The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-03
CONGRESSMAN HOUNDED.
Offices Sold In the Nations Capital and
Honest Women Scandalized
by Adventures.
The Social Relations of COngressi onal
Delegates Used as u Rod
of Terror.


WASHINGTON, d. c., January 80, 1885,
In looking up the now notorious Roths-
childs case of Detroit, stumbled upon a
phase of the service in the executive branch
of this great and glorious Republican Govern
ment which certainly needs reformation. But
that reformation should properly come from
the Crimial courts OF the District of Columbia.
There has gravitated to the city of Washing
ton within the past decade small brigade of
women whom nature endowed with shrewd-
ness, and who are as devoid of the principles
of business honesty as the utter neglect of any
early teaching in that direction can make
them. From girlhood they have been adven-
turesses. Beauty without modesty, passion
without concentrated affection were their
childhood characteristics. Many of them have
been married, more have not. All
have had a large education, beginning in
schools and academies, and graduating from
that broad college, the world, whose text
books are everyday contact with mankind.
1t is the woman of strong affections and keen
sense of shame who, falling, goes quickly to
ruin. These sordid sirens of the city of
Washington are of a different caste. They
are
LASCIvIoUS WITHOUT LOVE,
and as wise as wicked. All have travelled.
Some have visited not only the large cities of
this country, but the capitals Of Europe, and
are familiar with their Princes of Wales and
Freddy Gebhards. They are more or less ex-
perienced in various businesses and profess
sions. Some hold diplomas emitting them to
the affix IN. D." or 81. L. B." and one was
might have been a sd. D." The
majority, however, have been, and
some are still, disciples of lit
erature. While in most cases their beauty
has faded, their wits have sharpened and their
cheeks hardened. Where there has been a
decay of natural charms art supplies the
deficiency. A varied experience makes them
| entertaining conversationaliSts and apt de-
| cipherers of character. Practice has made
them perfect in their vocations. When their
numbers were few they employed their wiles
individually; but the danger of their calling
| soon led them to form guild of their own,
whose constitution, like that of Britain, is un-
written, yet doubly binding for mutual pro-
lection. The alacrity with which they avail
themselves of every opportunity to increase
their power by widening their held of opera
tons through the agency of innocent persons
commands admiration.
No sooner had Secretary Teller announced
his intention not to appoint women in his de-
partment than the disappointed seekers for
place met to
CONSULT OVER THEIR DISCONTINUE.
A society was formed to assert the rights of
women to fair share of governmental en-
ployment, composed principally of innocent
women who felt that an indignity had been
done their sex, but who were not SO anxious
to resent it as to get places that would yield
bread and bonnets. The sirens led them into
the foolish act of issuing denunciating TRADE
upon all heads of departments, and upon
Secretary Teller in particular. Having
taken this step, the adventuresses easily
led the innocent in the society into deeper
depths. The name of every female APP
plicant for Office in the city of Washington
that could be obtained was placed on the rolls,
and these persons were requested to pay in
their little dues. The fund thus accumulated
formed a nice little capital for the sharp wits
to work with; but the expansion of their
acquaintance by commingling with the numer-
Gus members of this society was the great
bonanza for these pert pelicans. The per-
Sonal history of each member and her blood,
social and political connections, were soon
familiar to the. designing ones and all were
used to advantage. Innocent girls of this
society who get places in the departments
were induced to contribute to the sustenance
of those still out in the cold, and
less conscientious creatures were thrust
into place by this concentrated
force made to act as spies on
women already in Government employ.
This was what these precious pirates most
desired. 1t is an accurate knowledge of the
| social
RELATIONS OF OFFICIALS AND FEMALE
CLERKS
that makes the class of women about whom
this article is written such formidable claim
agents.
The course of the Mosby woman in the
Rothschilds case is a fair sample of their
manner Of operations. She learned what Of
tcer OF the Treasury department it was who
had the settlement of claims. She became a
boarder in the same hotel with him. She ate
at the same table. She scraped an acquaint-
ance with his wife. She attended the wife
in sickness. She gradually got the freedom
OF the ofhciaPs house. She became familiar
with his official acts. She got access to the
official papers he brought to his rooms to
work on of evenings. She became.-conversant
with the history of special cases. She visited
his office. She became acquainted with his
assistants. She says she learned mis- partiality
for pretty lady q .rk in his department. She
put detective on the track Of the official and