Curtis to Pages

With paternal benignity, into the ears of 16 Senate pages (average age: 12) gathered around a turkey-laden table in the basement of the Capitol, last week rolled these words:

"I want to urge you, each and every one, to study the various Senators. Every man in the Senate has earned his way and is not in the Senate by chance. . . . I suggest that you study each and every Senator; you are sure to find traits in every one that you will find helpful. . . . Do your work well and promptly. . . . You will find that each and every Senator is deeply interested in your work. You may think sometimes their calls are a little sharp but you must remember they are all busy and in their hearts they all have a friendly feeling for you. . . . I hope each and every one of you may be happy in the years to come. . . ."

The speaker: Charles Curtis, President of the Senate, Vice President of the U. S. The occasion: the Christmas dinner the Vice President traditionally gives Senate pages. For his hospitality, they presented him, as a Kaw Indian, with a beribboned tomahawk instead of the usual gavel. As a onetime jockey who still steals off to the races, Vice President Curtis grinned roundly when one page recited "How Salvator Won."*

Particularly pleased were the pages to be reassured of the friendly feeling of sharp-calling Senators. On the floor, pages are summoned from their perches on the rostrum steps by various forms of hand noises. Senator Simmons of North Carolina has distracted more than one speaking Senator by a resounding clap of his hands over his head. His colleague Senator Overman summons aid as if he were applauding at a play. Senator Norris' finger-snap is more of a gesture than a sound. Senator Borah rarely uses a page. As a Senator from Kansas, Vice President Curtis himself perfected a sort of crapshooting style of finger-snapping that was the envy of younger Senators.

*Salvator, famed race horse, won the Lawrence Realization (three-year-olds) in 1889, also 15 other races, $113,710 prize money.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.