The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-08-11
give tne Girls n Chance.

termination not to appoint any more female
clerks. When man is informed that n
convention of strong.minded women is
about to sit on him, he is quito likely to
yield almost anything that may be de-
manded. In this case, however, the elderly
sisters were in the right. The avenues of
livelihood afforded by the clerical work Of
the Government have been opened to the
female sex so long that the custom of giving
women share Of the places amounts to law,
and cannot be nullifed by the will of any
Cabinet officer. The system undoubtedly
presents its evils and discomforts. Among
other things it is impossible for an appoint
ing officer to deal with female 9ppointees
on business principles as he would with
men.
Ifa male clerk bGcomes superfuous or if
the appropriation for his pay gives out, he
can be dismissed and that is the end of it.
But, in the case of q woman, the dismissal
only the beginning of difficulty. Her
first step is to appeal with tears to the sym.
pathy and compassion of the appointing
power so that whenever any considerable
force of women is dismissed in any Depart
mtut tHcIt buIC W Dc " oSCuci ilOni WhiSh
the hardest-hearted man might well shrink.
Then comes crusade for reinstatement or
appointment to some other place. The per-
sistency with which woman will cling to
such pursuit, particularly if she has chill
dren dependent upon her, is at once admir-
able and pathetic. At the point of rebuff
and disappointment, where man usually
gives up the case, a woman is generally
found to be just fairly getting in earnest
about it,
They besiegc everybody who can be sus'
pected of the slightest "inaucncc." Mem
bers Senators, newspaper men and promi-
nent citizens are alike levied upon for
toll Of "inhuence" and "help," until the
object is accomplished by sheer force of
patient persistency and imperturbablo to-
nacity. Now, man seldom or never goes
to another man for assistance in a matter of
this kind unless he has some real claim
upon the person whose "infuence" is de-
sired. But woman never thinks Of ask
ing that question. The merest personal
acquaintance, or, in default Of that, to know
the man by reputation is enough. She
assumes that he can get her place if he
will, and that it is always the duty of a
gallant gentleman to do whatever lady
asks him-not for any substantial reason,
perhaps, but simply from the dictates Of
masculine gallantry.
Take, for example, our friend Joe Black.
burn. Joseph, unfortunately for his peace
of mind, is reputed-and justly-the preur
choralier of the House, the most gallant and
chivalrous of our Solons. Him the female
office seeker regards as her natural friend
and protector. 1t makes no difference
whether she is acquainted with him or
not, she knows that his name is Joe Black
burn; sthat he is Kentuckian of the
Kentuckians, and by that token chival-
rous. Therefore the female ollice.seeker
goes for our Joseph by platoon. We
venture to assert that our Joseph has ap-
plications enough during one term in the
House to stock every Department of the
Government with bran new outfit of cleri-
cal females if he had the power to appoint
them. The venerable and benevolent
Singleton, of Illinois, is another victim.
The Rotund Robson is also kept no small
part of his time in state of siege from the
same cause. The Republican accessibility
and genteel manner of the Hon. Jim Blaine
make his house or Office another Mecca of
these indefatigable aud worthy sisters who
are thus
"Begging their brothers of the earth
To give them leave TO toll"
William L. Chandler is another favorite
object Of attack; for our William is so kind
IN heart and generous of soul that II he had
the places to give or the power to make
them, nobody in this world should go q day
longer without occupation--or salary.
The same is true of Lamar, Matt Ransom,
other royal good fellow in influential pos
tion who has the misfortune to carry in
his countenance or display in his manner
the goodness of his heart or the benevolencG
of his instincts.
Trust the offlce.seeking female +, find
out such man. She reads his face and
interprets his bearing at glance. "Thai
man win help me, know he will,p she
says to herself, and then she goes to him
for the help just as though ho owed her ,
debt of gratitude that he could never d.
enough to pay. Such is the situation ant
such will ii be SO long as women ar
eligible to clerkships and female human
nature remains unchanged No doubt
great deal of trouble and annoyance-some
times positive misery-grows out of thi
state of facts, but We do not see where tn
remedy is. 1t is manifestly impossible b
dislodge the sex from their foothold in tn
Departments. 1t would be cruel, as wei
as inexpedient, to dismiss those who ar
already emnloved in order tn ill thoi