Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19

that time he did not sit down, rest
himself, nor even take a drink of wa
ter. Years ago. on another occasion,
Senator Smoot of Utah spoke all
night without leaving the desk at
which he was speaking.
The Senate. as body. reta; ms in con-
slant use many things of great historical
value. The gavel is probably the most
important of all historical relics, being
handled daily when Congress is in ses-
sion. The desks at which the Senators
Sit are, in many instances, those which
were used by the Senators when the
Senate met in what is now the Supreme
Court chamber. The desks of Clay, Cal
houn. Sumner. Webster and Jefferson
Davis are used by Senators of modern
times. The desk which Charles Sum-
ner used is known as the Massachusetts,
desk, and now Senator Lodge, the leader
OF the Republican party in the Senate,
uses 1t. 1t is thought by some to tie the
one at which the great Daniel Webster
made his famous speeches in the old
Senate chamber. The desk used by Sem
ator Jefferson Davis, president Of the
Confederacy, is now used by Senator
Pat Harrison, also of Mississippi Sena-
tor Hiram Johnson has Warren G..
Hardings desk.
Upon each desk in the Senate there is
reminder Of the olden days in the form
of sand-duster. which looks very
much like a pepper shaker, and from
which prepared sand is busted upon the
freshly written ink to dry it, This was
used by the old Senators before bIotting
paper was invented. and the sand dust
ers are still kept filled with sand and
used frequently.
The Senate is a great stickler for its
traditions. In the early days Of the Re-
public snuff-taking was popular and a
snufbox was kept on the desk Of the
presiding officer. Henry Clay used snuff
and would frequently pause in his
speeches to inhale it The old snuffboxes
are retained and kept filled, even though
no one uses them now. Senators some
times carry personal peculiarities into
the Senate chamber. Sam Houston OF
Texas was a confirmed whittier, and
every morning he had a little bundle OF
pine sticks brought into the Senate
chamber.
1t is popularity supposed that younger
men are being elected to the Senate to-
day than formerly. The Constitution re-
quires that a Senator be at least 80
years of age, nine years a citizen of the
United States and an inhabitant of the
olotC iIuI1 VfiCll lie Is eIGCIeu. is
very seldom that the constitutional age
limit is even approached, the average
Senator being upward Of 40 years of age
at the time he is chosen. There have
been cases, however, when Senators
have come into ONCE at an age barely
qualifying them for service Henry
Clay was one OF these. Senator C. c.
Dill Of Washington, the latest baby
Senator" was not yet 40 when he as.
sumed the tosa
About Th0oe VIE Serve.
In Standardization to the younger
men are those who have had Ions
continuous service in the Senate
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas
sachuSetts has served in the Senate
since March 4, 1898. He served eight
years in the House. In addition to
being the oldest Senator in service
he is also the leader of the majority
Senator Furnifold NJ. Simmons OF
North Carolina Is tho oldest Demo
cratic Senator in service, having
served continuously since March 4,
1901. He served one term In the
House. The length OF service Of Sena-
tors is greater today than 1t was be-