Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-19

80 - VIII
judgment the clerk who saves anything
is considered a proper one 10 be dis.
missed.
For such reasons every one who has
served long in the departments adopts
thepolicy OF talking always about theil
expenditures, and the i~nadequaoy oil
their incomes. Each one wishes il
to be supposed that the months wage,
are all used as soon as received and
paid out for the actual necessaries o.
life.
One day there came into the room
where only a dozen women we're bend.
ing over their desks, a new recruit
Each lady raised her head aud glanced
at the self possessed and
SELF ASSURED PERSON,
who walked in with such a confident
air and returned the g%laDces with {
supercilious look bordering on CON
tempt 1.-THE new recruit" was a rather
dashing looking blonde who evidently
considered herselfa beauty aud that
her tawdry fnery must certainly
arouse a feeling of envy among those
staid, plainly dressed women. She did
not surmise that one OF those ladies
was the daughter Of a deceased naval
officer, and had been presented at all
the courts OF Europe. Another was
the widow OF q Consul who died in
Europe, where she had mingled with
royalty, and was now laboring for the
support Of her children. Another was
the wife Of a brave officer who had been
massacred by Indians. All were high
bred, cultured ladies, but each one
had drank of the cup Of sorrow ana
had laid aside the vanities aud frivols
ties oil life.
At the first glance these ladies set
tied the status of the new recruit, The
girl read the unfavorable impression
she had produced, and at once felt re-
sentiul. The thought flashed through
her brain that she could quickly force
themlto apologize to her by overpow-
ering them with illusions to
THE DISTINGUISHED MAN
who was her influence" and also by
a parade Of money. 1.-THE new recruit
did not fancy passing entire days in q
room full Of women. That was not
the society she was accustomed to.
When %cOnsenting to accept a place in
one Of the departments she had pic
tured to herself the opportunity for
firtations-lor making tie ready a 0
quaintance OF men who would take her
To places Of amusement, give her late
suppers and supply her with gifts OF
and other matters. The I'm.
luence" which had brought her to
Washington with him was only too
glad Tor the government and other
to share the expense Of support
ing her 10 her constantly increasing
.extravagant wants. 1t was to divert
attention from the intimacy that ex,
listed between them which had in
dueed him TO accede to her wishes and
her to Washington. Already
her expenses exceeded those OF his
wife, and he was glad to be able TO
force the government to assist him 10
her support.
Soon after her introduction to de.
partment life 10 Washington the girl
began to realize that the fnery which
excited wonder in her native village
was very poor stuff in this city of we'll
dressed women. Her wants began to
grow rapidly, and she was so empty
headed that she made a display of each
fresh purchase at the department.
that she really imposed on
people by assuming to be a lady, and
lnventiRg stories in which she was at
one time an injured heroine, at au-
other a girl upon whom depended a
vast amount Of important business.
In all her talk money wal of no value
or Importance to her. She had so
much OF it that it was a burden, and it
never seemed TO strike her that her
Listeners would wonder why she was in
if it was not for the salary. No
one had ever before heard Of a woman
"hO SOUGHT the once
MERELY FOR PLEAsTRE.
the many hundreds of female
employees not one had been found who
voluntarily went into a department.
except from the most urgent necessity.
The work was combining the surround.
ings un%eongenial and the pay small.
Men might find clerkships stepping
stones to something higher, but over
the doorways the motto for women
reads: Let those who enter here leave
all hope behind"
Strange as it sounds, the preten-
slons and assumptions of the new
recruit" had their effect. Every man
had made It his business to learn her
history and inform himself in regard
TO her life after Office hours. The
ladies drew their own differences from
her own compromising chatter. and
yet there was such %potencyin the name
OF her political influence" that men
courted her favor, and while she was
snuobed by some women, vet Others.
who were always trembling lest thew
should lose their places, feared 10
express any disapprobation, and treat.
ed with the utmost ciyility. All this
habits effect upon the new recruit
She made a parade Of her power and
her great privileges and immunity
from an observance Of the strict rnles
and regulations which governed
clerks OF unblemished character. She
exulted in her triumphs over the AM.
thorities who occasionally attempted
to enforce the rules, and cringpplv
they would ask her pardon for even
supposlng that such rules applied 10
The new recruit enjoyed the situa.
!lon. She was perfectly unrestrained
IN her life, and
CAST TO THE WINDS
the cOnyentionalities which protect an
unmarried woman when she desires N
De respected by her associates. She
INDUCED her taste for personal adorn.
ment, and lived in a suite Of rooms a..
TED up with great elegance. But wbile
she was at the high tide Of prosperity
mere came ab election which she liz
We Dreamed would affect her. Her
influence was no longer a power.
and the tlunkies who had cringed 10
her quickly changed their tone ana
@anners One day, while dreaming
Of her evenings pleasures, a sealed
envelope was brought to her. Casting
one OF her insolent and Triumphant
looks around the room, she with do
liberation opened the official doeu-
ment' She fanoied it was a tender
misslye from the Secretary himself
no doubt he had seen her and had
been overcome By her charma goon