Evening star., 1934-05-06
IN THE VISITORS GALLERY.

him, opposing his position on inter-
nal revenue reform. He has now be-
come disguised. has dropped the clip
ping and is pairing his fingernails.
Only about half the members are
now in their seats. Some are talking
in the lobby. some are in the cloak
rooms, some in their committee rooms
and number are drinking Bass ale
and champagne in the restaurant.
There is much going on in this res
taurant that the people know not Of.
There used to be bar in the Capitol,
but this has been abolished. The
members now get their drinks in the
restaurant and cold tea" a fancy
alcoholic drink with an honest name
is served to the knowing ones who can
wink the signal for it.
I am describing a dull day in the
House. The Speaker acts as usual in
his emphatic, determined manner and
the clerk reads away in the same loud
tones, trying. if possible, to make his
voice reach all parts of the hall. 1t
is hard work and it is no wonder that
he often drops into a monotone. The
pages, lively little boys. disturb him
greatly. clumping over the thick
Brussels carpet, as though their shoes
were soled with lead, and answering
the loud claps of the members as they
bring their hands together calling
them.
The Owl Club.
Ned Thorne, the actor, Is playing
here with Nat Goodwin in the BLACK
Flag" and his presence has called up
some amusing stories of his past in
the Capital. One was told me today
which I have not yet seen in print.
Ned was living here in Washington
some years ago when the Owl Club
was in its infancy. One day his wife
paid a visit to New York and as she
left him at the depot she told him
to be a good boy. She said she would
pray for him that night.
We'll. if you do" Ned replied, "I
hope you will pray that I get a hand
of four jacks, for I am going to the
Owl Club to play poker" That night,
contrary to his usual bad luck, he won
right along. After playing all night
with good cards, he looked at hand
dealt him and made a large bet, ex-
claiming. MY little woman is at it
sure enough" He had the four jacks
and took the pile. He now declares
himself a firm believer in the efficacy
of prayer.
Some years ago Thorne was not the
popular actor he now is, and he and
his brother Charley were stranded
on tour. I'VE we're out of money
in Des Moines, Iowa." he told me,
land we tried to get away from our
hotel without paying our bill. We
threw our valises out of the window
and walked out of the front door of
the hotel as unconcerned as though
we owned it. Quietly we went around
to the back to find our carpetbags. but
we looked in vain. At last we glanced
upward and to our dismay we saw
them hanging in among the telegraph
wires, which ran in a line of 20
strands a story below the window of
the room We had occupied. We re-
turned to our landlord and made a
clean breast of it. He had previously
refused to let us take our baggage
without paying our bill, but this joke
on us pleased him so much that he
let us go.
Washipgton's Grandniece.
Gen. Washington's grandniece, Mrs.
Fanny Lynch, very pretty lady of
40, has clerkship in Washington.
She is the nearest existing relation of
the lamented George w. Her second
husband, an old man, is very proud
Of his wifes ancestry. Some time ago
while Mrs. Lynch was running a
boarding house here, an irreverant ap-
plicant for board called one day when
she was out. Mr.. Lynch showed the
prospective boarder about and while
making the arrangements as to the
meals said with great pride: "You
must know, sir, that my wife is q
grandniece Of George Washington"
Indeed" was the reply, "but I
don't expect to eat your wife. I care
more for a good beefsteak than for
good blood. want lots of steak, and
I want it rich and rare, and I don't
care continental whether George
Washington's niece or George WASH
ington's butler serves it." It is need
less to say he was asked to seek his
good beefsteak elsewhere.
Dorso-,1 Co1o