National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-19
THE AVENUE AT THREE.
THE CLERICAL FORCE ON THE HOME



STRETCH.
Every day, precisely at the hour when the
solemn tones Of the st. Aloysius bell strikes
three, the Treasury Department throws open its
doors and exudes nearly three thousand items of
mortality, and the majority of said three thou
sand items hurl themselves down the broad Ave-
cording to the disposition and feelings Of the
party. 1t may be slow, fast or Indifferent, and In
either Of these gaits the party always exhibits
so characteristic Of q man who eats an eight
o'clock breakfast, sits in cane bottom chair
three hours PSring over myriad Of ngnres. with
cuously about, then lunches on q halfgrown sand
witch, and closes the days work with three hours
more Of persistent figures, and then wanders out
the beefsteak and strawberries which await him
ut home Just soon as his legs will allow, If not
sooner. Some rush by with hasty strides, others
drop into q slow, matter-of-faet gait, while many
strike o systematic, measured tread, Just as
though their salaries depended on the number Of
steps they took between the office and home, and
all present spectacle that cannot fail to induce
speculation and create comment.
Out from this busy hive Of financial wonder
ing, hurrying along. Some are bright and fresh
in countenance, bearing all the appearance of .
clear conscience and plenty In the cupboard,
while others look sallow and haggard as though
they spent their life in rooms whose only day
light-for in all probability there is no sunlight
crept through some dingy court, in whose centre
These people are made up from almost every race,
from the tall, unwieldy Yankee to the broad,
rotund German; from the lightest-shaded octa-
room to the dark, full-blooded African. Perhaps
every characteristic Of the human race can be
distinguished in this restless crowd as It surges
down the busy street, meeting and passing a
tached to all shapes and forms, from the ''stal-
wart giant, !" as he is Familiarity known, down to
the most insignificant items Of flesh and blood
that ever counted Government scrip. Some
looked as serene as morning glory before SUI
rise, and looking straight ahead they payi-
gated rseklessly onward, unmipdfpl and TO-
impose on some unfortunate who is strug-
Cling in the commencement against this
tide Of humanity, whose paramount thoughts
rested solely visions Of hot rolls, beefsteak
and Strawberries. Others, Of more nervous tenn
permanent, are lodging here and there to escape
the careless maneuvres OF some antiquated indi-
vidual, with specs and cane, who has q very an
noying way OF swinging his cane to and fro, AFTER
the fashion Of o bell-clapper, and making about
as much noise with the same by tanning It vio-
lently into the bard pavement, as emphasis TO
some point he has made against the reduction Of
forces next week 1t e, in fect, the most argu-
mentatiye crowd in the departpentsi The mo;
the street, after coming from their gloomy rooms,
there seems to be an able Mobilization TO
ventilste themselves in words, and such sounds
glyphie declpheref could become interested in
leave Of absence before they had half passed. The
don't put in o dissenting voice, and request .
"rest, ;" as they undoubtedly would had they ,suf-
icient force to sustain them In enforcing the re-
quest. They don't attempt to trespass on the
line. of march Of this clerical host, for tres
pass only means to be upset and walked
on. Tney merely mentally swear until the res
tive and rushing stream has run dry and the usual
amount Of dust has settled over them, and then,
taking o hearty sigh OF relief, they turn and lock
back with compassion upon other Of their fellow
men, who they know must pass through the same
ordeal, It may be with less profanity, but in all
probability not. Others, having been knocked
and jostled about by first, second third ind fourth
class clerks until they cannot tell which class wears
the hardest bones, suddenly dart of at right an
CLOS up some tributary street and disappear
around the next corner with jump and q call
upon Heaven to forbid their ever being on the
Avenue at three o'clock again under any circum-
stances, emphasizing ANY circumstances with u
she delivers her eloquent perorauon, which closes
with "For her own sake" by bringing both fists,
firmly clenched, to her chest, and then thrusting
them forward, as though she had o contract for
carrying on q college rush single-handed. Thus
every day at precisely the hour when the clapper
In the old bell at st. AloYsius knocks three this
same crowd, made up OF the same forces, sweeps
down the Avenue, perfect tidal wave, against
the insignificant and powerless ripple which forms
the counter current and drags itself along, some
times entirely engufed in the clerical stream, and
at other times battling bravely and successfully
against the knocks and thrusts Of overpowering
numbers, whose dinners are steaming in the dis
lance, and whose thoughts are rested thereon
with all the serious earnestness Of q hungry
stomach's promptings.