Jeff Davis' Desk

One of the guides at the capítol, Washington, the other day said that he hoped that "before Captain Bassett, 'the watchdog of the senate,' dies he will teil somebody which one of the desks it was which Jefferson Davis occupied when he was a member of the senate. Bassitt is the only one that knows, and he will not teil for fear visitors will clip off splinters for souvenirs. During the war a lot of soldiers got into the chamber and stuck their bayonets into the desk, and I reckon they thought they'd make kindIing wood of it. But old Captain Bassett goes to work and patches it aJl up with screws and putty and varnish Uil it looks like any other old desk in the chamber. I know for certain that some mighty influential senators have tried to get the secret out v of the old man, but they might as well talk to the Goddess of Liberty on top of the dome as to get him to teil which is Jefi Davis' seat."