Barry Wynn; Or, The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States CongressBarton, George
General
Barry Wynn; Or, The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States Congress
Barton, George
Capitol pages -- Fiction; Political fiction; United States. Congress -- Fiction
To make certain that he would obtain exactly what he wanted, the
Congressman gave Barry a memorandum containing the name of the volume
desired. Ordinarily, when a member desires to obtain a book from the
Library of Congress, he utilizes a device for transporting books
between the library and the Capitol. It is a pneumatic tube running from
the library to a small receiving room just back of Statuary Hall. Books,
as a rule, are obtained very expeditiously in this manner, but Mr.
Carlton was so anxious that there should be no error that he decided to
send Barry personally to the Librarian of Congress.
The boy hurried on his errand and in a few minutes was in the library.
He presented the memorandum to the official in charge, and in a few
minutes had obtained the book that was desired. While he was waiting, he
gazed about the building with wondering eyes. It was the first visit
that he had made to this beautiful structure, and he readily believed
the assertion of one of the attendants that it was the handsomest
building for public purposes in the world. After he had obtained the
book for Mr. Carlton, he walked through the labyrinth of beauty, gazing
with wide-open eyes on the treasures of art and sculpture that met him
at every turn. Imaginary figures of History, Science, and Art stood out
at every point in the long corridors and galleries. It was so well
lighted and ventilated that the boy felt that he was in a bookish
Paradise.
After going through the galleries he finally went into the library
proper and gazed at many of the curiosities of literature that abounded
in that place. He was examining a copy of Eliot's Indian Bible,
published in Cambridge in 1669, when the striking of a clock aroused him
to a realization of the business that had brought him to the library. He
remembered, with a pang of remorse, that Mr. Carlton was probably still
waiting for the book that he had under his arm.
He hastened back to the House. As he entered through one of the swinging
doors he noticed that Jesse Hudson was on his feet.
"Now," he was saying, "if the gentleman from Maine is ready to produce
the proof of the assertion that he made earlier in the day, I would like
to have it."
Carlton arose from his seat in an apologetic manner.
"I am sorry to say that I have not yet secured the data I wanted."
Hudson, who was still standing, sneered at his adversary:
"Probably," he said, "it is because there is no such data!"
"Gentlemen, you will please refrain from indulging in personalities,"
warned the Speaker. "The question before the House is on the motion of
the gentleman from Illinois. All in favor will please say 'Aye.'"
A roar of "Ayes" came from the members of the House.
The echo had scarcely died out when a voice from the corner could be
heard:
"I move that the House do now adjourn."
"The members have heard the motion," said the Speaker. "All in favor of
adjournment will please say 'Aye.'"
There was a roar of "Ayes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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