Smyrna times., 1882-03-01
Government Clerks.

In the lingo of the departments, the
people who hold places under the govern
meat in Washington are divided into three
classes. One class is known AS the
shorts, another as stationary" and
the other as FOUNDERS" The first only
remain in office very short time: the
the second keep their places foryears. and
the last are i'll their places off and on. 10
become stationary, it is necessary for
clerk to have kept his position at least
live years. There are a great many moro
stationary clerks than is generally sup
posed. While changes are always being
made, the great number of places in the
departments are occupied by station
aries"
The shorts. generally has term of
about year, and often it is cut down to
a very few days. The "rounder" is. how
ever the unique character of the depart
ment rolls. The male specimen of the
rounder'' is by far the most numerous;
in fact, there are only a few well known
female FOUNDERS" The male rounder is
generally about 40 or so years of age.
There are some of them who have reached
their three-score and ten. Most of them
have been in almost every department in
the city, and many have run the gamut of
nearly all the bureaus.
The rounder is not good clerk He
often is addicted to vinous and intoxi-
eating fluids. He lost the first place he
had by either his uufitness, gin, or because
it was wanted fer some one else. Hethen
took the first step in the career of a round
er. tic went to work to got another
place. He went at it Systematically and
with determination to win. Rebuffs
soon became what he expected, and finally
success attended him. From that place
he has been removed only to take UP the
| light for place elsewhere He is ALWAYS
hard up. At least half Of the time he is
ont OF place. He then lives on credit
The salary of the next place that he drops
into is taken up in paying his debts, which
he calls "surrying dead horses" lie
dresses seedily and does not indulge in hot
lunches but eats his cold roll and butter.
But he seems to enjoy life pretty well.
He is never down hearted is always full
Of jokes. His "reminiscences Of rounder
experiences are amusing. People who
have business in the several departments
will sometimes miss a face familiar to them
by their frequent visits to Il certain room.
In short time they will see that face in
another department. The rounder has
made another fight. He has been turned
out once more and once more has caught
on" There is q clerk in one department
who in l6 years service under the govern
ment has been removed from place ten
times. About salary the rOundcr is never
very particular He does not ask for .
81 200 or 81 600 position. He only wants
any kind Ofplace. Heneverget more thar
81 200 year. He is generally on a TEN.
pOrary roll at and between $500 and 5000
Very often he will take place as laborel
and is glad to get a watchmans billet
In the course of many years picking q
living here and there on the government
some of them have managed to become
acquainted with members of Congress:
who, when the time for the rounder's re-
moval comes with its usual regularity, are
called upon to help him get another place
1t does not surprise the rounder to gel
bounced. He really expects it he woulC
feel lonesome if he was kept in one place
longer than twelve-month.
The female reunder, as Just said, is not
so numerous as her male prototype Sh,
is just as mercurial, however, and Just a:
persistent. She often brings tears to hel
aid in ginning for new place, and gen.
orally has more or less children to sup
port. She is of a new growth, compare
lively. "Six years ago." said an ole
stationary of the treasury department
81 did not know a single rOunder of the
the opposite sex. 1 can now count twelve
to my certain knowledge, ofcourse there are
many more of then. ."-Wdshiaqto Star