Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-17


lowed to enter the sacred precincts.
But at this time of morning a wild
sight was to be enjoyed.
Fully 25 or 80 boys were running up
and down the aisles of the room, for
getful of their surroundings in the
pleasure of their fun. To a person ac
customed to gazing on the House
when it was filled with dignified Con-
Cressmen it was a most unusual sight.
Several boys were wrestling, others
boxing and still more tossing piece of
paper around the room in imitation OF
a baseball game.
The page, whether he be employed in
the House or the Senate, holds job
that makes him envied by almost every
youngster in Washington, beside a
number Of their old pals back home"
1t isn't so much the fact that the posi-
ton pays $75 a month to the lucky
youngster as long as Congress is in ses-
sion, but because of the prestige to be
secured through such personal contact
with the big men, of the Nation, for
the page gets to the place where he
can address every Congressman by
name and also be answered in a IA
mliar strain. And what American boy
wouldn't give most anything for such
a privilege.
It's a treat to sit for a morning and
watch the House pages. They arrive
about o'clock, and then for three
hours there is a continuous perform
ance of fun galore, only ended when
the House chaplain formally opens the
days session. Then for She remainder
of the day the page works hard and
earns his salary.
There ar many traditions that show
just what an opportunity awaits the
House page. If he pays strict attention
to the happenings in the House he
may learn the necessities and qualifi-
cations of a statesman, orator and pol
itician. He may attract the attention
Of some prominent Congressman who
will help him in an upward career.
There have been any number of pages
in the history of the country who have
in later years returned to the House
Of Representatives and Senate as the
representatives of their fellow-voters.
And the names of these men are cher
ished by the present generation of
pages.
Probably there isn't a more popular
stunt during the morning fun hours
than an attempt at a. mock House.
Every page wants to be the speaker,
and there is always a wild scramble
TO reach the desk ordinarily occupied
by Champ Clark The disappointed
ones then quarrel to have the honor of
making the first address. Probably it is
90 Of la
Congressman that they do not arrive
at the chamber when the youngsters
are giving limitations of them. 1t
might not be flattering to them.
There are not many of them who do
not indulge in the mornings fun, but
here and there can be found a youth
who is busy reading a favorite author
or studying serious subject. Newcom-
ors always are forced to undergo a
certain amount of hazing. Likewise,
whenever an old-timer appears for
work wearing his first pair of long
trousers there is certain to be an up
roar. Most of the boys wear boomers
and Norfolk jackets, topped off with
neat-iooking white Elton collars. Only
usually before the day ends, these col
lars are much darker in color
color. The pages are selected by the
Congressman, and consequently come
from every section of the United States.
Among themselves they display a feel
ing OF sectionalism, and hardly day
passes without some battle, verbal or
fstie, between two or more of them.
Most of the pages ranged in age
around Is years. They have secured
grammar school training, and in some
cases several years in High Schools in
their home sections. Some of them at
tend private and night schools during
their stay in Washington, but with
many of them it is simply a lark. AS a
whole they are typical American boys,
quick to catch on to things and full of
mischief which even the solemnity of
Congressional proceedings cannot fully
overcome.
In the diplomatic service of the Unit
cd States there are a number of young
men who received their original train
ing in Government affairs as pages
either in the Senate or House Of Rep
reEentatives.
Many interesting stories are told con-
corning the experiences of these boys
ana the IGduy manner Ill WHICH Iney
respond to witticisms at their expense
on the part of the Congressman. There
is a story of a Congressman who reach
eed the House every day with a
Crouch" and the pages suffered ac-
cordingly. Consequently, they schemed
together for revenge. They couldn't
very we'll refuse to do his bidding, al
though they could lag a bit while on err
rands for him and forget a few rec
ords he might desire. Finally they took
through a scheme which smacks much
OF the schoolboy.
1t was in the days before the desks
We're removed from the chamber and
each member had a soft swivel chair in
which to repose behind his desk. Now
the members sit in rows of cushioned
benches. Early one morning the boys
filed the seat of his chair with pins
pointed upward. They also wrote a
brief note. Compliments of the House
pages and placed it on his desk.
The offending member was late in
reaching the chamber, and the expect
ant pages neglected other duties in
watching for him. Finally he arrived
end proceeded to his desk. AS he sat
down he called sharply for a boy. Be-
fore one of them rOIIid q rT.iVo he INN -