News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-01-25
THE MAN FROM ARKANSAS.
HOW STERN WASHINGTON OFEI-
CIAL'S HEART WAS AIOVED TO
PITY.
4 Washington Correspondents Tells this
story of Onice-Seeking Life at the
Capital.

Capital.
Among the crowds which thrOnged tn
ante-rooms of the State Department
seeking for Consulships at the beginnin!
of General Garfield's Administration
there came man of modest, patient de
meanor, who hailed from Arkansas.
He aspired TO be Consul at some un
important point, and he had secured tht
indorsment of a number of CongressmeI
who vouched for the excellence of hi!
record as a soldier. The case was one
which appealed to the sympathies of the
Assistant Secretary, before whom the
matter came primarily for decision. He
was, however, unable to take action for
several weeks. The man was a daily
visitor at the Department, and as il
seemed to the kind-hearted official was
growing seedier and leaner as the weeks
passed by. Toward the end of May, as
the man entered the office one day, Mr..
Hit said:
''You have been here long time, have
you not ?"
The man hung his head and meel1Iy
admitted that he had.
''Now tell me truly" said the Assist
ant Secretary, 'haven't you been here
since the 4th of March, seeking this
office?" The applicant blushed and,
after moments hesitation, admitted
that he had been in Washington since
the Inauguration of the new Administra-
ton.
"Have you a wife %
"Yes."
"And you have her here, too, have you
not?"
The answer was a whisper in the
affirmative
"And have you children?"
Yes, sir.
''How many?"
-Four"
''And you have had them here all this
time, too-wife and chiIdren-have you
not ?"
Tears cholled the voice of the poor
man as he verified the Assistant Secre-
tary's suspicious.
''WeI, now" said Mr.. Hit, his SYM
pathies for the misguided fellow over
coming his customary official reserve.
twill make you a promise which [ have
made to no other applicant-but on one
condition. If you take your wife and
children and start for home tomorrow, |
viii make your case a special one, and I
will see the President personally about it
during the week.
The applicant heaved a sigh of relief,
reflected moment, and with choking
voice asked if he might not return the
next day. NO" said the Assistant
Secretary. "You have been here too
long already. [ viii do as L have said,
but only on the condition that you go to
your home tomorrow.
The applicant again reflected, and
asked to be allowed to come
once more.
''No, sir," said the official. ''You have
your fate in your hands. Go home, or [
do nothing i'll your case"
The man turned slowly on his heel,
heaved a sigh, and with his hand on the
door-knob said he would think of it.
Just at that moment the door was
pulled open from without, and a local re-
porter entered The reporter and the
saluted each other familiarly
with "Hello, Bob :" ''How are you,
Tom?' as the one passed in and the
other out.
"What," queried the Assistant Secre-
tary, addressing the reporter, "do you
know that man from Arkansas ?'
''Man from Arkansas % repeated the
reporter, with an infection indicating
and amusement. Hes no man
rom Arkansas. He's clerk III the Pen
sion Office; his wife keeps a boarding
house on f street. I've known 'em for
eleven years used to board with 'em."