New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-28
For the New Orleans fpublican-Prepared from
the original manuscript
MY LIES LESSONS.

For the New Orleans RI publican-Prepared fro
the original manuscript.
MY LIES LESSONS.
By NJ. +. BIGNEY.
AT wAtHINGTON-Is SECURE PLACE IN TIL
TREAsURY-GO TO NATURE FOR INsTRUt
TION-MOLLIE'S MARRIAGE-MY REFLEt
TIONs-A DAYS sPORT-MY THREE SHOT.
ETC.
Being a good penman, and having msir
tanned good reputation throughout tn
period of my military service, applied a
Washington for employment in the Treasur.
Department. found, however, that i
was far easier to obtain the position of ,
soldier in times Of war than government
emplo yment in times of peace. For every
place there was regiment of applicants
and place, found, went quite As frequently
by favor Is by merit. Without influential
friends it was impossible to obtain any
thing, and even when the aid of such friendi
was secured, the process was extremely
slow. Red tape demanded its formal sacri
fees of time, and the average official was
nothing 10th in complying with its demands
True, it was impossible to accommodate all
who applied for position, yet the torture Of
waiting and the paDg Of disappointment
were cruelty intensified in thousands of in
stances where there was no thought from
the first of yielding favorable response.
l. however, was one of the few who came
out successfully in the end. and when duly
installed in Uncle Sans cashbox, as the
Treasury was Familiarity styled, felt my
self at the commencement of civil career
in which merit might fairly hope to secure
advancement.
The regular routine of the office was
soon mastered. and settled down into my
new vocation with full intent to remain
in it as long as possible.
l soon acquired the good opinion OF my
fellow clerks, so far as was thrown in con-
tact with them, and began to study on
every possible opportunity what in Wash
ington is so emphatically known as $50
ciety." l had myself no ambition to be
recognized as an available part of that pre-
tentious integer, nor had it any desire to
encourage such ambition on my part. So.
ciety, found to be exceedingly obseq uious
to wealth and rank, but full Of ecorn for
any unfortunate mortal who happened to
venture into its presence without having on
wedding garment. Even Jenkins, when
he approached to make his daily note of its
decorations and amusements, was barely
tolerated, and to secure q continuance of
such tolerance he was compelled to invest
his mental resources in all the highest
superlatives of adulatory expression.
From the whispers which used to get into
circulation l discovered that society was
not en- tirely free from envy and other little
frailties Of that kind. Mrs. Moneybaps
would pour little titbits of scandal into the |
diamond-guarded portals of Mrs. Biiou's
ears to the serious detriment of the worthy |
and Immaculate Mrs. Shoddv.
When society had wedding, it put Cana |
Of Galilee to the blush; when it received, it
assumed court airs of the severest STYLE:
when it effulged in the ball room, it made |
itself the ape Of fashion and the exponent |
OF extravaganza; end when it buried it's
dead, it was sadly Inundated by the un-
fashio intrusion Of its poor relations.
1t will therefore be perceived that the
LIE OF society ia not altogether sunshine:
that 1t is subject to annoyances from which
even the common herd are comparatively
exempt, and that to its wonderfully deli.
cate sensibilities, q mouse in q closet or a
spider on toilet table may occasion panes
greater than those felt when giant dies.
But while thus refer to the frailties and
shortcomings of society l must not omit
those which are peculiarly my own.
During my experiences as a soldier | 40.
CURED fondness for whisky which, even
after had settled down into civil service.
found it impossible to shake of. made
q great many virtuous resolutions on the
subject, and was disguised with myself for
the frequency with which broke them.
had, moreover, lost a goodly portion of nv
faith in human virtue, for the camp is hor-
ribly incredulous, and in Washington 40
ciety, whether in it's higher or lower phases.
l found it difficult to regain the faith had
lost.
The afectional requirements of NV natnro
made constant demands for q companion
ship l had not yet experienced CON-
partnership of true and loving womsn-I
but ! had been too deeply schooled in
lessons Of doubt to accept as gold every.
thing that glitters.
If ever loved was determined that NV
love should be bestowed upon one not onlv
lovely but worthy of being loved, and I | i
felt sure that with my caution and my ex-
perience could not be deceived in . matter
Of such moment.
Finally became acquainted with Miss {
Moliie Ray, young lady who appeared to f
me the very personifcation of refinement t
and purity. As to know her was to love q
aer, OF course loved. Nor was this all.
thought myself highly favored lover. G
Brushing up my poetical recollections. I G
allied her . "gem Of purest ran serene" q
nd in response she pleasantly said was
darling fellow, and that when We vera d
,arried we should show the world an OK. .
mple Of perfect happiness.
A. had never seriously asked her to be i