The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-24
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
I have a vivid remembrance of u visit to the
State Department when | was younger and
greener than am now. | remember it was on
a Thursday, and card was hung upon the door
knob, warning the visitor that none but members
of Congress, foreign ministers, and secretaries
of legation were admitted on Thursdays. [ tried
to pass the messenger in the hall by assuming
brusque air, but his keen eyes and dignifed
bearing quite unneryed and belittled me, and he
turned me out doors with a manner that charmed
while it maddened me. | went up the next da V
the messenger knew me, and with a sneer bade
me go up stairs. There | found II man who
could gain position in society at any court in
the world merely on his appearance. | felt hui
inflated in his presence. He observed me with
great cOmposure, and he knew in minute that
| was not member of Congress nor a Secretary
of Legation, and he knew, therefore, that was
of no consequence. He turned me over to
another man, who also put on scollops and
treated me something like convict. He looked
me over and then transferred me to another |
spent two hours in that department, trying to do
what ought not to have taken ten minutes.
AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
You are rather better treated here, merely be-
cause nobody pays any attention to You. You
ask the cluster of messengers about the table in
the hall fronting the Secretarys Office if the
Secretary is within They say yes or no, as the
case may be, and continue scribbling on scraps
of paper They give no further notice to you,
and the stranger is left in ignorance of what is
proper for him to do. If you make further in
quiTy, you will probably be snapped off with a
short word, or receive no answer whatever. If
you produce n card, and ask to see the
Secretary. one of the messengers will
probably take the card in, but he will do it
| in such n way as to make you wish he had not
| done it. You will get along well enough with
| Boutwell,, if You get to him, but pity you if
he has not the information you seek, and you
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 fol-
| low. The humiliation you suffer before these
! autocrats is something beyond conception. You
approach them with hat in hand, and remain
standing in respectful attitude until they are
ready to talk to you. They will then look up at
! you dsdainfuly frowning an inquiry as to your
reason for troubling them. Ten chances to one
you have not the courage, in such presence, to
tell your business intelligently, and you are only
! too glad to leave them when they have given
| you anything like an answer. As fOrtransacting
| business with some of these young pOpinjays, il
| 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 mate
rial of your pantaloons, and the maker of your
| hat. The more broadcloth you have on, and the
larger the diamond in your shirt-front the better
| will be your treatment. The same is true O
| every department here.