Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-04-16

they are here, and it makes them dishon-
est. Why, there's old Blank, OF. the
bureau he has been sepulchred down
here for a term of years, and has taken
to stealing. He's perfect old thief
and doesn't know himself how much he's
stolen. His chances were so good, that
they have led him even beyond his orig
inol intentions. 'But there's the agri-
cultural bureau which we had recent
ly visited, "that is flooded with light, is
cheerful and elegant in its surroundings,
aud you never hear of dishonesty there
nor could you find ground for breath
of suspicion in the humblest of its en-
ployes." The treasury building is cher
ry enough, and has many fine architec-
tural effects, but it shuts off a view of
the White House from any much fre-
quented point. After the first edifce,
of dirty looking brick, was burned, in
Jackson's time, the old man went out
one day to choose new site, and set his
cane down exactly where he wished the
corner stone to be placed So that he is
responsible for obscuring the presidential
mansion. But, until the home of our
chief magistrate can be one of more i'm
posing beauty, its concealmentis is no great
matter.
There is very little love lost between
the department clerks and the clerks of
the congressional committees, for the rea
son that many of the latter are also jour-
nalists, and have written down the TWEEN
ty per cent additional compensation"
Of course they have done this from fair
motives-but the clerks do not consider
it exactly in that light, and fret under it
exceedingly. Many of the correspon-
dents add pleasant little sum to their
monthly incomes by their clerkly duties,
and are of great service. Ben Perley
Poore, of the Boston journal, for in
stance, is clerk of the Senate committee
on printing ; Painter, of the Philadel-
phia Inquirer and New York Sun, of the
House committe on post roads !; Van,"
of so long and valuable a connection
with the New England press, clerks it
for the House committee on elections
Mr. Crounse, of the New York Times,
for the House committee on banking and
currency Dom Piatt," Of the Cincin-
natl Commercial, for the committee on
the District of Columbia, and so on
Some of these places are sinecures, or
come within an ace of deserving that
name, and give the correspondent ele-
CANT lounging places !; while others re-
quire much labor. But they are not
misused more than are the positions in
the departments. Some one must occu-
py each place; and if work is not fur
nished for him, it is not his fault.
But some places in which correspon-
dents move are misused; now and then
grievously. Let writer for, or rather
telegrapher to, the daily press, assume
sufficient cheek-and he can make large
sums of money in Washington. Such
an infinite deal of dirty lobbying as has
to be effected, to satisfy worldliness, and
the newspapers can. contribute immense
ly to its success. Only hint is neces-
/ sary. 81 think he will be the right man
5 for you or twenty-five dollars, judi
ciously invested, will procure So-and-
Sos services" A correspondent can say
, this great many times before he gets
: accused of being lobbyist; and the
temptation comes alike to large and
} small fry. To the credit of journalism
be it known that few men who have
achieved regulations in the Washington
: bureaux of prominent journals have
< ever soiled their fingers with bribes.-
/ Honesty is emphatically the best policy
S with them; because, once found out in
t smothering opinion for moneys sake,
h their influence as critics would be gone
e For so cosmopolitan and civilized a
s center as Washington there is wonder
!, full undercurrent of roughness now and
e then manifest. Drink and the vicissi.
F. tudes and enmities of politics bring ou
e this element in its worst phases. The
n other evening entered, with party o
r southern gentlemen, one of the fashion
It able restaurants on the Avenue and one
g which, at the hour of eleven, when W,
/ arrived, is usually filled with crowds o
e elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen
r As we took seats, one of our party called
r the attention Of his fellow townsman
G from Arkansas, to group at the othe
l. end of the room. "There'll be fight,
n said he, Z" if we stay here, Pm afraid
l. and don't want to disgrace myself
Is "Never mind" said the other, noddin.
n significantly; "if bullets are sweeter'l
of oysters, why let them come" This sen
:, tence savoring of bravado, l looked as
y kance at my chance made acquaintan
" ces; but one of them pointed out tn
DR. subject of alarm. An old, white-heade,
IN gentleman, elegantly dressed, but bear
,e idg the marks of dissipated as well a