Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-24
From the South
FEMALE oFFICE-BEGGARs.

WASHINGTON, June 7, 1857.
There are some strange scenes, which may smuse
an outsider here in the operations of the Ofce-beg
CARS. There is no rest for their opportunities
They keep a close watch on all the dispensers of
Government bounty. They Waylay them in private
places, and they even besiege them in their homes
Their arts are pretty well known abroad but there
is one feature in their operations that l, stranger
to political manners of Washington, must confess
was not prepared for. This is the large number Of
females employed in the character Of office beggars
Il ia quite little stroke of policy on the part Of the
maculne beggars to avail themselves Of the tender
pleadings and eloquent arts of the softer sex The
fair petitioners show the bachelor President mer
cy; and in the ante-rOOms of some of the Depart
ments, too, you may see any number OF interesting
females, from the ages sixteen to sixty, demurely
waiting to prefer their suits At almost every daily
reception of the Office beggars by Mr.. Buchanan,
there may be observed two old ladies in black
wearing the most mOurnfUl eOuntenances, and keep
ing mOdestly in the corners Of the room, who, you
may be sure, primed for an affecting appeal TO
Mr. Buchanan about the overruling necessities Of
their family matters, which require him TO provide
for some dear husband or hopeful son.
But the ante-room of the Department Of the Inte-
rior somehow or other is especially besieged by the
female Office -beggars; and the accomplished and
amiable manners which peculiarly distinguished Mr.
Thompson in his official station, well as in the
private circle, seem have drawn upon him atten-
gentleman of his gallsntry and frank courtesy. THE
ladies first" is his standing order for al visitors
and there is no exception even for the big politicians
Happening in the other day to see the Secretary,
and while waiting in the ante-room, was amused
at rather elderly lady, who was evidently on an
ofhcs-beggar's errsnd, and who constantly
occupied with wetting her fingers and smoothing
her hair down in front preparatory, suppose TO ap
pearing in the august presence. On a sudden, a
blooming girl of not more than seventeen summers
rushed into the room, sn a.glOw with excitement
and waving, with air Of triumph, folded slip
of foolscap, which she designated to the elderly
lady, who, it appears, her companion, as "her
death warrant" After spelling and titterng over
the aforesaid document, which looked suspiciously
like clerical appointment. the old lady mustered
up courage, and advanced with quite an air Of
pectation into the Secretary's room on her own
Grand In the space of few minutes she returned
in very collapsed state-"Well, what did he say ?"
whispered the young lady. ale was mighty polite,
reped the old one ''but, Lord, that amt nothing"
very good story is told of one of the Cabinet
officers He had just got out Of bed at early hour
in the morning and before commencing his toilette
stepped into his parlor, which adjoined, when he
was suddenly brought up by finding himself face to
face with an interesting female, who Ind been
patiently awaiting him, and who had determined to
be ahead of all the other beggars. There is said
to have been sudden vanishing of the figure in the
ghostly nightshrt, while the lady screamed "mur-
DIRE, Of course at the apparirion. P