What's old is new

From the New York Tribune December 4, 1855 (page 4, column 2)...

DOINGS IN CONGRESS

Senate, Dec 3- The Senate met at 12 o'clock and after swearing in such members as were present and fixing the hour of meeting at noon, adjourned.

House, Dec 3- The House met at 12 o'clock and the Clerk, John W. Forney, calling to order. Two hundred twenty-five members answered to their names. The first business being the election of a speaker, the House proceeded to vote. After three ballots without an election, the House adjourned. 

One hundred thirty ballots later, on February 2, 1856; Nathanial P. Banks was elected Speaker of the House.