The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-09-05
Why CONGRESSMAN ARE
PLEASED WITH THEIR TORS

| AAAiAA, cut MS rusty locks,
give MIN an electric shampoo and a
massage, and hand him over to the
keeper of the baths.
ReVel in Marble Baths.
Ihese baths are the JOY of con.
gresham serving his first term. He
frequents them oftener than he ever
dallled with the tub and tea kettle in
the old home kitchen of a Saturday
night. He finds the same kind old
servants ready to help him. He is as.
sisted in diyesting himself of his gar
ments, and his faithful helper-an old
darby who is carried on the rolls as a
laborer"-wraps him in a big, creamy,
turkish towel. He proceeds along the
warm marble floor to the gigantic ba-
SIN called bath tub. 1t is a solid
block of whitish marble, yolumptuous-
~ carved into bath, and fitted with
cleaning silver faucets, through which
gushes filtered hot and cold water.
The attendant looks after the water
supply, produces a fresh cake of ex-
pensiVe soap for the bather, and pro
ceeds to initiate him.
The man from Podunk never exper-
fenced bath like that before. He
closes his eyes and imagines he is lord
OF a harem in Stamboul. The drowsy
gurgle of the water, the expert manip-
ulation of the attendant, the scent of
altar of roses, and the soft delight of
fluffy blankets and towels on downy
couch lull him to sleep. He is never
disturbed. He is immune from tele-
phone bell or personal call. When he
aroUses himself he is rubbed down by
skilled maSSeur who is paid as a
me ssenger, and if he is little languid
and likes the sensation, an electric
massage machine is applied to his
sensitive shoulders and trunk. If his
nails need polishing, manicure is at
his service. Then the attendant helps
to dress him, and he returns via eleva-
tor to the hall of the House, ready to
read the newspaper and write letters
to constituents. The mornings pleas
ures, from the moment the overcoat is
removed by the servant until the
luncheon hour, have not cost the con-
gresham cent.
All at Expense of the People.
These baths, massage treatments,
barber shops, ETC., are maintained at
the expense of the people of the Uni
ted States. There are about twenty
exquisitely fitted bathrooms on the
house side of the capitol, each with its
attendant ready to administer the
poppy of repose to the weary states
man, without money and without price,
EXCEPT for the occasional tip. There
are Russian, Turkish, Roman and
Swedish bathing arrangements, all adj
ministered by skilled attendants, who
do nothing else and who are described
officially as laborers, messengers or
clerks. Some of these bath attend
ants are paid liberal salaries, but
through the method adopted by con-
gress in paying them it is impossible
10 tell what they get. One Of the old
time attendants, who developed es-
necial skill. and who recently died,
leaving a comfortable fortune, is sup
posed to have received three thousand
dollars a year in salary and tips. Inc
barber who succeeds in getting a job
in the House barber shop is envied by
his fellows. 1t is poor year when ne
cannot make two thousand dollars
working only six months.
The member from Podunk, II he is
wise. soon discovers that the House
restaurant is a pleasant place, with It's
courteous walters, who have served
great men time out of mind. They
treat the new member well, and II ne
is the right sort he soon finds delicate
tid-bits on his plate which are un-
known to the vulgar horde. The mys-
FERROUS word goes down to the COOK
and he outdoes himself in fashioning
delicacies to suit the jaded palate Oh
the Podunk statesman, whose previous
oxnerience has been confined largely
to beans, cracklin' bread and pot
liouor excellent nutrition IN ltseiI'
hut not arrogant in its pretentlons'
The member discovers also a method
Of buying choice Havanas little I'M
der the regular rate.
King in His Committee Room
In his committee room the Podunk
lawgiver reigns a little king. He sits
at solid mahogany desk with an
time brass trimmings. His cnalr Is
big roomy and softly upholstered
either in leather or velvet. On the
walls of the finer rooms are paintings
the work of gifted artists brought 10
washington especially for the purpose