Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-09
OPTICAL HEADS.
Authors, Poets, and Journalists Among

DEPARTMENT CLERKS AND THEIR
OPTICAL HEADS.
Authors, Poets, and Journalists Among
Them.
The Washington correspondent, sJudson,"
Of the Raleigh, N. q, Standard, gives the fol.
lowing on. hand sketches Of the Department
Clerks in this city, and Of certain literary
characters among them:
The Washington Department CLERK has
fallen somewhat into disrepute within the last
few years, not through any fault OF his own
perhaps, but from causes over which he hsd no
control, and with which he had nothing to do
The agitation Of the twenty per cent. bill did
not serve to throw around him much honor or
popularity. Greely, in his sinewy English,
branded HIM as poor wretch who could not
the government. In any other walk of life.
Poor old Thad stevens on the other hand was
his warm friend and companion. 1t cannot be
denied that Greely's assertion is in part true
bat there are men in the public service of the
government in this city who would do honor
to any profession, and compared with whom
tne men who seek to throw contempt upon them
sink into the merest pigmies. For few persons,
In making the tour OF the departments,
ever imagine that in passing through marble
and frescoed halls, they not unfrequently jos
tie against dozens Of men, the bare mention of
whose names would occasion surprise acd
awaken the desire for q nearer look into their
faces. have long had the wish, bat nes er the
time, to make the necessary enquiries to enable
me to tell you the names, the appearances, con-
dition, &C., OF the leading literary men at pres.
ent occupying government positions in Wash
inGfon. l have feared the task a greater one
than Is usually undertaken in the hasty and
inadequate labor Of daily journalism. The de-
partments are full of persons who have in some
way been connected with the press, either
copy boys, reporters, proof readers, correspon-
dents, or editors; there are poets and historians
essay lists and book writers, ,magaznists and DO.
hemians. As have not the time, nor you the
space to tell you all. / will only speak of
tn ma IN. iuht
Inc Cabinet has two members who have
le1ched more or less distinction as writers.
Mr. Seward, although having done little lately
which would give him literary eminence, has,
nevertheless, written much for the press which,
at the time Of publication, was every where re.
ceiyed with favor. His letters from abroad,
written during long and varied tour, in 1859,
over Europe and IN the Holy Land, were
master pieces in their way-presenting IN good
English, the most lifs.like home pictures of
-piaces, persons and manners, from the point of
view not only OF an American citizen, but Of
man OF the world also. believe the Secretary
has also written a lite Of John Quincy Adams.
Secretary Welles Is an old newspaper editor.
He writes forcible Anglo Saxon, and was, /
believe, generally regarded in his State as a
good political and general writer. His As
sistant Secretary, Mr.. Faxon, is also an old
newspaper man. He was last winter elected
an honorary member OF the Washington Cor.
respondents Club. ..s..
Fred. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State,
was for many years the principal editor, under
He was not brought up in newspaper office.
but was one Of the best newspaper writers in
me- ssS county ~ With his father and Thurlow
ling legislation in Albany.
Walt. Whitman, the best abused man ir the
country, is sixteen hundred dollar clerk in
the attorney Generals Office. His position is
responsible one, but he yet finds time to keep
posted on matters in the literary world He
looks more like thoughtful mechanic or
6oatman than like grand poet or capable
ma h,eh h,sr
almost white, grows wild about his neck and
face, and though his appearance is wieId and
unusual, he always attracts shy children and
shrinking natures, and to know him Is to love
him. He has a wide brimmed SLOUGH, thrown
back on his head, presenting face so large and
sunburnt, with yet so much OF gentieness in il,
that It Is never forgotten, even by those whom
he chances TO meet in the streets II you are
walking with a friend who sees Walt. for the
first time, his first exclamation is, ssSee that
man! Who is he!' In conversation he may be
called listener, rather than q talker. After
you have known him for five minutes, I'll
warrant you will be talking to him more freely
than you ever talked TO your sweetheart.
You have an instinct that whatever you say
ne will understand you, and know your
motives, while he catches your meaning
and when he looks upon you, with his
that he is your best friend, and that you can
tell him everything. If you pass him quickly
by you may think his looks are gross and
coarse; but his nature is as fine as child's, his
sympathy almost unnatural, II is so strong,
and his charity for all man kind is wonderful.
1 have known Walt Whitman something like
six years, and have known him intimately.
In all that time have never heard bawdy
expression pass his lips. never heard him
swear. l have never seen him angry. have
never known MIN to take a drink. In his pri.
would not have thought so from his Leaves
of Grass would you7 Yet, il anybody takes
Walt Whitman for an original puritan, he is
mistaken; he is not prude. He does not hold
m N QV0Sa a nnlsa
who do not maintain his standard of morals
He is not eternally talking to you for the good
OF your soul. He asks about your wife and
babies, he speaks Of a mutual friend, or Of
books and newspapers, or OF public men, or
buildings, Just like other people. He is always
finding out the good points in a persons
a man. II he knows the weak points in an.
other, he does not tell you Of them. He may
wipe them out entirely before he gets done with
him, but he never tells you of it. He has never
alone when not in the house. seldom see HIM
in the street accompanied by friends; but If you
60 down to the wharf, or over to the canal,
you may see him standing alone ON the bank.
watching the men at work, with his hands IN
his coat pockets. You may see him on a street
car, talking with the driver in front, and Offer
ing him "a a chew chew OF tobacco S although hon he es-
at the hospital, holding, perhaps, child's
hand In his own, or he will be distributing
funny books and papers among the patients.
and escape from eternal fire. He knows too
well that such things will not be read by the
majority Of the patients.
But fear have run wild and forgotten the
purpose had when began this letter. will
hurry through. Walt II call him Walt because
he always call his friends by their first names,
and 1t would appear queer enough TO call him
Mr. WhItman.) Walt Is doing little literary
work now. He OCCASIONALLY furnishes an arti.
Gle for q foreign magazine He has a warmer
appreciation in Europe than he has at home
His Leaves Of Grass" has recently been pub.
lished by one Of the hest houses in London in
fine style, and is, believe, having good sale
w. u. O'Connor, poet, tale writer, a mag.
aZinist, and don't know what else. is an eigh.
tee n hundred dollar clerk in the Light House
Bureau. He was, It its best days, the editor
of the Saturday Evening Post Of philadelphia.
He is yet young man, not much beyond thir.
ty, and does literary work to support himself
with the aid of his salary. He is married and
has children.
X. s. Chiffon Is one of the principal clerks
in the State Department. He has also spent
much time amongst books, manuscript, and
'sscopy."
"Florence Percy" the poetess, ,cas one of the
lady clerks in the War Department, but is now
married. MRS. Allen,) and is a resident Of
Richmond.
The poet Plerpoint was Government clerk
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