Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24

the letter with smile, and then stepped
over to the office of Sergeant-at-Arms
Ransdell. Put this little soldier on your
roll" he said. che has earned it by his
pluck"
Duties Not Menial.
The duties of the Senate page are not
those of a mental messenger. Acute men,
Dry and quick coordination of brain and
limb are essential to his success. He
must combine in his makeup the functions
of animate congressional directory. a
feet-footed library catalogue. a prancing
menu card a fast-stepping base ball score,
smooth buffer between the impa tient lob
hyiSt and the busy lawmaker and the eX-
pert translator of senatorial chirography.
He must not only know all of the ninety
senators by name, but be able to identify
the conspicuous members Of the lower
house. He must be able to keep strict ac-
count of funds intrusted to his care.
In the basement of the Senate wing is an
apartment known as the pages room. This
is equipped with tables for eating purposes,
electric lights, electric fans, running water,
toilet articles, shoe polishing outfits and all
necessary conyenlences.
Every member of the youthful corps must
report at the chamber at . a. m, and. just
as al school, satisfactory excuses must De
given for Hardness or absence. The first
duty in the daily routine is the di&tribu-
ton among senators DESKS OF bills intro
duced q the previous days session, of cal
monts. All bills placed upon the calendar
must be filed upon the desks, together with
reports, and a copy OF the Congressional
Record must be added TO each senator's in
GiVi3Glal file. This being accomplished. the
boys are divided into squads for special
duties. some being designated to brush off
the cl0th-COVered desks of the President t.,
secretary and clerks. Another must exam
inc all pens left upon members desks and
must renew their points. Another must
see that every inkwell in the chamber is
brim full; others. that each senator's set
OF laws is complete and in order. One page
is detailed to look after the pages room in
the basement and see that it is shipshape
before the sergeant-at-arms makes his
morning round. Every rug in the cloak
rooms must lie snug and fat. strict rule
foTbids the opening OF any desk.
Recess Time.
From 10 to 1880 is recess time. Now the
youthful legislators are at liberty to romp
in the Capitol Park, and this they are
wont to do, often to the terror of the Capt.
tol police. Reporting promptly when their
recreation period is over, they find that
senators are beginning TO arrive and that
crrards are growing more and more plenti-
full until the noon hour. As promptly as
the clock points TO l. each page takes his
stand before one of the senator's desks in
the front row Of the chamber, bows his
head, cndeaVors to Danish all traces of mis-
chief from his face. and thus awaits the
completion of the blind chaplains opening
prayer. The days session has now com
meuced in earnest The little fellows post
themselves upon the steps of the President s
platform. half on the republican and half
on the democratic side. awaiting there the
handicap OF some senator. On days when
the Senate has taken temporary adjourn
meHt Il half of the corps reports for duty
The management of the force is detailed to
a chief page. Mr.. c. a. Loeff,e-, with an
assistant, Mr. y. d. Sumner, both of whom
worked un through the ranks.
Senate pages are subjected to moral dis
ciFliue, and i any Of their number is known
t. use tobacco. indulge in profanity or to