Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-01

Fcom tie Washington Correspondence OF the
Cincinnati Commercial.
Ham Camp-A Hard shell Romance OF
Warrington Society.
cit is not uncommon for
Cabinet officers, having daughters on their
hands, to appoint certain young fellows OF
finished extremities to Office, that they may
dance attendance on the girls, and be use
fnl. I know of quite little romance of
the latter class. Young Hamilton Camp,
known as Ham. Camp, came up to the
Capitol from the backwoods, about as awk-
ward and green youth as you ever run
away from. He was poor, of poor family,
and had educated himself by working du-
ring the Summer to have means for school
ing in the winter. He was one Of those
knotty headed, shrewd fellows, always
looking out for himself. He found himself
here, bent on Office, with few hundred
dollars in pocket, and no end of confidence
in himself. He took the measure of men,
and, what is more, the measure OF the
women, and planned his campaign accord
inely. It was original. Sleeping in an
attic. and regulating his diet on the most
economical scale, he expended his means
on tailor and dancing master.
'And I should say that Ham. Camp was
a donkey
- w alt q O1Gs 10 hpkCn4OA Nv @AA OAC IL
ceptions, balls and parties to which he
could gain access, and as he soon came to
he recognized as an ornament, balls and
narties opened before him. And at all OF
| them he was very attentive to the lovely
and accomplished daughter of the Hon.
--, of the Cabinet" -
q see the old story of love lifting the
lowly."
of the ears. He listened with the lnten-
sest interest to all the little troubles of Miss
-, and came in time to be necessary
| to her happiness in the ball room. He
never breathed a word of love, or what
was more important to him, of Office. The
season drew to a close, and Ham. Camp
found himself out of money. He sudden
" disappeared from society. One day Miss
met him on the avenue, and held
out her two little hands. Where have you
been, you naughty man ? she cried. he
made no response, but as they walked
along he quietly gave her what she had
long before given him, confidence, and
told of his ambition, poverty, and hinted
at his love. A few days after he was ap
pointed to the best Office in the Depart
ment over which the Hon. father pre-
sided.''
ssAnd they lived in peace and died in
adipose-as the children say"
''Not to any extent. ham, was very at
tentive to the daughter, but never told hi
love- Less than year after his appoint
ment change in the administration drov'
the Hon. papa from his place. Ham: say
the trouble coming and was prepared. III
did not court the successor, but he diC
court most assiduously the rich widow ia
ponica, then on the cres OF fashlOnabl
, society in Washington. She did not en-
I courage his love, but better still, becam
his warm supporter. So that when Ham
} was bowed out Of his nice place, it was t
90 into another and better"
sAnd he sold himself to the widow ?"
''Not much She married a first-c las
{ mission, with title, and went abroad. "
! Good Lord, is this man going TO coul
s everybody and marry no one?"
t ''He married at last. The war came O
s and shred money-gettlng little creatul
4 by the name of Cranks died one day, lea
r ing fat widow and some fatter contract
{ Ham. married the widow and the CO..
/ tracts, and now he is a millionaire.
i Next winter he proposes to buy his way
j. the Senate and help rule this trouble
d land"
t "What d-blooded rascal and su
pose little Miss --, his first love, de
+ of broken heart"
n ssIt may have been broken. Eve
n woman's heart, sooner Or later, is broke
70 Be that as it may. it did not prevent b
n marrying one of the richest men in
d these United States-and she is the gays
d creature you ever saw.
10 "And so ends this eventful history"