rusty round
the edges, and the faithful old spittons, all
bearing traces of tobacco juice, look lone
some for want of being used The committee
rooms, where during the winter cozy little
log fires burn and friendly members gather
to sit and smoke and tell funny stories, have
been transformed into political waste baskets
and made receptacles for the trash of ages.
Up in the galleries all is dust and con-
fusion. Great heaps of books mysteriously
done up in brown paper parcels, are piled
on floors and benches Tables, chairs and
ladders lying just where they landed when
u the last irreverent hand tossed them into
| this off season "catch-all," lie around the
0lmembers' gallery. Planks, sawdust, paint
cots and oil cans are scattered about indis-
eriminately, and the walls and ceilings,
That only few short months ago resounded
to the wild applause of an enthusiastic null
titude, now echo sadly to the tap tap of
the carpenters hammer and his nasal rem
dition of "Break 1t Gently to Mother" as
he pursues his lonesome task.
Outside in the lobby all is chaos. Chairs,
desks and wastepaper baskets are huddled
together in dark corners. Party distinc-
ton and personal differences are lost sight
Of The desk of Mr.. Bailey of Texas hugs
lovingly that of Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio.
Desks of red-hot Democrats perch triumph
antly astride the desks of hard headed Re-
publicans, and viceversa; while those be-
longing to members of the same party are
placed with their legs in good kicking pos
lures toward one another.
Mr.. Moneys desk is making love to that
Of Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts,, while
"Sockless jerry" Simpsons stands with its
toes turned roofwards. "Cy" Sulloway of
New Hampshire, ''the tall pne," lies pros
trate; while James Hamilton Lewis, the
picturesque, in state of mild intoxication,
stands indecorously on one leg, sans all
exquisiteness. The desks of Gov. Dingley
and 'Long Jim" Richardson clinch as usual,
over point of order; and the desk of Gen.
Joe Wheeler gallops gracefully around a
gilded pillar in true cavalry fashion. On
top of the heap Speaker Reeds chair stands,
head downward, with it's podgy legs kick
ing wildly in the air, while Speaker Crisp
smiles tolerantly down upon the sorrowful
scene from his gilt frame over the mantel-
piece.
The house will not have new carpet this
year. The government carpets the whole
floor afresh every second session, and if the
gentlemen spilled ink on the new green
velvet one that was put down last fall that
is their own lookout; Uncle Sam won't
buy them another. Janitor Waterhouse
says that most of the congressional desks
will need new covers this session, as inl;