Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26
IN ANCIENT CORRIDORS
GLORY AND DIGNITY OF THE OLD
CAPITOL.

One day last week, while a representa-
tive of The Star was in the mighty rotunda
of the Capitol surveying the spacious pro-
portions of that apartment in the undress
Uniform in which the workmen who are
freshening 1t up during the congressional
recess have dressed it, he met an old gen.
tloman VINO was for more than thirty years
In active employment about the Capitol. He
seemed to be In contemplative as well
az In a reminiscent mood at the time.
Pointing to small brown colored sphere
In the very center of the circula. stone
tagging that makes the flooring of the ro-
tunda, he said:
Il wonder II one among a hundred a
thousand of the multitudes of visitors who
take in the Capitol in the Journeys about
Washington know that this little globe
marks the division of the city into four sec
tons. The imaginary diameters drawn from
east to west and north to south are guides
to the post office. They point out north
east, no.'thwest and so on in their exact
ness and that's why the letters that come
to you are addressed. John Brown No. SO
and so. n. T., or S. W. the case may
be. This was not always designated by a
circular si:.le. once there was a star at
this very point, and that was indicative
ot the same divisions OF the capital"
Almo st Tragedy.
Passing along to the northward and gaz-
Ing through the glass doors at the entrance
to the Supreme Court room the courteous
veteran told the reporter of an incident
that might have been a tragedy that once
occurred in that chamber during the time
II was occupied by the United States Senate
and before the corner stone of the new
wings of the building had been laid by
President Fillmore. Just at the third desk
in the main isle of the chamber he said,
Il was in the Senate chamber one day
after the Senate had adjourned. talking
thn 1ofa Vcnn oil ay,1 yIo hon
the doorkeeper and assistant sergeant-at-
arms of the Senate. when Mr.. Joseph c. G.
Kennedy. so well known one of the early
commissioners of pensions, came into the
chamber and entered into conservation with
Tolon Borland a Senator from Arkansas.
who had not left his DESK but was delayed
writing letters. Kennedy went Immediately
II Borland and became engaged in an earn
est talk with him. There were high words
exchanged and l could see that Borland,
who was passionate sort of individual,
was becoming angry. Suddenly he turned
fiercely upon Kennedy and feled him by
terrific blow in the face. He bore the mark
of that blow throughout his life-a broken
nose. Kennedy arose and seemed disposed
to have more words when Holland shouted
to him, Get out of here. Go outside quick
He said, Don't you know that man will
kill your
when the Senate met in this hall" con-
tinued the old "reminiscences, "the Supreme
Court chamber just below it in the
apartment now used the law library. l
sometimes think that the cornstalk col
umns that ornament the entrance to this
room among the most attractive of the
many magnificent features of the old Cap
ftol building none of which, in my judg-
ment, can be equalled in the ornate grand
eurs Of the extension wings where the Con-
GreSS now meets
The Hole in the Wall.
ut may be going from the sublime TO the
ridiculous" said the old fellow to the re-
porter, but just a step or two from here
was the renowned old Hole in the WALL
where senators and their friends often went
for refreshment after their labors. This
little old round room was presided over by
lght-compleXioned colored man named
Robert Carter. Let's call on Robert was
an invitation well understood in those days.
Roberts wife was first-class cook, and
the two made a combination that caused
many a senator to feel comfortable l
can't refrain from relating occurrence
that happened right about here one dag.
General Cass then represented Michigan in
the Senate. / knew him very well and he
was particularly friendly to me when 1 was
listed on the roll of Senate employees in the
oden time.
Gen. Cass had way of calling his friends
and proteges by their first name. There
was a gentleman employed under the gov
eminent named Robert Kerns, and the gen.
eral always alluded to him as Robert
One day he wanted to see Mr.. Kerns and
called for one of the pages to take a mes
sage to that gentleman. There was one boy
who knew the generals whims thoroughly
well, but on this occasion that particular
page was not present. but a new boy pre-
scented himself, and Gen. Cass, who was
writing at his desk, said to him: I want
you to go to Robert and tell him to be-
mentioning a point near the Senate cham
Der at certain hour. Now this boy only
knew of one Robert, and that was old Bob
Carter, and to him he gave the message.
Imagine the CONSERVATION of both of them
the senator and the black barkeeper when
they met In consequence of the boys mis-
take.
The lower part of this old Capitol is
crowded with all sorts of interest," contin-
ued the talAer II could spend the day talk
ing with you about it. but l know you
haven't the time Just below this place,
that looks dangerous when one glances over
the thick stone railing that surrounds the
circular space-the room marks right and
left avenues just to the right of us-is the
pillar room. The massive stone pillars are
a wonder in themselves. Did you ever re-
main long enough in it to consider its grand
beauty?' queried the interesting rehearser
of the old Capitol's architectural glories
mo less a locality of intense interest to
me-" the "reminiscences remarked is the
ancient crypt, that region of semi-darkness
in the subterranean region of the Capitol
The number of visitors to the crypt is
somewhat limited imagine, because of the
gloom that environs 1t and the sepulcher-
like atmosphere that is bestowed upon a
part of it, While 1t has been frequently
mentioned in books relating to the Capitol
l presume tens of thousands OF visitors to
Washington are not aware there is a vault
in the dim recesses of this underground re-
gon that, when first designed as part OF
the lower structure of the old building was
with the Idea that Gen. Washington's body
should be entombed within 1t. l have been
very frequent visitor to the crypt, and
now when | am on the down grade of life,
whenever 1 peep through the wooden bars
that encompass it l can in my minds eye
see the ghosts of many distinguished men
who in the quietness of their lives have
in one way or another had frequent COM
municaton with. My tongue would wag on
for hours on these old memories" he con-
cluded, "but I don't feel like trespassing
longer upon your valuable time. I'll talk
to you later about the noble majesty and
grand dignity that is part of the being OF
the old Capitol building"
Physical Effects Of Temperance.
From the London Queen.