New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-20
this section has never been repealed, as 1t GER
tainly should not have been. And, If not we
ask that it be now regarded and Obeyed
MILK IN OFFICE.

MILK IN OFFICE.
THE great and learned Daniel Pratt, than
whom there lives no wiser lunatic, has told
to countless audiences, with the wonderful
pathos of which he is capable, the story Of
certain milkman who, having grown rich in
his trade, thought it proper to enjoy the
pleasures of foreign tour. So he turned bis
property into gold tied the coin securely IN
bag, and was soon on his way across the ocean.
1t CHANGED that one day pet monkey belong
ing to one of the sailors spied the bag, seized
it, and ran with it to the masthead, where he
carefully united the string and, after pouring
quantity of the coin into the ocean, cast the
half emptied bag upon the deck. The owner
of the monkey, greatly frightened, ran to beg
pardon for his pet, when the milkman said
"The monkey is Just Water to water. The
"coin that remains represents pure milk"
Our City officials are a badly used, poorly
paid body. Entrusted as they are with the
government of the nations metropolis, bur-
deped with the troubles of q great city, they
might well grow weary with anxiety, lean with
care, and impoverished with charity. That on
the contrary, they are all active, are individually
feshy. and in some cases are raised above ac-
tual want, only proves the rare texture of the
intellects which enable them to endure such
weights of care with such an outward semDlance
of resignation and equanimity. Some OF them
are compelled so sit for (two) hours every
week in chairs that don't tip back, and IN front
of newly smelling desks, their weary eyes daz'
zled by the gaudy elegance of their surround
ings. Minds which could with ease grapple
with the intricate workings of distillery,
guide the machinery of hOrse-railroad, or IN
sure success to any self-sustaining monopoly,
are compelled to busy themselves voting to
lam streets, ordering the removal OF UNSAFE
fag.poles and dealing out the City money In
aid of weakly churches and impoverished asy-
lums. The picture is sad one, and yet the
duties are performed as q labor of love.
Another city official is placed in still more
trying circumstances. He must perform the
hazardous duties of the Sheriff. Crime must
be his study, criminals his companions; debt
must come before his gaze in every form
debtors must look upon him as their worst
antagonist. Reared, as he always is, among
scenes of delicacy and refinement, and nour-
| shed among the genter attributes OF life, he
is called upon to assume the responsibilities OF
an office which knows no mercy, sees no pity,
and recognizes no commiseration. Still
he lives. No newspaper has made a
dollar by publishing the announcement
| of his death. A spirit strong in the
work, and mind nobly sacrificed to a
duty, support him. few thousand dollars a
year constitute his salary, with which he is
| supposed to be able to support a
| home and endow it with home COM
| forts. And when at times the strug-
| Cling germ of pity which the law compels him
| to smother breaks forth into a fame, and he
allows some poor murderer or some newly
| sentenced burglar to have another opportunity
| to achieve an honorable record in life, the
press condemns him and the people chide him.
1t can thus be seen how inadequately any
mere salary, however large, is to repay these
| suffering servants of the people for their la
bors From the story with which these remarks
are prefaced we would draw word of conso-
lation for them, and draw moral which may
in some degree excuse our legislators for slight
ing their demands. All officers must some
times prove delinquent The best of milk viii,
| in certain situations become diluted. If these
city officials would add additional luster to
| their renown, let them resgnedly say to the
men of Albany, Water is water. You might
stretch our purses still further ere they burst.
| yet we are but men. We sometimes fail.
1--WE will keep what remains to us and call
" the rest cancelled by our deficiencies" Let
the Sheriff telegraph, Deputies are deputies.
what remains is Ne. / ask for no more pay.
"Whle thousands are my due / accept what
al have, and call it pure milk"