Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-25
Washinpfnn Clerks.

NN"P according 10 pIeCeueuti anu tHc lolSo was
more THAI ample in all its branches. Then
usages obtained AMI abuses arose, of which but
the traditions remain now. Most clerks then
were young boods, who had been ''provided
for" Then the phrase, now so often quoted,
arose, 81 had to work TO get this, why should |
work nOw@
The official duties of each, if quickly DONE
would leave much time for idling, or they could
be strung out through the day. Then smoking
in the offices was a constant practice, and rem
Dant Of the habit now remains in high places
Then secretaries and bureau heads had side
boards in their offices, and it was thought no
sin for the clerk TO take his 'leven-O'cloCk-er
from his flask on file with the records. Leaves
of absence were numerous and long, and "my
member" could always get an eXtensionor leave
for probable cause" for his prOtege. When
one member of congress broke the nose of the
superintendent of the census in his own Office,
and another shot waiter at the breakfast table
at Wizards and a third killed man in the
open street, you can hardly be surprised that
occasional "sblndies" took place among the
clerks. Then government clerks had abundant
leisure with scant means of utilizing their spare
time.
Then there were no young mems Christian
association rooms, no book clubs, no lectures,
no circulating libraries, no church sociables;
none of the many clubs, societies, classes and
the like of the preseat day; but there were
plenty of billiard saloons, faro banks, euchre
clubs, hops, parties and balls. The boys made
their appointments 10 meet each other at hotels,
bar-rooms and similar places; lighting the ii
ger was not an unusal pastime, and hence aCh-
ing heads, red eyes and shaking hands were often
found in the various offices.
In those days there were many boarding houses
and but few homes. Most clerks were bachelors
or grass-widowers. The annual leave of absence
became necessary, that clerks might not be for
gotten at their homes. Wives, sisters and moth
l.,
dies visit West Point relatives. Washington bad
but few small buildings; hence housekeeping
was as undesirable TO people of small means as
it was impractcable. Few clerks struck root
here; they did not wish, nor did they expect to
stay longer than their immediate political
friends remained in power, and frequently they
forced by circumstances to retire, or were
taken away by their friends before that time ar
rived, because of the bad habits they had ac-
quired here.
Now things are greatly changed. With the
war came an immense increase of new business.
The force was so much changed that its charac-
ter altered. With new men came new methods.
Old usages were swept away by necessity. The
work was reorganized 10 meet the emergencies.
New bureaus were created, and crowded by
clerks direct from private life, who cut red tape
in the most ruthless manner. The old hours, 9
to 3, were forgotten; gas was introduced; night
work was inaugurated; the leading men were
selected for specific capabilities rather than be-
cause of political services. Some clerks spent
hours at their desks before breakfast, while
others returned after dinner. These customs
spread into The old offices, and men who could
not or would not stand the new order of things
went to the wall, while men of marked capabili-
ties remained in the departments, however OBJ
noXious their antecedents, in spite even of
special reports of congressional committees
How bureaus were broken up into divisions, and
divisions into sections, and sections into classes,
each headed by man who could drive things"
competition, emulation, ambition were called
into play; promotion followed devotion to and
accomplishment of work, and ability, enterprise
and industry were at Il premium.
Another element came into play to change
clerical character The old citizens considered
this influx of Yankees, as they called the new
comers as an invasion of the Goths and Van
dals, and hence they actually prescribed the in
vaders. Being thrown on their own resources,
they created new society, and were indepen-
dent of the old inhabitants Courses of lectures
were soon announced, at which the most noted
and in some instances the most liberal of plat
form speakers appeared, and then such men as
Oliver Wendell Holmes, John G. SAKE, George
William Curtis, Henry Ward Beecher, and even
Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison
spoke to crowds of enthusiastic listeners, many
of whom were their accustomed hearers in their
old homes. The young mems Christian associ-
alton was speedily galvanized cut Of propriety
library popularized by the Introduction of live
papers and liberal magazines that treated of the
great questions of the day. State societies were
formed, and held social as well as business
meetings. The churches were vv6ed by the
introduction OF new blood, and they held fire.
quent sociables, and all kinds Of societies, clubs
ciques and classes were formed, so that there
were plenty of doors opened to the late arrivals
even though the former leaders of society did
not recognize them. Indeed they had no chance
to miss the hospitalities so ostentatiously de-
MED them.
They did not neglect their physical while pro-
viding for their social wants. Muscular Chris
tianity asserted itself in the formation of base
ball, cricket and boat clubs, gymnasium, and
even the creation of a skating park. The earnest
workers of the departments labOred as hard to
amuse themselves out of Office hours as they did
to keep up the public business while at their
desks. The war atmosphere, as well as some
thing in their home training and character,
made loafng lost art.
Among other things, new architecture was
born of the war, creating long rows of small
buildings, in which the families of the new
clerks edcamped. Housekeeping asserted its
supremacy of boarding. The family circle pre-
scented such opportunities and Possibilities that
billiard and bar-room rendezvous were no longer
a necessity. Before the war was over a revolu-
ton in manners and customs had taken place,
and the community of clerks had formed new
character
On the return of peace, another new element
became evident. Some of those who had left the
college for the camp returned through the de-
partments to civil life. Wishing to continue the
studies begun before the war, they nightly
crowded the offices Of the doctors and lawyers,
the studies of the preachers, and even the houses
of teachers as private students. But a new need
was SO evident that the old schools of law, medi-
cine and theology were reconstructed, or new
ones arose, which held their sessions or delv-
cred their lectures at such hours that our clerks
by day could become students at night, and
these institutions are now well attended and
partially supported by the government clerks.
If you refer to the report of the commissioner
of education for the past year you will find that
the law department of Columbian college, in
session near the City hall, had 166 students;
that of the Jesuit college, temporarily located in
the Colonization building, 20 students; that of
Howard university out on Seventh street, 60
students at their last TERMS that Of the Medical
college of the Jesuits on street had 10 stu
dents; that of Columbian college, in the build
ing on | street presented them by the banker
Corcoran, had 70 Students; and that of Howard
university bad 40 students-the theological
school OF Columbian college has Is students,
but no mention is made Of the number attend
ing the similar schools of the other institutions
Now, most of the students are employees of the
government; those in Howard university are
mostly colored men. A law class was graduated
last week by that institution-the attorney gen.
eral, several senators, and even Gen. Sherman
assisting in the exercises; and the graduates
generally were in Uncle Sans employ. The
standard of these schools is above the average.
Among the instructors are some frst-class
men, such as Justice Miller, of the United
States supreme court; ex-senator Harris, of
New York; DR.. Ordronaux, of the Columbia
college of New York; John NJ. Langston, the
colored lawyer, and various of the most learned
and successful of the lawyers, doctors and
preachers of the city.
The report, however, gives no clew to the
number of clerks who nightly attend the Bust
ness college, nor Of those who belong to the
classes in mathematics, vocal and Instrumental
music, or the languages; nor does it give any
statistics relative TO the libraries, book clubs,
nor other means Of improvement resorted to by
the clerks. If it did the array Of figures would
convince you that the popular idea of the man
ner in which the clerks spend their time is
hardly accurate.
All, but you ask, don't this prove too much
How can these students do justice to the public
business and prepare their lessons? And what
becomes Of their night work at their desks
meantime?
The necessity for night work in the public
offices has passed away with the wars emer.
gencies. The departments reduced their cleri-
cal force to the requirements Of peace after the
accumulations of work caused by the war had
been reduced, and things soon settled down to