National Republican., 1884-06-28

An advertisement indicating that
lady residing in the northwest section Of
the city would, for consideration, pre-
pare all comers for tho lucrative occupa-
tion Of government clerks encasing thom
In an intellectual armor, proof against
the shafts Of the civil service examiners,
met tho eye Of n REPUBLICAN, reporter in
: an evening paper yesterday. Affecting
WEAKNESS in the labor of lovo in which
he was engaged with more or less success,
he applied at the house indicated for the
terms and conditions under which he
could be fitted for the highly intellectual
occupation Of sitting at desk for seven
hours day and copying letters.
A buxom lady with laughing eyes, but
business-lilSe air received tho candidate
courteously, and before answering tho
question proceeded to inform herself as to
his educational standing.
"Parse me this sentence, Man Is born
to sorrow, as tho sparks fly upward. I"
The task was accomplished, but not with
out mental protest against tho augury.
"If two men can dig up o ten acre lot
In six days and half, how long would 1t
Iako seven meu 10 ulbJuTU tuo buIiuCo VI
one twelve acres in extentW
Tho reporter succumbed, and confessed
his mission to bo that Of obtaining infor-
nation for tho public, and not with a
desire to aspire to governmental great
ness himself. Theroupon tho lady,
adapting herself TO the new situation with
ease, told her caller something of what
she knew about preparing candidates.
During tho past year her sole reference
in this branch Of education, she had pre-
pared about hundred candidates, all of
whom had succeeded in passing the ex-
animation, and many in obtaining the
much coveted place.
"How long does IL take to fit person
of ordinary education for tho test2"
"That depends opon his or her in
telligenoe. application, and, perhaps more
than all, the period since they left school
/ have put many up to the standard In
twenty lessons, and then again Others
have had to take double that number oil
more. I only charge SIS for these twenty
hours at present, but it'll is really worth
more, SO many require the teacher to dc
all the studying for thom."
what is your plan Of instruction with
adults"
much the same as with children.
find out how far in arithmetic they or,
perfectly safe in, aud start them righ
there to work up to the rule they will
be called upon to work in. Then tax,
them in grammar, American history, ant
other subjects they will be examined in
polish up their penmanship and orthog
raphy and they are ready. / have hat
some highly intelligent pupils, and other
just as stupid; some know far more prob
ably than their examiners, but they arr
nervous and lack the confidence in thei
aost 20 ata aatanhiepa
of these are candidates for promotion, an,
the task Of preparing them is very easy
The ladies who come to me are also goot
subjects, as o rule, but when they ar
backward then they are awful"
A pupil working for the coming exami
nation entering at this moment. the re
porter left to seek out some other less oC
cupied teacher for further particulars.
A gentleman who has devoted years t
private tuition was next seen. "Yes,
he said 81 have prepared quite numbe
for the civil-service examinations, but
is very unsatisfactory branch of IN
profession. Those who want such sci
vices have no money to pay for them, q
q rule, and those who have are hard I
manage. Many only come for a brushin
upon certain subjects that they feel yea
! in, and then they not infrequently &c
disgusted and 60 away with the idea tn,
influence is still the thing needed to &,
government employment. Still more al
ply and are astounded ut my audacity
yaluing my time at dollar an hour"
"You do not mako any agreement
prepare them in given time or for
given sum?
mo, and anyone who does is not homes
Some who apply are very rusty, or new,
were bright. Most of the deficiency is
grammar. In fact, have scarcely an.
one coming to me who knows any gran
mar. Many who are deficient in 9th
branches are good arithmeticians, son
very expert at mathematics, but the
minds are perfect blank on the ma
facts of American history or tho rud
ments of grammar"