The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-07-21

Miller, the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, has been telling the Glo6e-Demo-
cr0t correspondent his experience in dis
charging obligations to West Virginia
friends He made up list Of fourteen
working Democrats he was expected to
do something for and sent for the first on
the roll. No. ] came down and the Com
missioner said "See here, Pve got va
cancy as messenger. Pm sorry, but its
the best ! can do just now Seven hun
dred and twenty a year, you know" "All
right" replied the West Virginian, cheer
lily; "Tll take it," He is something of
dude; and when he came to the Depart
ment the next day he walked into Mller's
Office wearing tall pearl-colored hat and
carrying n cane in his kid-gloved hand.
He hung the hat up alongside of the Com
mssioner's, put his stick in one corner,
pulled off his gloves, walked out in the
hall and took chair. When o'clock
came he got his hat and cane and was
| starting off with the air of u man who had
done the Government one days service.
| "Ilullo," called the messenger in charge of
| that floor, you amt going, arc your" The
| West Nirginian allowed he was. "Well,"
| said the floor boss, "wc messengers don't
| leave when the other officials do. We're
expected to stay around till o'clock There
are some spittoons TO Clean and
| this hallway needs hopping up"
The West Virginan looked u little
queer us he asked: "Am / expected to do
such things?' "Certainly," was the reply,
"the rest of us fellows all do it," "Well,"
said Millers friend, "Pve never done that
kind of work The niggers do it where
The messenger went into Miller's room,
wrote out his resignation and left it where
joe would get it the first thing in the
morning. The next day No. = of the
Commissioners list was on duty. lie lasted
just two days Before the end of the
week No. 3 was telegraphed for and came
down. Miller thought he'd be frank,
and he explained the situation, telling his
friend Just what duties he would have.
"Thatll do first rate. for me-" said Number
Three. Beats blowing corn in Il fellows
shirt tail up the mountains, you bet. Sixty
dollars a month and work in the shade
isn't to be sneezed at" And Number Three
is still at it. When 4 o'clock comes he
pulls of his coat and puts on hickory
overshirt and does his share of the
drudgcry. 81 made mistake" the Com
missioner says, as he contemplates the
eleven names on his list. 81 called this
fellow too soon. Here's half a dozen at
least could have worked the Waterman
racket on and then have come to him.
might, too, have paid of eight or ten
debts, and here can only check three
#*M
As Secretary Endicott was entering his
name upon the register of u New York
hotel the other day there stood in his way
a man whose face had been handsome be-
fore rum beared ii and whose clothes were
the wornout remnants of fashionable suit,
but whose big figure retained port which
made him still imposing. He extended
his hand and said: aHow are you
Judge ?" with an assurance and heartinesa
which made repulse all but impossible
The detective on duty in the corridor
stepped hastily forward took the hummer
by the arm and told him he must not an
noy the guest. "Whatw the chap ex.
claimed Indignantly 81 annoy Judge Endi.
colt? Why, he and | were college chums u
Secretary Endicott chatted minute with
his old acquaintance, got away from HIM
without resorting to rough process, and
afterward said; "You are right in surmis
ing that he wanted an appointment to of
flee, and that he based his request on the
ground of our college relationship. lie
was nearly foremost in my class; his fam,
| lily had wealth and responsibility with
which to help him forward, and there
seemed to be no reason why he shouldn't
distinguish himself in life. For ten years
| have not seen or heard of him. lie
seems TO have wrecked himself. Suppose
now, that he had sent to me a written pc
tition, signed by numerous reputable per
sons and reminding me of my former
knowledge concerning his abilities, isn't
it easily conceivable that might limo
Gently and properly have placed him il
Government employ? All, good character
at the beginning of a decade is too offer
all gone at the end"