wers.

The vestibule of the Senate post office is particularly picturesque,
having over the post office door a large painting of Fulton,
indicating his first steamboat, "The Claremont," passing the palisades
of the Hudson.

A stairway leads on up to the main floor, where corridors completely
extend around the Senate chamber, which occupies the center of its
wing. Here the ceiling, in contrast with the one of the House, is
flat, with broad panels of glass, painted with emblems of the army,
the navy and the arts. The walls are of marble, paneled, the doors of
choice mahogany, the carpet green, which sets off well the mahogany
desks of quaint pattern. Each desk bears a silver plate with the
occupant's name engraved upon it.

"Do the Republicans sit on the left of the Speaker here, and the
Democrats on the right, as in the House?" questioned Alfaretta, very
proud of herself for having remembered what had been told her in the
other room.

"Yes, but there is no Speaker in the Senate," answered Mr. Ludlow.

"Who is it, then, that uses that beautifully carved high backed chair
on that little platform there?" asked Dorothy.

"The president of the Senate is the Vice-President of the United
States," said Mrs. Calvert, smiling and thinking that the girls ought
to know more about these things, for they were shockingly lacking in
knowledge of all the fundamental principles of the workings of the
government.

"Who are all these statues of?" asked Alfaretta, pointing to the
niches in the walls.

"These are statues of all the vice-presidents," answered Mrs. Calvert
again.

"Outside here are many interesting things that you will all like to
see," said Mr. Ludlow. "To the right here is the famous portrait of
Washington, and opposite, one of John Adams."

"Is that Benjamin Franklin?" inquired Ruth, looking at a large marble
statue at the foot of the eastern staircase, when they had passed
through the door situated between the two portraits.

"Yes, and the picture on the wall of the stair landing is a very
famous one. It is of Commander Perry at the battle of Lake Erie. Perry
is seen transferring himself and his flag from his sinking flagship
'Lawrence' to the 'Niagara,' when he won that great victory. This
transfer was made under fire. Perry's younger brother, Matthew, then a
midshipman, is depicted here as entreating his brother and commander
not to expose himself too recklessly," said Mr. Ludlow in the way of
explaining t