The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-09
YES, SUMMER HAS
FINALLY ARRIVED.
CONGRESSMAN DOFF HEAVY GAR
MENTs AND oCiFF LEMON
ONADE IN SHADY HALLS.

WASHINGTON. June Summer
has invaded the capitol at last The
heavy clothing that keeps the blood
of the mighty lawmaker from the chill
Ia SITS of winter his disappeared. and
the woarer OF togd Is now seen in
filmy fabrics. while the Panama hat
has replaced the tile. derby or wav-
ing sombrero with which members
were wont to adorn their stately patcs,
And in addition 10 their cool attire
the congressman have ordered the
electric fans turned on. and are dis
patching hurried commands to the
restaurants for cooling drinks,
There was a time when congress
sionaI tradition commanded The use
oI 'tu Cd palm leaf fan as the nleanS
% uttpluirg relief from the heat, but
in The Isl two years or three yc.1s
t,1tste has been departure Il I'm ia ~
of The old preccdents, The t.u. tdat
the sessions OF congress for the last
several years have been extended Well
into the summer has also had much
TO do with this change.
The fans generally In use are of the
ceiling variety, such as one sees in
the summer hotels and palm gardens
t.I-.,....;.hnuI-thc- country an II, tttit.
ton. thera Is an occasional fan about
the sides of the Legislative chambers.
Despite these innovations, however.
some OF the older members still cling
TO the palm leaf.
VII II the hot weather u FcallN at
its height some strange com binations
of official raiment appear, There are
linens, crashes homespuns and al
pacas in all degrees of shade ana
color, Even here however. stlcklers
for forinallty insist that the dignity
of congress demands that the MEM
bers wear conventional attire. These.
no matter how hot it may be, will he
fond at their desks vi II tht-Ae+t+N
frock coat of the traditional states
man. This class. is gradually dimin-
ishing. however. and 1t is predicted
that the frock coat soon Will be mat
Ter of history in Washiugton's summer
dress
In fac. there has developed 1ndef
the regime of Vice President @cefti an
in he SeNatc, a tendency . 90 away
with the conventional frock even durF
ing tho winter. Vice President Sher~
man. contrary to- the strict precedent
~ ~ N.co President Ferb nks,
formed the habit Of presiding over
the senate in simple huainess SUIT,
warm or light. rs the weather might
dictate Because of this there nus
been gradual departure from the
STRIFE, Formally OF the senate as far
as raiment is concerned.
1t is the appearance or leatonade
however, that Is the most infalllhle
sign that summer has come to the
.-rapitol 81 stay. This beverage. let II
be known, is not Of the ordinary Nlh-
tacc for. the congressional throat.
made dry and parched by oraiory'
must have special brand to properly
Intricate 1t and get it back into work
ing order. THIS lemonade II com
position Of sugar lemons and APP
polonaris, and eolored attaehe
spends many hours down in the cata-
combs of the capitol, where the eyes
Of The curious cannot penetrate and
discover the secrets Of the connection.
manufacturing it. Then. 1t is care
fully conveyed to the c'oakrooin9'
where other attaches keep close watch
over it that none but members make
use Of II.