The Baltimore County union., 1884-07-12
Washington Cor. Baltimore Herald,


To thousands ofpeople there is a fatal
charm in the idea of being employed in
government service. The department
buildings are veritable tombs of talent.
1t is mistake to suppose that the gov
ernment clerk is man of meager men
tai qualifications, retained from politi-
cal favor and not for special fitness.
There are thousands of college grad
yates here who spend their lives in add
ing up columns of figures. Years ago
men of superior education began as
clerks, just as starter in life, expecting
to climb upward in the line of promo
ton or by force of merit. They are
still at the starting-po getting gray in
labor that has become merely mechan-
ical and perfunctory, but bound to it
because they are unable tosee their way
clear into osomething better. Accustom-
Dread-and meat problem needs no solu-
ton, they have lost their native energy
for blazing path to a more inspired
occupation.
Secretary Lincoln said in conversa-
ton the other day: "There are clerks
in the War Department who would have
achieved fame and wealth in any voca-
tion of life-as lawyers, scientists or in
mercantilep pursuits. They are not only
educated, but have marked native abil-
ity. Why theyare content to wear out
their lives at government desk, for a
small salary, is mystery to me-
The only mystery is that these men
get into rut and cannot get out of it.
For years they have intended to go in
to something else, but have been unwill-
ing to abandon "sure' position for
an uncertain career in business depend
ent on their own exertions.
"One of the most accomplished men
I know" said Ex-Governor Long, of
Massachusetts,, ''is clerk in the Trea-
since 1867. He was graduate Of fIar-
ward in the class of 1866. He had an
uncle in Congress, who made the mis-
take of securing a clerkship for his
nephew. This young man was asplen-
did specimen both physically and men
tally. His classical and literary attain
ments are of high order, and his elo-
quence distinguished him above all
others at college. Every one predicted
for him a brilliant career at law or IN
literature. 1 have often advised him to
take up the practice of law, and for
wears he has talked of following my ad-
vice. But he has wife and five chill
dren, and he shrinks from the Possibii-
ity of subjecting them to want. For a
long time he worked for promotion IN
the departments, but like many others,
he met only disappointment"
This is only one case among thous'
and others that go to illustrate the mag
netism of government place. An ex
animation of the REGISTERS in the cover
I al departments show that many gradu
ates from leading colleges all over the
country, including Princeton, Yale
Harvard, Cornell, and the various state
universities, are poddling away as gov
ernment clerks. 1t is true that many
college graduates are not fitted for bril-
liant career in the upper walk of life
and some of them are doubtless better
off than they would be at law or medi
cine. But there are unqueStionably
many men of talent among them who
would reap distinction and wealth i
they had the courage to pull away from
the dray-horse existence into which they
have fallen.
In spite of the warning examples
there are crowds of people constantly
here anxious for any sort of place, SC
it is government work. For many the
civil-service law has no terrors. They
expect their Congressman to fix it up
for them, law or no law.
Over year ago man who had nE;ac; r; :;
ticed ]aace, entertaining no oount tna'
Se be would be employed right away. n, ne
had little money and put up at WI.
iard's He soon found it necessary te
move to cheap boarding-house' % 1hel
be went to a still cheaper one. lnel
he found it absolutely necessary tomov'
ont of his clearinghouse without pay
inc his bill. His clothes grew seeay
He He could neither get work nor DorIo, 15.
money enough to go away on. Finally
otter he had worn a path along the ire
lunch routes of the Capital, ne receive
the appointment of night watchma
at the Government Printing Ottlce at
salary of $50 amonth: There tins onI y;
LAWYER is now, with the skeleton OF Oil
appointed hope and the haggard meI
. ory of unpaid board.bills haunting NIL