Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1876 — The Chairs and Desks of Distinguished Dead Senators. [ARTICLE]

The Chairs and Desks of Distinguished Dead Senators.

Many of the seats occupied by grave and reverend tlnited States Senators have an interesting history which is known by but few, and to none better than the veteran Capt. Isaac Bassett, assistant doorkeeper of the Senate, who has seen forty-nve years of service in his present position. Capt. Baswott, who is a general favorite with the Senators, retains many cherished reminiscences of great men who -have passed away and who formerly occupied seats in the Senate. Among these are Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Thomas Benton and Stephen A. Douglas. The chairs and desks of these distinguished men are still in use in the Senate, for it is a notable fact that, while the furniture of the House of Representatives is frequently changed, that of the Senate, witli the exception of the carpet, remains substantially as it was half a century ago. lt_is true that when a new State haA been" aefifilfted new "chairs and desks have been made fbr the incoming Senators, but they have been invariably fashioned after the old model. Some of the old chairs have also been reupholstered, but most of them have never been repaired, being apparently as good to-day as they were when first placed in the Chamber. The chairs and desks of Cass, Calhoun, Webster, Clay, Douglas and Benton, as has been said, still remain in the Senate Chamber and are in daily use, but exactly which they are or who occupy them at present Capt. Bassett declines to tell, for the reason that if the fact were known relic-hunters would soon mutilate them beyond recognition. Many ofthen chairs and desks have been changed as regards location, but the Captain has made a mental note of every change, and could if he desired point them out at once. It is known, however, that Mr. Ferry’s seat on the floor is the same as that formerly occupied by Senator Sumner.— Washington Star. ■ Tarsus, Asia Minor, rendered famous as the home of Paul the Apostle, was recently visited by a great conflagration, caused by rots gnawiflg matches in a closed store. The grand bazar and other property was destroyed, at a loss of f760,000. The town has a population of 8,000 in summer and 80,000 in winte’—The strength of wood is greatly increased, according to Herr Hern, by immersing it for two or three days in linseed oil, heated to between 80° and centigrade (185° to 212° Fahrenheit respectively.) Nobody was born or married in Monroe, Mass., last year, and there was but one death.