Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-18
Copyright, 1900, by Amos j. Cum
-, ia9s Tninrs

4 Copyright, 1900, by Amos J. Cum
mings.)
Washington, D. c., Feb. 16.-The best
point of observation in the House OF
: Representatives Is the gallery allotted
to-, the correspondents. It Is banked
with rows OF desks overlooking all the
members except the Speaker. David
b.. Henderson is the only man in the
House who turns his back on the cor
respondents. To see his back you must
sit on the front bench and lean for
ward over the parapet 1t is broad
back, carrying neck supporting
head covered with thick iron gray hair.
You often hear his voice placing busl-
ness before the House or calling it to
order, but 1t sounds like the voice of a
man beneath you, imprisoned in ma
rine boiler. The lair of the correspond
ents Is a room behind the gallery,
where they prepare their manuscripts
and flood the country with kilograms.
This den Is neatly furnished. Photo
graphs of great editors, living and
dead, adorn its wallis Here statesmen
are made and undone, and here Is the
motive power that controls public SEN
timent.
Sitting upon the front row Of the gal
1ery, the House Is spread out below
you like an open fan, the asles serving
as ribs. Representatives, great and
small are there in profusion. Some are
pressing buttons in their desks, calling
for the pages; others are either writ
ing letters or reading newspapers. A
few cross their legs and take Ian
guild interest in the proceedings of the
House. At least q quarter of the men,
bers are in motion when routine bust
ness Is up. Some are on their way to
the corridors to see inquiring constitu-
ents; others are ranging between their
committee rooms and the hall of the
House. a fair percentage are breaking
for the cloakrOoms, where they can en-
Joy an average cigar and chat with
their colleagues. 1t requires an inter-
esting subject and an eloquent speaker
to recall them to their seats. At such
times they rush from the cloakrooms,
quickly resume their chairs, and Join
in the applause.
+ PRESENT WHEN THERE IS A
WHIRLWIND.
The correspondents keep pace with
the congressman. Routine proceedings
interest them less than they interest
the busy Representative. These pro-
cetdings are like dead calm in q hot
summer month. Like other men, at
such times the correspondents enjoy
the cool shade OF the trees, and their
gallery remains empty; but let sud-
den breeze spring up, and q whirlwind
develop on the floor below, and they
flock to the gallery like blackbirds to
q grain field.
Queer characters are there beneath
them-men well known to fame; others
partly known; n few who hope to be
. known; some utterly unknown, and
others who never will be known. They
arc a motley crowd. some with short
hair; others with curling locks: one or
M nnu tnrC =
many baldheaded. 1t is the only place
of amusement in the United states
where baldheads do not naturally grav-
itate to the front row of seats.
The crowd is rendered all the more
motley by the difference I'm its clothes.
Many AFFECT the old-fashioned frock-
coat. fancying. possibly. that 1t gives
them the distinguishing characteristic
OF q statesman. Southern members
show fondness for this garment, while
those from the Eastern and Middle
States wear cutaways and tailless
coats. AT night sessions the swallow
tail and Tuxedo are occasionally worn.
Set speeches usually produce the ora
tors Sunday suit. Of-hand arguments
and spontaneous illusions never change
mans apparel. Any coat is good
enough for a man who is really in earn
est.
And the collars and ties-such va
riety! Here is Plcadilly; there a
barndoor collar, worthy of General Spi-
nola; beyond. Understanding collar,
shooting from the back of the neck like
the sideboards of wheelbarrow; fur
Their away choker, SETTLING and
immaculate, but so high that the wear
er looks uncomfortable, and lastly,
turn-down collar, almost Byronic in
size.
CRAVATS OF MANY STYLES.
And the ties-faunting four-in-hands.
white, green figured, blood red, and
horsey; strings bands. butterflies, A :
{ cots puffs and cravats. and others so
quaint as TO resemble the antiouated
stock. Here is a member wearing n
piack silk cravat evidently tied by
either his wife or daughter before lea,y-
ing nome; there one requiring the art
NoI an exquisite. Here you see one which
was evidently arranged in the dark, and
here one that was tied the dav before
yesterday.
And the shirts: Most are white. some
were white, and other nondescrint
{ Here Is one with n f1lmy tracerv IN its
'front.'. illustrating its owners fondness
I TOE the weed. Here the old fashioned
wriHtband is displayed without cliffs
and a limp collar evidently part OF Sbs
shirt itself e ~
Inc faces are almost as characteristics
as the garments. Look off here on the
lert. i've rows back. Here is a face
as.u9y known month ago; to-day one
or the most familiar in the House. The
eyes are keen and bright, the nose
stralght and incisve, the jaw strong
and the brow broad, indicative OF GREAT
intellectual power This IS the face of
the successor of Governor Dingley. He
has brought Maine again to the front,
and partly restored her former, renown'
He was member of the committee to
wnich the case Of Brigham H. Roberts
was referred. 1t was an onport,InItv
farsly, vfRered 60 new member. In ono
bound he rnada q rar...s - - =, - Ni ~.