Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-20
a PAINTING FROM REAL LIFE.
That all that is sent abroad from Wasl

In9tOn Dy lctter-WIitOiS ioi "iN I,
is not gospel, and that some OF 1t is hardy
credible, is certainly true. But one meets
occasionally, in distant newspapers, sketch
es which, SO far from being mere lnven-
tions. or even exaggerations of fact are llfe-
like pictures of scenes the truthfulness OF
which will be attested by all who have been
placed in circumstances to observe and re-
mark their leading traits. A letter OF this
cbaracter now lies before us. However
tempted by descriptions of one or two lndl,
vidual cases, the features OF which would
be Immediately recognised by many, we Sc
Ilect. as both instructive and interesting, the
following general view of class of cases
which whoever has lived as long at Wash
ington, as we have, cannot but have known
frequent instances.
The caption to this Letter, published O.
riginally in the Natchez Courier, is, 'Etch-
ings; or series of Letters from an Amer
ican Tourist travelling in the United States.
addressed to Southerner at home ), and
bears the date of Washington. The follow
ing extract is offered to our readers as
sample of it:-.Nat. I'M.
If you were ever in Washington not long
after the commencement OF an Admlnlstra-
ton, YOU will not forget the army or armies
of office hunters that thronged the avenues,
crowded the lobbies, crammeG the anterooms
of the Secretaries of the Departments, and
literally besieged the President in his own
castle, the White House.
The scenes in the vestibules and ante
rooms of the Secretaries in these ofice-seek-
ing times are very rich and very humiliat-
ing. For instance, Mr.. John Smith, a man
of fine feelings, and respectable citizen
in his own town comes up to get if he can,
the appointment of a one thousand dollar
post office. He is backed by 'all his friends
has letters from Col. Bull, who once shook
hands with the President, and from Saul
Sykes Esq, who once rode in the stage
with the Presidents mother from Hon.
Peter Parsley, who was once Represen-
tative in Congress, and had been presented,
with fifty others, to his Excellency in the
east room at levee, and reminds him OF it
in his letter; and perhaps letter from Mrs.
Brimble, as an ex-Senator's lady, to the
lady of the President.
! Armed thus Mr.. John Smith deems him.
self irresistible. He expects to carry all
before him. He alights from the cars in
Washington, and looks round upon the
crowd with patronizing eye. He orders
a hack with an emphasis. He commands
a room at Gadsby's. He the next day
walks among the big bugs as big bug as
they. He delivers his letters. He finds
the Presidents lady is out, and gives it to
the porter. He has not been week in
Washington, at three dollars and half a
day at Gadsby's, before he learns the late
lesson, that in Washington letters of intro
duction are matters of course and, like
every thing else which are matters OF
course are esteemed worthless. No body
reads or notices them. They prove moth
ing. Two words with an honorable Sena-
tor or honest Representative from the ap-
plicant's part of the country President or
Secretary thinks more of than mailbag
of letters of introduction The man who
goes without one is more likely to succeed
than he who depends on them. would
sooner trust man who carried his charac-
ter in his face rather than in his pocket.
Mr.. Smith having delivered his letters
and especially that to the President, goes
at the reception hour to the White Hose to
see him. The President usually receives
; men on business from ten to one. During
these three hours the ofice-seekers throng
the hall and out chamber to his room, each
waiting in his turn for it is first come first
served Mr.. John Smith, having made his
way to the landing, finds it filled with peo-
ple. like depot platform waiting for the
train. Some of the men pace up and down
rapidly at every turn, casting their eager
glances at shut door, outside of which
stands servant with his hands filled with
cards; for each visiter as he came up hand
ed his card till the attendant holds pile
of fifty, laid in regular order. Mr.. Smith
has come late, he has delayed to be more
than usually particular about his toilet and
his card made the ffty-frst; that is fifty
men have got to have audience before ms
turn comes. But he is yet innocent of this
fact (but he learns it by heart by and BY
He now bows respectfully to the waiter, and
asks him why he does not announce him
by going in and telling the President he is
waiting. The President is engaged, an
swers the man rather shortly. Before Mr..
Smith can say more he is hustled away by
seventeen gentlemen, each anxious to know
when his own turn is coming. They hear,
and go pacing up and down again. What
noise Full one hundred boots tramping
up and down IN ceaseless footballs. Men
cant sit still waiting in suspense. They
must keep in motion. Mr.. Smith thinks he
never saw so much walking. Hardly two
gentlemen walked in pairs. Every man
seemed to pace up and down alone, and to
be shy of his neighbor. Doubtless all were
strangers to each other, and felt the pres
ence of the rest interfered with their own
prospects of audience. Mr.. Smith thought
they all wore scowl and had sheepish
look. After waiting an hour he begins to
feel sheepish himself He feels it is be-
meath his dignity to be dancing attendance
this way-he, a free American. He has
seen score admitted one by one. 1t is fast
approaching one o'clock. He sees man
about to go in his turn, when three mem
bers of Congress appear, and the man is
gently put back, and the members admitted
why is tllisf he tiercely demands. Mem
bers of Congress always take precedence oi
all who go in by card, sir, answered the at
tendant. Mr.. Smith sighs at this new OBJ
stacle. His fancy conceives continued
procession of M. C.'s calling on the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Smith goes away at one o'clock
his card the thirty-fourth on the list. Come