Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23
THE RICHMOND Overwhelmingly JANUARY 2s 1898.
LADY MEMBERS.
FAIR ATTENDANTS UPON SESSIONS
OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The PROCEDURE is A MYSTERY.
The Majority Cannot UnraveI the
Intricacies of LegisIation-But
Some Understand All That Is Going
On-Foot-Ball and Romance.
The lady members?

The lady members?
Why. certainly. They are present at
every days session of the General AS.
sembly. and their visits are the most
pleasant features Of these diurnal meet
ings.
] speak for myself; also, for the Sena-
tors and Delegates, for this is one OF
speak for themselves, for however gall
liant II might be to express the opinion
just given, 1t would not sound well for
sober-minded law-givers, whose intellects
are supposed TO be eternally graphing
with problems OF retrenchment, oyster
legislation. employers liability, and other
weighty matters of State to confess TO
such a strong liking for the airy visitors
who rob them OF their seats with as little
compunction as Mr. Cooke feels when he
calls down riotous members Of the Joint
caucus.
PROBABLY DON'T KNOW 1T.
The gallery was built for the use Of
spectators. The floor of the Senate and
the House are for the exclusive use Of
facts not as information to the reading
public, but just I'm kind of a ruminative
way, wondering If the women know it.
Imagine one climbing the steps to the
gallery Why, what are the seats on the
floor for If not for her use, IL she wants
them? She is used to having men give
her their seats they like TO do it, she
thinks
At any rate they do IL, and with the
greatest alacrity. I often think when
see how eagerly the members surrender
their seats to the fair visitors that the
punishment of standing is no punish
ment at ALL for the act Is performed at
their desks, and always accompanied by
an animated chat with what would be
the cause of their discomfort were 1t
man.
1t may be naturally imagined that the
topic does not always pertain to law
making, and it does not, but frequently 1t
does. The process by which bill gets
on 10 the statute books is utterly beyond
the comprehension of the average feml-
nine mind. This fact should be clearly
understood by the senator guilelessly be-
trayed into endeavoring to- initiate her
INTO the mysteries of law-making. 1 may
add that he always learns 1t rev
minutes after.
IT WAS BEYOND HER.
The other day a very pretty girl from |
no the country accompanied her father |
to the Senate chamber, and was given |
seat at his senator's desk. There was |
A sharp debate over a bill which was |
then on its passage, i'm which Senator -
took an active part in its favor The |
girl was an interested, II not an under
standing, spectator, and expressed to the
Senator whose seat she occupied. and
who was standing by the desk, her plea
sure when the passage of the bill was
1T move TO reconsider the vote by
which the bill was passed" said its cham
,ion. as soon as the result was an
and while the girl was express
ny her pleasure at it's success. Her In
lignation at him for the motion was very
"The idea of his asking them to pass
I, and then wanting them to take 1t
,ackw she said to the senator at whose
esk she was sitting.
lie began TO explain that the Senator
Wished to have the bill sent over 10 the
louise at once, and
But she paid no attention.
"Ohi am so glad they wouldn't do st."
he said. as she heard no voice vote 10
econsider.
Never talk about women changing
heir minds, when that man changed his
Ike that, and don't seem ashamed Of it,
ither."
The next Is minutes were spent by the
enator in endeavorng to tell what the
notion meant, involving an explanation