Year: 1875

Any time during the session of Congress
one ante room to the Senate Chamber is filled
with females gathered in groups about the
learned law makers or attracting them singlv
Some Of them are wives or daughters of the
Senators, some are strangers visiting at the
Capitol; but the majority is made up OF
women pressing claims before Congress.


To get a better look at these feminine
agents, one must visit the lobby to the rear
Of the Speakers chair in the House of Rep
resentatives. 1t is Il low corridor under the
reporters gallery finished and furnished in
the same florid style peculiar to the entire
building. On the same side are doors OPEN
ing into the hall of the House, on the
other the Speakers private room, orgi-
nally intended for the families of the men,
bers but of late 50 invaded and occupied by
the female lobby that families of members
shun the place, and the Speaker himself is
to see a friend or write note.


Here we find the female lobby in all its
glory. 1t appears clad in the tnts of the
rainbow and fairly dazzles one with its dis
play Of jewery. Some of this is cheap but
most Of it is really costly. To the man of
the world the dress is Il shade TOO vulgar and
the manner slightly too loud and coarse.
Some are young and fresh but the majority
are on the wrong side of forty, with hard
lool; about their faces and lines and tracks
Of tried feelings and past disappointment.


The average Congressman is not Il man of
the world. lie marries before he achieves
greatness, and his knowledge of life is limi-
ted to Il very primitive social condition where
he encountered and wed this plain, homely
little woman who shares his elevation without
adding much to its dignity or grace. When
such mau comes within reach of the more
ordinary specimens of these legislative Deli
lNhs, he is somewhat intoxicated by the at
tention, and votes away vast domains, subsi-
dies and huge monopolies, under the innu-
ence of II sandal wood fan. The study of
the average Congressman from social or
indeed any point of view, is not only of in
tcrest, but important, if we wish to under
stand and appreciate the working Of our free
institutions. Taken from the common walks
of life, he finds himself translated out of 4
little Office where poverty waits on business
and an humble home, barely possessed Of the
ordinary comforts of life to the gorgeous
magniiiccnce of marble palace gorgeous
beyond his widest dreams. As he approach
eS its many entrances, obscquious servants
bend before him and the magic doors swing
ON easy hinges, rs if conscious Of his rights
and privileges; nimble pages obey his slight
est wish and anticipate his needs. His mail
matter suddenly swells to an enormous cx-
tent The average Congressman appreciates
the mail matter, 1t costs him nothing and
indicates his greatness. In the committee
room, where his delegated body reposes in a
velvet cushioned chair, undera ceiling where
gorgeous frescongs weary the eye, he has a
realizing greatness This is not diminished
when the committee, after half an hours la
Dor on public affairs, draws bottle from a
hidden recess Of the heavily carved walnut
closets; bottle with which to refresh their
gigantic minds,


The average Congressman reyels in sta
tioncry. The man who never read book
with Il taste for reading, and regarding pen,
ink and paper as punishmcnts, suddenly
wakens to Il thirst for stationery. He seizes
on hot-pressed satn-surhce, gilt-edged,
French, English and Yankee paper How
he does eye and grasp the snowy envelopes
neatly packed and put up at his disposal
lie makes gcquisition for his stationery
in the House, and sends it to his boarding
house to astonish his wife, In the commit
tee room the clerk, if he is an amiable man,
draws other and further stationery for him,


Much depends upon this. Once the Com
mittee ON Commerce was honored by my
presence as clerk to the same. Some days
after / was duly installed the messenger en-
tered the committee rooms laden with sta
tioncry, in response to my requisition,


"ltere Colonel, said the obliging messen-
ger, clock this up and don't let the Congress
men have any; they waste it so"


But it is when the average Congressman
first comes in contact with the female lobby,
that he realizes his translation, These are
to him refined, fascinating and beautiful
creatures, His poor little homely wife fades