Vidal Gore — Eighteen Seventy [2292]

I AM SITTING in the press gallery of the House of Representatives. Despite the crowding, I am fairly comfortable and able to write without too much difficulty. All the galleries are filled. Most of the Senate has converged on the floor of the House; senators are sitting, standing, leaning. The whole country is waiting for Blaine’s speech. — Vidal Gore, Eighteen Seventy, 2292

Note

The opening line establishes a personal and immediate perspective, drawing the reader into the tense atmosphere of the House of Representatives. The descriptive details create a vivid scene, indicating the significance of the moment about to unfold.