The Washington herald., 1909-01-24

Inc poet fI American MONIES anu ErLTL-
has told Us that ali houses wherein men
have lived and died are haunted houses
This may and may not be poetic license.
The everyday world, TOO, is pretty thiczly
sprinklsd with people not afflicted with
brainstorn who believe that thoughts are
real. living things. that once thrown Of
by the creative mind they live and wan
der. seeking their affinities in the infinite
ocean OF thought
II either Of these speculations be true.
what may not be said OF the dusIzy cor
ridors Of the Capitol? Are the vaulted
halls possibly vibrating with the yet Nv
ing mind-waves Of the years and decades
long gone? It may be 50. What a shadow
world the reflection materislizes.
Here the fathers Of the rep1blic came.
carved the destiny OF a mighty nation.
and when their summon came 10 Join the
innumerab!e throng passed into the IN
seen. At dead Of night. when the dim
lights are almost imperceptible IN the en-
circling gloom, do the great souls return
TO wander among these scenes Of their
mortal greatness Are these the thoughts
and the shades Of other far days which
impress the midnight visitor with the
overwhelming sense Of a presence Il
may be.
II there is standing IN the world an
edifce which more probably might be re-
visited by those who have passed out OF
mortal sight; If there are great thoughts.
undying they are yet alive in the halls
and corridors OF the mighty Capitol
Here are the giant intellecJs OF the in
fant republic wrought and created.
Here they materialized a marvellous na-
ton Yet 70 be. In these corridors they
walked thoughtfully. building for the
centuries of the future.
In these forums they gave voice and ef-
feet 10 those foundation stones Of gov
eminent which are an imperishsbIe leg
acy 10 a great race. Here they lived and
worked and died. leaving records which
are a part OF the worlds history
And vet. there is another side. Men
have come here and lived their brief lives
and vanished. leaving no memCTT- They
have come with high ambition and the
desire Of great achievement. and have
gone back into ObsCUTity and oblivion.
They set their mark. and failed utterly
and hopelessly. Far worse. some have
gone 10 dishonored graves. Do these
come back. 10 walk once more the scenes
Of their defeat and disgrace, 20 cease
lessly regret the wasted opportunity
Do the despairing thoughts Of what might
have been yet wander, ever wander7
Are the vitalized shells Of failure and
sadness mingling forever with the Elo-
~
whose names are craven high2 Il may
be, we cannot be sure
But certainly when the city sleeps and
the lights in the great building are few
and low. the watchmen feel an indescrib-
able awe from the depression of the
time and place. The lights are almost
ingulfed in the awful darKness- and
the least sound is magnified into eChoing
thunder
To the nonimaginative IT Is an uncanRy
place, and 70 the more fanciful the miles
Of somoer walks are vibrant with faint
whisperings and the rustic OF invisible
life. Is it fancy? Possibly.
There is one amiable old gentleman
percolating around the may intricacies
OF the Capitol who. II he we're so
disposed. could tale unfold Of the not
distant political past which would cause
many a statesman and otherwise TO sit
u7 with a snappy jerk and to take imme-
date and exclusive notice
The old gentleman in question is Uncle
Amos Allen. representing the Portland.
Ne. district in the House. Carefully in
dexed and filed away on the shelves Of
memory behind those benevolent Specta-
cles are the real inside facts concern
ing some OF the ration's most vital hap
penings Of decade ago, more or less
Amos Allen was for many years the Of
fetal and confidential secretary Of Thomas
p. Reed. during Mr.. Reeds Congressional
career, and succeeded the latter as the
Representative Of the district in Congress.
The DAYS Of Reed were stormy ones in
the country's political history. big with
fate. and Uncle Amos archives contain
many a famous name.
What an autobiography he might write,
To some yet in the spotlight it might
spell trouble. but 10 every intelligent
American il would prove what Greeley
used to speak OF as mighty interestin'
readin'" But the depository Is q safe
one, and we have little to hops for or
fear
Mr. Allen is not an epileptic statesman, [
he throws no fits and has no fear OF be
ing classed as a St Vitus prOgressist,'
but he works hard, honestly, conscien- I
tiously. and no constituency is more
faithfully served In looks he is a cross
between Pickwick and Denmsn ThOmp-
son. oOzes the cream Of human kindness. :
and is the friend Of all honest humanity.
The recent memorial exercises in eulOgy
Of the late Senator Proctor. Of Vermont, /
reminds me OF remarkable fact in the Z
political history Of that little mountain
State. It As that the legislature OF that .
State has not elected a United States
Senator in fifty years and denied him a
reelection.
Previous 70 fifty years $50 changes If /
the Senate as the result OF the legisla- /
tive action Of that State were very few.
In the past half century Senator Edmunds I
resigned. and Senators Luke P. Poland
and the late Chief Justice Ross, who