Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-04
1.-THE vy.sTCH-DOG OF THE
TRB.fSURF.v

1.-THE u:lTCH-DOG OF THE
TRB.sSURF r."
Very probably he is occupied in con-
structing specimens Of that mysterious sig
nature which ornament all our paper mon-
ey, and 1t is 10 most men a riddle more un-
solvable than any thatthe Sphinx ever pre-
pounded. Translated, 1t is f. E. Spinner.
We observe that the pen with which 1t is
written is of peculiar construction, and
has three points, and that the ink used has
the thickness and consistency of mud and
blackness of Egyptian darkness, and is
"piled up'' on the paper TO a height of which
we would be ipcredulous had we never
seen 1t, and which having been seen, rem
ders us more incredulous still. This de-
lightful quality in the ink, the messenger
informs us, is produced by long exposure
to the atmosphere in an open vessel; to be
accurate, in an old pitcher with broken
nose. 1t is astonishing, we are farther told,
to note the number of people, principally
from the country districts, who stray into
the treasurer's room during the course of a
year for the purpose Of shaking hands with
"the man who makes that funny sigma
ture," and of looking wonderinglv on 10
see how he makes il. We are quite sure to
be affaby received, unless some circum-
stances of an unusually disturbing nature
has occurred, for che General" las he is
familiarly caled,) Notwithstanding his rep
utation for the use of strong words, is re-
ally a man of uncommon good nature.
Even when provoked to one of his ebulli-
tions of righteous wrath, his bark is pro-
verbally worse than his bite, aud the good
ness Of his heart usually leads him to make
reparation for violence of language by len
ity of action. So it happens that applicants
for favors at his hands are sometimes told
by their friends, who know the old gentle
| mans peculiarites, that it is a favorable
| circumstance that on the first presentation
of their cases they have been roundly
scolded, since the chances are, that after
the first heat of temper has cooled, peni-
tence for undue harshness will lead him on
second consideration to grant theirrequests.
Not even the generals most ardent admir-
ers-and no man has more-will claim that
he is handsome man. And even should
they have the hardihoo1 to do so, tho
vignette on certain fifty cent notes, of which
there are many still in circulation, would
furnish complete refutation of thier as
sertion. But, to be fair, the shin-plasters
do not do him justice. There is an express
sion of honesty and openness of nature a.
bout his homely features, and twinkle of
humor in the eye, which the artist has fail
ed to reproduce, and which render the face,
like Lincoln's kind and genial and far from
unpleasing. A grizzly mustache, cut un-
reasonably short at the corners ofthe mouth,
does not help to supply the lack of beauty
in the features. The wide, determined
mouth, and the square, heavy chin, sug-
gest the irreverent idea that personal ap-
pearance, no less than watchful care OF the
nations treasure, may have led to the be-
stowal of the sobriquet of watchdog of
the treasury" by which the faithful treas
urer is so we'll known.
The room is Of moderate size and plainly
furnished, and gives evidence that of the
vast amount of money which has passed
through his Office, but little has been used
to minister to the treasurer's comfort. A
door opens into still smaller apartment in
which the treasurer sleeps. The respnsi-
bility of the safe-keeping of hundreds of
millions is too great to be devolved upon
others, and the general therefore rests where
he can in moment assure himself that
, the public treasure in his keeping is safe.
Once, before he began sleeping at the treas
ury, he was awakened in the night by the
strong impression that something was
wrong at the department. He lay for a
long time tossing uneasily on his bed, and
trying to close his eyes and convince him
self that 1t was mere freak of an over
taxed brain; but 1t would not be driven
away. At last, about o'clock in the morn
: ing, in order to assure himself that his i'm =
preston was at fault, he arose, hastily
dressed, and set out for the treasury. On
his way he met watchman from the de-
partment, fastening to arouse him with the
information that the door of one of the
vaults had just been found standing wide
open.
A careless clerk, whose duty it was to
close and lock the door, had failed to per-
form his duty that night, and the watch
man going his rounds had discovered the
neglect. Since that night the treasurer has
inspected the doors and locks of the vaults
himself, and has satisfied himself by at
tempting to turn the handles, that they
were securely locked. The inspection is
made twice every evening-once soon a(-
ter the departure of the clerks, and again
, before retiring to rest. There are few pub
lie officers whose sense of duty and respon-
, sibility constrains them to thus sacrifice
their own time and comfort in the interest
= of the government. The moneyed respon.
sibllity is indeed tremendous, and such
we venture to assert, as never fell on the
: shoulders of one man before. That We dc
. not exaggerate is evinced by tho fact tina
the notes, bonds and securities in the vault,
=. of the treasurer's Office amount on an av
q erage to eight hundred million dollars.-
, Scifbners for April.
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