Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-20
AMUSING INCIDENTS.
Mr.. STILLMAN GIVES MORE INTEREST.
ING GALLERY "REMINISCENCES.
Senate Gallery Furnishes Exciting and
Amusing Incidents to Officials and
Employees About National Capitol.

er. who dresses like man, is reported
by doorkeepers to have had some un-
usual experiences in the capitol. At
first doorkeepers questioned her right
to sit in the ladies' gallery. and the
female attendant in the ladies' private
parlor is said to have refused DR..
Walker admittance until these en-
ployees became convinced she was a
woman.
One afternoon during the past
winter DR.. Walker entered the ladies'
private parlor, it is said. and placed
hire silk hat on the center table,
Shortly afterward a lady emerged
from another apartment and seeing a
gentleman silk hat on the table,
rushed shrieking from the room.
Not long ago lady and gentleman
were seated in the gallery beside DR..
Walker The latter at once became
quite friendly with the lady who APP
peared greatly embarrassed and
whispered to her husband who hur-
riedly sought the doorkeeper in
charge. LOOK here, he exclaimed.
excitedly. There is a man sitting
next to my wife who has repeatedly
insulted her; if you don't throw him
out, 1 will "
The doorkeeper followed the irate
visitor who pointed to DR.. Walker,
saying, THAT is the man.
why, that is not a man; that is
DR.. Mary Walker said the door
keeper, whereupon the mans face
broadened and he sat down and
whispered to his wife who instantly
appeared relieved.
The passage of the pension bill
carrying $l63, 10000 a couple of
weeks ago, by the Senate in three and
one-half minutes, recalls an incident
that occurred in gallery some years
ago. A member of the English
Parliament was a guest in a reserved
gallery. Some bill of local import.
ance involving an expenditure of $25. :
600 was under discussion and an acri-
monious debate of an hour and half
had taken place. At it's conclusion
the pension appropriation bill was
taken up. read and passed in less than
five minutes. As the presiding officer
declared "the bill is passed" the Eng
lishman jumped to his feet and excit-
eddy exclaimed my God what coun-
try: debating two hours over a five
thousand pound bill and passing bill
for %, 600. 900 pounds without word
being said against it. He was speed
lily ierked from the gallery and
learned that much as his amazement
may have been warranted, the gallery
was not the place to publicly proclaim
it.
Half dozen years ago, at the close
OF the session, just at the moment the
President pro tenn brought down the
gavel, an aged man rose in the public
gallery and shouted: "A message
from the great white throne; Jesus is
coming" He was hustled out double
quick.
The quiet of Sunday afternoon in
1898, devoted to eulogies. was disturb.
ed by an intoxicated man who
drawled out: "You - - fools make
me tired. - He was soberer when he
reached the street.
Notwithstanding the constant Wig
ilance of employees, amusing mistakes
sometimes occur. While the door
keeper OF the diplomatic gallery was
momentarily absent one dull after
noon negro countryman walked into
the diplomatic gallery and calmly
took front seat Instantly there was
CONSERVATION on the floor among the
employees and several Senators turned
and scrutinized the dusky visitor.
An official rushed upstairs to investi.
gate. but the doorkeeper, returning in
the meantime. had heen too quick for
him and when the floor official ar
rived the negro had disappeared. The
doorkeeper was censured for permit
ting the negro 10 enter the diplomatic
gallery. but replied: Don't you
know who he was?''
Certainly. a Virginia negro, re-
sponded the official. '~
"That's where you are mistaken"
said the doorkeeper. "that man was
the secretary of the Haytian legation
and he has a card
There are eight galleries in the Sen.
ate chamber with a total seating
capacity of 90O executive or sena-
tors. diplomatic, two reserved, ladies'
gallery. public, two mems public and
press. The front row at the left in
the executive gallery is reserved ex-
clusively for the Presidents family
and friends, the secretary to the Presi-
dent issuing cards therefor. The
second row is for the family and
friends of the Vice President.