The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-26

THE GRANDEUR OF MENIALS.
Unapproachability OF the Washington
Of1cials.
A Washington letter to the Cincinnati Com
mercial says:
A stranger coming to Washington the frs
time ls an object ofplty: Especially is this sc
nature. What with impertinent hotel clerks
airy messengers, aud the grandeur Of all per
sons here holding meuia, or subordinate posi-.
tions, added to the extortion every where prac.
ticed, il a stranger desires second visit here
he must be OF slow perceptions and cast IRON
ern cities, even from Wall street, come here
with the intention Of staying two or three
days, for the purpose Of transaotng business
| in the departments needing their personal at.
tention, take the return train, down-spirlted,
broken-hearted almost, at their upgentle
treatment by lackeys and subordinates.
Not men who are in the habit Of
soeak, not men so modest and tender that
they tremble at tho sight OF Congressman;
but those VIII rush into the Stock Excnange,
GoYd Room and Brokers Board, and fight, and
yell and bluff. and frlghten less reckless gamb-
lers. When such men, with sensiblllties COW
cred with coat OF mail, cannot succeed here,
you may well inquire what becomes ora per-
son who tries to use the manners Of gentle
man and The accent of Christian. They
simply get frightened out of town. If the
loftiness or sneering condesceDsion' OF the
hotel clerk does not do it the first night, lei
him the next morning 60 into one OF the de-
partments and accost a messenger sitting out
side the door Of an auditor, chief clerk, or
some other big-feeling subordinate, and be is
fo 10 bo trnI ht-
chance he escapes the messenger at the door,
he is sure to surrender to the first clerk with
whom he attempts to do business.
At THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
I have vivid remembrance OF q visit to the
State Department, when was younger and
ereener than am now. rem pember it was on
Thursday, and card was hung upon the
door knob, warning the visitors that none but
members Of Congress-, foreign ministers, and
secretaries OF legati IN were admitted on
Thursdays. tried to pass the messenger in
the hall by assuming brusque air, but his
keen eyes and dignifed bearing quite unnerv-
cd and belittled me, and he turned me out
doors with a manner that charmed while it
maddened me. went up the next day; the
messenger knew me, and with a sneer bade
me go up stairs. There foun4 man who
could gain position in society at any court in
the world merely on his appearance. I felt
Illuminated in his presence. He observed me
with great composure, and he new in minute
that was not member Of Congress, nor Sec
retary OF Legation, and he knew, therefore,
that I was Of no consequence. He turned me
over to another man, who also put on scollops
and treated me something like O convict. He
looked me over, and then transferred me to
another. spent two hours in that depart
ment, trying to do what ought not to have
taken ten minutes.
AT THE rREAsuHY DEPARTMENT
You are rather bettor treated here, merely
because nobody pays any attention to you. You
ask the cluster OF mes1ngers 3pout the table
in the hall fronting the setretary's Office If the
secretary is within. They say yes or no, as
the case may be, and continue tcrlbbling on
to you, and the stranger is left IN ignorance OF
what is proper for him to do. II you make
further inquiry, you will probably be snapped
off with o short word, or receive no answer
whatever. II you produce card, and ask to
see the secretary, one Ct the messengers will
probably take the card In, but he will do 1t
in such o way as to make you wish he had not
Boutwell,, Il xou get to him, but pity you i;
are referred to some clerk or subordinate.
Then you will see where the laugh comes in.
You will not only be required to give your
name, residence and the extent OF your family,
but you will be asked for what purpose you de.
sire the information, and the business you TO-
low. The humiliation you suffer before these
autocrats is something beyond conception.
You approach them with hat in hand, and re.
main Standing IN q resp. c;iul attitude until
to sy are ready to talk to you. They will then
look up at you disdainfully, fro ming an in
ouiry as to your reason for troubling them.
len chances to one you have not the courage,
in such presence, to tell your business inteli-
gently, and you are only too glad to leave them
when they have given you anything like an
answer. As for transacting business with some
of these young popinjays, it is not to be
thought Of. They have only to cast their eyes
on you, and they can tell the texture of your
cravat. the cost Of your coat, the material OF
your pantaloons, and the maker OF your hat.
The more broadcloth you have on, and the
larger the diamond in your shirt.frunt, the
better will be your treatment. "he same ls
true Of every department here.
AT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Before the door Of the Secretary stands
man who is at once my fear and admiration.
HIS calm and elegant manners, his accomplish
ed articulation, his graceful attitudes, his
smoothness Of tongue and the easy politeness
OF one accustomed to the world, astonish and
mortfy you. You feel az once your own short
comlngs, your poverty OF manner, your back
ward tongue, your shrinking courag:.. Beside
this gentleman you feel yourset 10 ne cnilo
are ready to tell your business to him instead
of the Secretary. You wonder, it the Secre-
tary's colored messenger is such man, what
must be the Secretary. But the Secretary,
when you see him, is much easier to talk to
than the messenger You feel tnat he is not
your card TO this messenger to .ake to the
Secretary, and yet you feel more like chang
ing places with him and taking in HE card.
He lvoks at the card very critically, for no
is conno:sseur in cards-a most admirable
judge Of engraving. He gracefully waves you
to q seat, and he waits, and waits: and waits;
TO rest yourself. you lake few turns about
the hall; be still holds your card. but says ho
will take 1t in ''presently." Again you get
down: 1ead an old copy of q newspaper, inclu- |