The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-29
HAM CAMP
A Hard Shell Romance Of Wasll-
ingtOn Society.

From the Washington Correspondence of the
Cincinnati Commercial.
=: at is not uncommon
for Cabinet officers, having daughters on
tEsir hands, to appoint certain young
fellows of finished extremities to office.
that they may dance attendance on the
girls, and be useful. l know of quite q
little romance ofthe latter g ass. Young
Hamilton Camp, Known as Ham. Camp,
came up to the Capital from the back
woods, about rs awkward and green a
youth as you ever ran away from. He
was poor, Of poor family, aud had edu-
Gated himself by working during the
summer to have means for schooling id
the winter. He was one Of those knot
ty.headed, shsewd fellows. always look
ing out for self. He found himself here,
bent on office, with few hundred dol-
lars in his pocket, and nc end of conf,
dcnce in himself. He took the measure
of the women, and planned his campaign
accordingly 1t was original. Sleeping
in an ditto, and regulating his diet on the
most economical scale, he expended his
means on tailor and dancing MASTER,
And 1 should say that Ham. Camp
was donkey" - ~,
..wait bit. He appeared at all Tie
receptiGas, balls, and parties to which he
cotld gain access, and as he soon came
to be recognized as an ornament, balls
and PARTIES opened before him. And at
all of them he was very attentive to the
lovely and accomplished daughter of the
Hon. ---, Of the Cabinet"
Il see, the old story Of love lifting the
lowly."
"Wait bit. He had the adroit flat.
terry of the ears. He listened with the
intensest interest to all the little troubles
of Miss -, and came in time to be ne
cessary to her happiness in the ball
room. He never breathed word OF
| lase.or what was more important to him,
CT office The season drew tosa close,
and Ham. Camp found himself out oil
money. He suddenly disappeared from
society. One day Miss - met him
on the avenue, and held out her 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 be-
fore given him, a confidence, aud told of
his ambition, poverty, and limited at his
love. A few days after he was appoint
! ed to the best office in the Department
over which the Hon. father presided"
"And they lived in peace and died IN
adipose-as the children say"
Not to any extent Ham was very
attentive to the daughter, but never told
his love. Less than year after his ap-
poihtldent a change in The administra.
tioH drove the Hon. papa from his place
Ham. saw the trouble coming and was
prepared. He did not court the success
sor, but he did court most assidiously
the rich widow Japonica, then on the
crest of fashionable society in Washing.
ton. She did not encourage his love, bu'
better still, became bis warm supporter
So that when Ham was bowed out Of his
ltice place, it was to go into another and
Better
"And he sold himself to the widow p
"Not much. She married a frst-clas.
mission with a title. and went abroad
"Good lord'is this man going to cont'
everybody, sna marry no one?" .
"Hc married at last. The war cam,
Hn and a sHrewd money-getting little
creature, l1S the name of Cranks died on,
day, leavif'g, 4 fat widow and some fatte
contracts, Ham. married. the widow
and tie contracts, and now he is a mil
lionairc Next winter he proposes tc
buy his way to the Senate and help rul'
this troubled land"
"What cold-blooded rascal and
suppose little Miss -, his first love
died of broken heart"
ut may have been broken. Ever,
woman's heart, sooner or later, is bro
ken. Be that as it may, it did not prevcn
her marrying one of the richest men il
all these United Statcs-and sltc is tho
gayest creature you ever saw"
"And so ends this eventfdl history.
n p