The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-09-20

seuIs WHO ~ paid as messenger ,;
and II ne IS a little languid and likes
the sensation, an electric massage
machine is applied to his sensitive
shoulders and trunk. If his nails
need polishing, a manicure is at his
service. Then the attendant helps
to dress him and he returns via tbe
elevator to the hall of the House.
ready to read the newspaper and
write letters to constituents. The
mornings pleasures, from the mo.
ment the Overcoat is removed by the
servant until the luncheon hour,
have not cost the Congressman a
cent.
All at Expense of People.
These baths, massage treatments,
barber shops, etc., are maintained at
the expense of the people of the Unit
ed States. These are about twenty
exquisitely fitted h&aA rooms on 1fhe
House side of the Capite1, 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
ana Swedish bathing arrangements,
all administered by skilled attendants
who do nothing else and who arc de-
scrlbed officially as laborers, messen--
gers, or clerks. Some of these bath
! attendants are paid liberal salaries,
u through the method adopted by
Congress IN paying them, it is i'm
possible to tell what they get. One
OF the Old-tlme attendants, who de-
veloped especial skill, and who re-
Gently died leaving a comfortable
fortune, is suppose to have received
S3,OQV a year In salary and tips. The
barber who succeeds in getting a Job
IN the House barber shop is enyied
by his fellows. 1t is a poor year when
ne cannot make $4,000, working only
SIX months.
The member from Podunk, if he is
wise, soon discovers that the House
restaurant Is a pleasant place, with
It's courteous waitersy who have serv-
ed great men time out of mind. Thew.
treat the new members we'll, and if he
Is the right sort he soon finds delicate
%SS -" h1o pldI6 WHICH are I'M
known to the vulgar horde. The my
sterlous word goes down to the cook,
and ne outdoes himself in fashion
ing d~ellcacles to suit the faded palate
OF the POdunk stateman, whose pre-
v1ouS experience has been confined
largely to beans, cracklin' bread and
pot-llquor-excellent nutrition in If
self, but not arrogant in its preten-
slons. The member discovers also a
method of buying choice Havanas a
little under the regular rate.
King in His Committee Room.
In his committee room the Podunk
lawglver reigns a little king. He. sits
at a solid ~mahongany desk with an
tlque brass trimmings. His chair is
pig, roomy and softly upholstered,
either In leather or velvet. On the
walls of the finer rooms are paint
Ings, the work of gifted artists
brought to Washington especially for
the purpose of adjoining the walls
With their art. Occasionally, when an
especially fine painting is in need of
shelter, the Podunk Congressman
nnds a place for it on the walls of
MS committee room. Some of these
paintings are the work of American
masters, for which Congress paid as
high as $4,000. They represent M
spring scenes from the national his
tory, artfully calculated to .arouse
the smouldering fires of patriotism in
the breast Of the man from Podunk.
AT home, in POdunk, the elect of
MS fellows is ready to drink out of
d TN upper, or even from the old
oaken bucket. But at the Capitol he
nnds that Apolinaris, White Rock
ureat Bear and half. a dozen other
mineral waters are necessary. His
secretary draws literally on those
supplies. which are paid for. of
course, by the Treasury. They are
piaced In a refrigerator. with plenty,
Oh Ice and during the hot months are
consumed In enormous quantities.
The general public" discovered long
ago that expensive mineral water was
at the Capitol, and many a thirs-
~ ianger-on regales himself at the
public expense.
Sometimes the wife of the mem
per from Ppdunk wishes to shine a
little socially at small expense. Then
ne works the graft of the Botanic
Gardens. A government employe
drives to the members house in -
wagon and deposits a
load OF choice ycut flowers, potted
plants, etc, from the government
gardens. After the dinner, Mrs. Po-
dunk enhances her reputation for
by sending flowers to the
ooor. In the course of a winter infu-
entail teg1s1ators~some times Obtain z
Of dollars worth of flow ]
RS from the government without ex-
pending a cent. {
Medicines Furnished Free. (