Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-06-17

FEMALE OFFICE REaGAps.-An ungallar
correspondent ofthe Richmond South, writin
from Washington under date of the 18th ins
says:
Ihere are some strange scenes, which may q
iiluse IN outsider here, in the operations of th
once oeggars. There is no rest for their impor
Guhities. they keep close watch on all tn
dispensers OF Government bounty. They way
lay tnem IN their homes. Their arts are prett
wen known abroad, but there is one feature il
tnelr operations that |, stranger to the politca
manners OF Washington, must confess 7 was no
prepared for. This is the large number of fe
males employed in the character of office Beg
CARS IL Is quite little stroke Of policy on tn,
parC OF the softer sex. The fair petitioners show
the bachelor President no mercy; and in thu
ante rooms OF some of the Departments too, YOU
may see any number OF interesting females
IRON the ages OF sixteen to sixty demurely wait
ing to prefer their suits. At almost every dali
" reception OF the Office beggars by Mr.. Buch
anan, there may be observed one or two old la
dies IN black, wearing the most mourntul coun
tenalnces and keeping modestly in the corner;
OF ohe room, who, you may be sure, are primed
Tor an effectual appeal to Mr.. Buchanan about
the overrullng necessities of their family mat
tiers which require him to provide for some dear
husband or hopeful son.
But the ante-rpom of the Department of the
Interior, somehow or other, is especially besieg-
ed by the female office beggars and the accom-
plished and amiable manners which peculiarly
distinguish Mr.. Thompson in his official station,
as we'll as IN the private circle, seem to have
drawn upon him(attenticns which must be en-
barrassing enough even to a gentleman of his
on1 fpan MI - ai.
is his standing order for all visitors and there is
no exception even for the big politicians. Hap
pening in the other day to see the Secretary, and
while waiting IN the ante-room, | was a.
amused at rather elderly lady, who was con-
stantly occupied with wetting her fingers and
smoothing her hair down in front, preparatory,
| suppose to appearing in the august presence
On sudden, a blooming girl of not more than
seventeen summers, rushed into the ROOM all
a glow with excitement, and waving, with an
air of triumph, folded slip of foolscap, which
she designated to the elderly lady, who, it ap-
pears was her companion, as ''her death-war-
rant" After spelling and tittering over the a.
foresaid document, which looked suspiciousy
like clerical appointment, the old lady muster
ed up courage, and advanced with quite an air
Of expectation in the Secretary's room on her
own errand. In the space Of few minutes she
returned in a very collapsed state-"Well what
did he say?" whispered the young lady. "He
was mighty polite" replied the old one, "but
Lord, that amt nothing"
A very good story is told of one of the Cabi-
net officers. He had just got out of bed at an
early hour in the morning, and before commence
ing his toilette stepped into his parlor, which
adjoined, when he suddenly brought MP by find
ing himself face to face with an interesting fe-
male, who had been patiently awaiting him,
and had determined to be ahead of all the office
beggars. There is said to have been sudden
vanishing of the figure in the ghostly nightshirt,
while the lady screamed murder" of course, at
the apparition,