The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-01

tne inferior quality of the material used in
the card, that It is not fit to be written
upon with ink, and is worthless for the
copying press. Meanwhile the demand is
greater than the supply. To transfer the
contract would create delay and is not to
be entertained at this time, but the Post
master General is undetermined to remedy the
matter as soon as due consideration for
the public need will permt-and he dis.
covers how.
Competitive examination under the civil
service rules is becoming more and more
unpopular. Good in theory, it is bad in
practice. There is no fairness in IT, A
young man fresh from school and crammed
with book learning answers correctly a
string of questions, many of them perfect
ly useless in the knowledge of the duties
he will be called upon to perform, and he
is straightway given clerkship, only, in
vast number of instances. to become a
first-class failure in his new position. 1t
frequently happens that clerk of first or
second-class in one branch of bureau,
thoroughly understanding and performing
his clerical duties, is promoted to third or
fourth class and the charge of a room in
another branch, where he has everything
to learn, to the annoyance and disgust of
older clerks therein, whose well-earned ex-
perience and expcrtness should in all fair
ness entitle them to the promotion, but who
failed because, forsooth, they were ignor-
ant of the locality of some diminutive lake
in Oregon or Maine, or who was Secretary
of Legation to the Court of st. James dur
ing the administration of John Tyler
Several heads of bureaus have lately de-
clined to have vacancies under them of the
better class thus filled, and very properly
too. Any one who will write an applca-
ton to the Secretary of a Department,
couchcd in grammatical language and fair
chirography, may, if recommended by u
Congressman, have his name entered upon
the list of competitors for first-class
($1 ,2O0) clerkships. have known as
many as five hundred applicants to fill
twenty vacancies, and as this might entail
journey from either extreme of the
country in order to compete, with Ger
tainty of twcnty-four failures to one sue
cess, the chances were rather discouraging.
and many did not appear.
A department clerkship should be the
last resort of the impecunious. A few
years of such life will destroy the energy
and ambition of young man, and if
thrown upon his resources at an unexpect-
ed moment he will find himself incapaci.
tated for anything else. Better by far to
study profession, work at trade, with
ever an upward look, or dig out an indie.
pendence on farm. Young man, shun a
Washington clerkship as you would pois
onOus snake. There is too much leisure
time, and not one youth in twenty has the
moral strength to rightly use that time,
bidding defiance to temptations which de-
base the mind and ruin the body, and which
meet one here at every step, in all man
ner of guise 1t is especially dangerous
here in summer for the young and impres.
| oiOiS AOi hotuuCC, DCtWCCu tuC ScSSlOIS vi
Congress, during the absence of so many
able-bodied Congressman, the demi-n,onoe,
who absolutely swarm here, lavish Their
smiles more freely and throw out extra in.
ducements to the smaller game. Here is
an instance showing the demoralizing ten
dency of clerical life. A most exemplary
young man came hereIa few years ago from
Connecticut to take a position in the Treas
ury. He carried with him constantly his
mothers bible, and pinned his faith upon
its teachings became an active member of
the Y. NJ. G. A., was correct in his habits,
and saved part of his salary. BY faith
fulness and attention to business he obtain
ed promotion. But he had too much leis-
ure time, fell Unto bad company, squan-
dered his savings, became reckless, and got
into debt. Finally, in remorseful mo-
ment he became awakened to realizing
sense of the enormity of his course and in a
mood of despair retired to his room, locked
himself in and took dose of laudanum
for the purpose of ending life which had
lost all charms for him. Friends interior
fered at an opportune moment and his life
was saved. He again attempted it and
again failed. His father was sent for and
took him home. The familiar scenes
of childhood, renewed study of the neglect
ed bible, and above all his mothers pray
ers, proved blessed, life-giving tonic for
him complete reformation was effected,
and to-day he is one of the most honored
and trusted officials in the Treasury depart
ment. But, once started in the downward
career, so happy termination is rarely at
tanned.
More anon,
ROssMORE.