American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-06-20
Correspondence f"7Ae South"
FEMALE GFFICE.BEGGARS.
WAsHINGTON, June 7, 1857

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There arc some strange scenes, which,
may amuse an outsider here, in the
operations ofthe ofiice-beggars There
Is no rest for their importunities. They
keep close watch on all the dispen.
sers OF Government bounty. They
waylay them in private places, and they
even besiege them in their hcmes.-
Their arts are pretty well know abroad;
but there is one feature in their opera :
lions that |, stranger to political man.
ne's OF Washington, must confess | was
not prepared for. This is the large
number OF females employed in the
character of office-beggars. 1t is quite
a little stroke of policy on the part of
the masculine beggars To avail them
selves OF the tender pleadings and el-
oquent arts of the softer sex. The fair
petitioners show the bachelor President
no mercy; and in the ante.rooms of
some OF the Departments, too, you
may see any number of intere sting fe.
males, from the ages Of sixteen to six.
ty, demurely waiting to prefer tn cir
snlts. At almost every daily reception
OF the office beggars by MIR. BUCHANAN,
lhere may he observed one or two old
ladies in black. wearingth most mourn.
iui conntenances. and keeping modest
~ IN the corners of the room, who,
yon may be sure, are primed for an
affecting appeal to Mr.. BUCHANAN about
the overruling necessities of their fam.
lily matters, which require him to pro-
vide for some dear husband or hopeful
son.
But the anteroom ofthe Department
of the Interior, somehow or other, ia
especially besieged by the female office
beggars; and the accomplished and am
liable manners which peculiarly distin-
guished Mr.. THOMPSON in his official
station, as well as in the private circle,
seem to have drawn upon him atteu.
'ions which must be embarrassing
enough even to gentleman of his gall
lantry and frank courtesy. The la
dies first" is his standing order for all
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-loom, | was
amused at rather elderly lady. who
was evidently on an office. .beggar's er.
rand, and who was constantly occupied
with wetting her fingers and smoothing
her hair down in front, preparatory, /
suppose, to appearing in the august
presence. On a sudden, a blooming
girl of not more than seventeen sum.
mers, 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 elderiy
lady, who, it appears, was her compan,
ion, as "her death warrant After
spelling and iit;ering over the aforesaid
document. which looked suspiciously
like clerical appointment, the old la
dy mustered up courage, and advanced
with quite an air Of expectation into
The Secretary's room on her own erraDd.
In The space ofa few minutes, she re-
turned in very collapsed state Well
what did he sayp whispered the young
lady. He was mighty politeb" replied
the old one; "but, Lord, that ain't
nothing"
A very good story is told of one of
the Cabinet officers. He had Just got
out of bed at an early hour in the morn.
1ng' and before commencing his toilette
stepped into his parlor which adioiued,
when ne was suddenly brought up by
finding himself face to face with an in.
teres,ing female, who had been patient
~ awaiting him, and who had deter.
mined to be ahead Of all the other
office beggars. There is said to have
been sudden vanishing of the figure
in the ghostly nigh'shrt, while the la.
dy screamed "murder," of course, at
tho apparition. Z.