Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-27
THE "siAN FROM ARKANSAS"

WAsHIEeT2ss Dscembsr 26.--1 ne follow.
ing stsrys ifo4 the New York Tribune, is
..sl.srr -rnnsLis. =.
While the civil-5ervice reform debate was
going on 10 tne Senate, day or two ago, q
number Oh eenlsmen sat together on one of
the Senate sofas Discussing the practical side
OF The subject and especially the importuni-
ties oil omce-ssesers. Congressman Hit, of
Illinois IormezF assistsnt-secretsry of state,
was one OF tne srouP, and he told = story.
Among the c1oft which thronged the ante
room ot tne s'He department, seeking for
consulsnlPs -he beginning of Gen Gar
held's Recommendation, there came a man Of
modest, pat's1 4emeanor, who hailed from
Arkans1s. M1splred TO be consul al some
unimpoflant folni, and had secured the in-
dorse ment q number of congressmen who
youched Tor ne sexcellence OF his record as a
soldier Lbs caFe was Que which appealed
to the symF<lhies of the assistant secretary,
before WHOM ihs matter came primarily for
decision. ne was, however, unable 10 take
action Tor Eyeral weeks. The man was
daily visiter at the department, and, as it
seemed TO The kiud-hearted official, was grow
ing seedieras the weeks pss'ed by. Toward
the end OF May, as the man entered the office
one day, Mr. Hit said
You hfve been here a long time, have
you noiT
The mza hung his head and meekly ad-
mitied that he had.
Now ell me truly" said the assistant
secretary Ahaven't you b b-eu here since the
4ih OF Mrch, seeking this Officer"
The applicant blushed, aud after a
moments hesitation admitted that he had
been In Washington since the Inauguration
of the new administration.
"HsH you wiie~
"Au you have her here, too, have you
notF' The answer was 4 whisper IN The
afirmsive. "And have you children" ?"
Yes sir" Chow many" "Four." Aud
you Ave had hem here all this time too;
wife md children, have You no.?" Tears
chokd the voice OF the poor man as he veri-
fed iAe assistant secretsry's su .picIons.
ANell, now" said Mr.. Hit, his sympa-
thirsfor the misguided fellow overcoming
his easiom ary official reserve, al will ma ke
youa promise which l have made to no
otbe applicant; bat on one condition. If
yoatake your wife and children and start
for tome tomorrow, l will make your csse
q s!leial one, and will see the president per-
sonilly abouG it during the week" The ap-
pliAnt heaved sigh, reflected a moment,
an, with choking voice, asked if he might
no return next day. "No," said the as
siEant secretary; "gou have been here too
it8 oifed1g. L Will 10 as L nave edlu, Uut
oiis on condition that you 60 10 your home
ttmcrrow." The APP icsnt agsin reflected,
I'D pIeadingly asked TO be allowed to come
ace more. mo, sir;" said the official.
You have your fate ia your hands. Go
|ieme, or do nothing Ia Eour case"
The man turned slowly ou his heel, hsaved
Sigh, and with his hand on the door-knob,
aid he would think of it. Just at this mo-
nent the door was pulled open from without
had local reporter entered. The reporter
snd the ofice.seeker saluted each other
familiarly with, "Hello, Bob" "How are
you, Tom," as the one passed in and the
other went out. "What, queried the assist
ant secretary, addressing the reporter, "do
you know that man from Arkanaas?"
"Man from Arkansas" repeated TIA re.
porter, with an infection indicating surprise
and amusement. He is no man from Ar
Kansas. He is a clerk in the pension office.
His wife keeps a clearinghouse on + street,
I've known 'em for eleven years. Used TO
board with them -