The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-29
MY COLLEAGUES IN THE OFFICE,


nert Of the public service-ciyl service as we
liked Il to be called--and look back to the time
With favor. as one that included some Of the most
ouietlv comfortable days ] have ever spent.
"Tbere is no greater grief than to be mindful, in
tropble. of happiness that is gone forever said .
Francesca to Dante, when she spoke to him in
the second circle Of the Inferno and so l, placed,
since the resignation Of my cerkship, amidst
cares and exctcments which, if more money |
bringing than my old employment, are incompa- |
rably more wearing, look back rom the troubled /
waters in which struggle, to the placid calm in
which j once lay at case.
At the time entered Somerset House I was q
mere lad something under seventeen years; but
the fact that l was 10 receive $50 for the hrst
years service made me feel ike one OF much
larger growth. have yet amongst She few let
ters which l keep g. sacred, one from my Kind
old uncle who had busted himself TO get me the
berth in which he congratulated me on my being,
Rt my then age "indepcndent, and an esquire TO
. boot" This second cause for rejoicing was a
great matter. The thermometer Of my vanity
went suddenly up TO the highest point on the
index; and my kinstOk and acquaintance we're,
no doubt, immensely amused as they saw me
strut, walk stluy, and 80 Ike h5RBi ueAChLelyi III
my new character.
the appointment as my good u Gle did, had been
work OF trouble, though Ae ever regarded It as
A labor OF love There had been much begging
and soliciting, much going about from this mem-
Der to that minister, much that was not congenlal
to proud man, to be done before the concession
was granted. NV uncle had served long aud
faithfully, and had earned the friendship OF many
people worth knowing; but he had at this time
been twelve years the retired list and in order
TO do me the service he desired, II behooyed him
20 address men who had taken office when he was
thinking OF leaving it, men who did not know
him-tO drag his own services aud merits into
the light--tO him a truly haelul task-and to So
-, ,sbf9 oh fIfl nf n Fauy
wears back weuld have conceded as right
The request was granted, however, snd l
"ioined" as soon as the official letter came an
nouucing my appointment. Those were days
before the Civil Service Commissioners were set
70 work, when a bit of patronage was something
really worth bestoWing not being clogged with
the drawbacks OF an inqui>tfon into ones
"acComp mplishmeuts." To bc sure, there was sort
of inquiry into what we could do, akin TO that
which frightened their senses out OF candidates
for the naval service, before the foundation or
the Naval College. The sucking admiras were
obliged to answer questions rs to their age, the
influence through which they had been nOmi-
mated, and their espabillty OF spelling Gro ) K
yard icross-ia Yard, was questioned by the
head of the department, or rather, as remem-
her by the chief clerk, upon the two first points
and in lieu Of the third, which might be deemed
foreign to my duty, was asked II l could read
and write and, answering in the ahirnative, was
admitted to benefit Of clergy without being put
to proof. -,-,.
haps all that was warranted by the nature OF the
work had TO perform. The fact that Sir Charlie.
- had given me the appointment was guar.
antee sufficient for my breeding and social status
and the educational testify which was tried e
was, as l now think, ample TO insure an ehclen
person to do the work which was allotted u me
have nothing to say against the hlgh Commls
sion which now selects the public servants rom {
given number of nominees. It's creation may D'
a necessary concession to the greater genera
knowledge which boys nowadays are said q
possess. 1t may be right TO make sharpness, il
answering questions on several branches o
knowledge, the criterion 10 which all sspirants q
public employment should be brought. All
have TO observe is that an interor order or men
that is TO say inferior in point OF manners an'
social standing, is let into the public service thar
used TO be the case and that my experience con
Vnces me that this great sharpness in the man
agement of examination papers, Is not shown tC
advantage in the copying OF letters or the caStnI
up OF to,als. . or,
directly in consequence of the first; but | fanc
il is loser by the second, which is said to be II
gain The yauduisher of several competitors /
90 a struggle for place, is apt, oy virtue OF veg
MS victory, 70 think himself qualified for hlghe
things than those he is set to work on 10 Decom
dissatisfied because his powers are not recognize
and rewarded with higher place and higher pay
and TO make the interests OF tHe service suOserV
his own whilst he looks out for some othe
employment where he fances he will shine NOR
brilliantly. This at least is the suggestion OF m
experience-perhaps of my prejudlce-on whc
The head Of my department, Sir Thomas Doc
was man whose style ana manner were ol "a
proper official type. Dignlueu, Dut not super Z
iious firm and deliberate of Speech decided DI
courteous in action, he was much respected by u
members OF the Board, and had great AlenC
over them, which he used Denehcenty ior u
good of those under him. lie had invented
machine for improving the means OF cOOktn
aboard ship; had suggested some alterations
the construction of life buoys and was introduce
II not inventor, of certain KIND or luel {
which small coal could be NJ lied, and stowal
could be saved in coal-bunks. He WAS, beside
an excellent administralOT-altOgether most
man for his place, and a very valuable puhl
servant. His government Of The department W
equal and generally respected. He earned an
had tie honor due 10 those who do thorough
whatsoever their hands find to do--those VINO
upon the time-approyed principle of "sweating {
duty not for hire" We wer, all much please
as At an honor done tOOurs Ives, when tue riODC
of the Bath was given to him on his retremeI
after ify years of service; We were all sorry,
men who love friend, when we heard that
was dead.
well remember the day on which l fiji
"ioiued After the eXercitaIlOns under the CHI
clerk, of which l have already spoken, al
which, including the two hours | had TO wa
before the chlei clerk could attend TO me, Oroug
the Cay 10 the iag end OF morning; the clerk
whose branch was RENTED 5or duty, told Il
there was no need TO begin work that day, az
BIDDING me attend at the Office by ten next NOR
ing, sent me away for the res or the afternoon.
sIr1nge sort Of fortune has waited on Il
from my birth. Dividing the events Of life In
three classes, major, minor, and minim, my 10
tune has always favored ne in the few wh
rank among the first, and has invariably cross
me in respect Of the many IN the last two. a
unlucky in tribes the small matters which,
they go wrong, are more diH ult 10 endure tn
great troubles. happen % 80 out just beto
some one | am most anxious TO see calls up
me. People upon whose arrangements ha