Overture

The galleries were packed--for Congress is always Congress to the citizenry. But it was not a brilliant opening, the overture to the Short Congressional Session of 1924. As political operas go, this one promised nothing sensational in governmental music.

The House, conducted by its soon-departing Speaker, Senator-elect Gillett of Massachusetts, tuned up swiftly with booming, buzzing surges of conversation. Then the prayer. Then the adjournment out of respect for the late Representatives Mudd of Maryland, Little of Kansas, Greene of Massachusetts.

Ten minutes before the gavel, the Senate was deserted save for pages and ushers. When they did come, all came at once. Handshaking proceeded apace, at the doors, down the aisles, over the seats.

Borah of Idaho still wore the air of a preoccupied man. The red carnation of New York's Copeland flashed amiably, urbanely. Came Couzens of Michigan and McNary of Oregon, to colloquize earnestly, apart from the hubbub. The long, black coat and white expanse of waistcoat were Overman's, of North Carolina

Down the centre aisle of the members' gallery, to front seats, Mrs Coolidge led five friends. They were come for the installation of the new Mark Hanna, Butler of Boston. Below, Mr. Butler entered, carefully dressed, alone. Straight to Seat No. 28 went he--third row, fourth from the aisle. Of late, Senator Lodge sat there and the place had been reassigned to McLean of Connecticut. That day, however, McLean had yielded to Butler. Butler sat down, meditated, bowed when "Dave" Walsh came over to explain something about the swearing-in ceremony, meditated on.

The chunky, direct man with Phipps of Colorado was Phipps' new colleague, Rice W. Means. Other new figures were wiry little Mr. Metcalf of Rhode Island; white-headed Deneen of Illinois (who awaits March 4 to take his seat).

After the prayer, heads turned, but that was all, when a front row seat on the centre aisle was filled with a vigorous figure. Fernald of Maine stretched his hand over, rattled off a story to the tardy one. Senator LaFollette, for it was he, laughed aloud. Then, "I'm awfully glad to see you," he said, as his onetime running mate, Wheeler, pressed forward with a warm greeting.