Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-12-27
Femsie Clerks at Washington--i Rsey De.
seription by Mrs, SyiSsheIui.

In an account of the character of fe-
male clerks in the Washington Depart
rnents, Mrs Swisshelm draws a rich de-
scliption of certain specimens IN the fol-
lowing style:
Some Honorable Senator or Represen-
alive has female friend without visible
means of support. He gets her place.
and she makes her appearance, perhaps =
lit piece Of painted impertincnce, who
might have been slowed away IN the cata-
combs in the DAYS of the PEaraohs for all
one can tell of her age, but who studious-
lv assumes the airs Cf a miss ofsi1teen-
Her wrinkles are filled out with pipe clay or
some other light colored mud her eye
brows are made of black lead or lamp-
/ black, or something in that line her hair
Is dyed until it is dead enough to satisfy
any respectable undertaken of the pronrie-
ty of burial; and one wonders that she
does not add setting Of green leaves to
the magenta-colored roses on her thin
checks She comes tripping in on the toes
of her infnitesimal CATERS, gets off her
things, and displays a head which re
minds one of drop chandelier trimmed
for ball and undergoing the process of
busting, while her pins chains, bracelets,
frilis, and other fxings would set up a
tin-bOx pedd ar in trade She establish
es herself at her table, opens her basket,
gets out her beads and goes to counting
and strlngIng; lone, two, three, four
and then a large one one, two, three
four, and then knot; for vou see she Is
philanthropist, and kindly instructs the
lady at the next table IN the mysteries of
this becoming and Iadv-Iike employment
The superintendent gets fdcetv,7 and brings
this interesting toiler in life's workshop a
piece Of writing to copy. The lady looks
injured, and as the superintendent IS, of
course, Southern gentleman, who has
been selected for that place with special
reference to his amiabilitv, he feels like
"a horrid" wretch The dainty little
I hand takes up the pen and the dainty
! little brain keeps on lone, two, three,
( four, and . large One-one, two three,
! four. and loop Loop Yes. Beg
pardon! l said knot" but it is " loop,"
which comes after the second four.
! The writing finished. it is sent off by
1 a messenger. and presently n clerk ap-
pears with it in his hand. He looks
/ weary, has found n mistake, and IL direc-
tel to the little bead-monger, who drops
her hands in her lap and her head on her
/ left shoulder, cocks her right eve at him
/ like canary making demonstrations
about the weather, saws something silly,
/ and the n-or man hag;ns Ia scratch his
( Fnad The conferancn lasts some time
I The man refirns hafied and SWEARING
( g not loud. but 6eep." the other ladies ex
I change glances and smiles. or perhaps see
. uorhing wrong. while not one begins 10
. oomrrphcnd the dcep damnation of the
whole affair. or to know that then and
\ there every woman in the room felt Hat,
+ and richly deserved 50 70 feel
/ Another, pure as New England frost,
" bright as n hutton active as n bee, does
as much work IN y month and does II as
A-weii any man in the department, bat
( her book - wanted FOR retnr'nre. she
+ wants 70 surprise some friend with nalr
Of socks for rrH baby: and while her
{ hook j. gone whips out her knitting and
/ roes nimI,lv to work Some clerk comes
intn the room, goes ont and reports that
( the women in that room do nothing but
/ knit
Still another comes sailing in about
na'T uast nine q clock, GETS off her 0rars.
Sinks into her chair with the air Of = vii
low wand cracked In the middle: Iancui6-
lv ask some one 10 call arvant. sends
I sarI sa~va--- v-ith hor co,r, i74on+e 10 }hp
head Of the bureau fo. the loan of hfS
narer roads i IeisureIv with a runninr
comment. loud enough to he beard ~
over that room and m the ono adjoining.
en- the houses 10 r,nt. the late apnofnt-
mcnfs and removals. tells who rufIt the
/ hoasc Cor sale on spcn = street. and xha
lived IN II at su.b a timo. Gives ~, in
yen-orv Of tboir furniture and history Of
their family in IT'S lateral and collateral
+ branches. finds who is dead and who
married. and dos ~ rancb for their con.
t oalo,riaaI trnee harins writinr at 1OI
{ hat keens IN the stream of small talk un-
+ tiI some other lady i tbraurb with her
/ ,,,r,,;,,,, ,,o,,o- -, - Gods +ho+
cots ssve-ol rav taxte and COOS on with
IL. ,or,roortorv rpt;l D ~ d orc1oeL
,,ho, -, w., on, ,r;tL her dav's
+ I,Lor sba crdcor,II,- ~at;~es or conrsc
/ sba i one Of those favored nortoIs who
I can trace some root of their familv tree
1 bact to some ono of those axcallant No
MOI, vxbo COMO :, tho oI8 Doninio,, ORIG
! ;raI}r osaxcbop,,a ror tobacco and whose