The Donaldsonville chief., 1885-06-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
,uriosities of ONCE Seeking Literature
Concert at the White House Park-The
New war ship-Cleanihg-u Day in the
Obeying Orders. x
WASHINGTON. D. c.. June, 16 1885.
EDITOR CHEF: !,
While strolling through one of the De-
oartments the other day, had talk with
he appointment clerk upon the subject of
The return of the Office seekers. He told
ne that the changes in the civil service
during the past three months number
between five and ten thousand officials, and
vet the pressure for Office continues as
great as before. "There is almost moth
ing more peculiar about this business than
the way in which application papers come
into this Office" said the clerk. "Here you
see one that is printed in pamphlet form.
That is not uncommon, but it is somewhat |
expensive. Here is fellow who has been |
to a store and paid dollar for a scrap-book |
and pasted his papers in it. That, also, is
somewhat common form. See what lot
of them there are. Here is one from the
Governor of State to start with, and the
Democratic Senator follows, while several
members of Congress, college presidents,
ministers of the Gospel, and finally the
citizens of his town quite generally. Here
is petition drawn up by some fellow who
has reputation as scribe. See the orna-
mental handwriting" "Let's see! what
place is that?' "Oh, excuse me; cannot
give you the place. only call your atten-
ton to the ornamental handwriting. The
poor candidate probably paid ten dollars
for that, while should much rather have
kicked the man who wrote it if it were
mine."
"Here is an interesting way to put papers
together" continued the clerk, opening a
fine :norocco-bound book. All the papers
of this applicant are bound in this book
He felt certain that this would favorably
attract the attention of the President. But
this is the most common way in which
papers come in" As he spoke he united
large bundle of dirty, greasy petitions and
letters which had come in by mail. "1t is
no wonder, when one sees how much
trouble these applicants have been to in
getting recommendations, that they feel
disappointed when they fail. But it is one
of the necessary chances of seeking Office,
you know. They can't all succeed. The fell
lows who fail will send for these bound
volumes and hand them down as heir looms
to their children"
Senator Edmonds is building new house
ON Massachusetts Avenue, and it possesses
many novelties in decoration and arrange
ment. It is houee wholly above ground.
The first story contains little except the
stairway, hall, kitchen and household offices.
The entrance from the street is through a
low, round arch; and ell the living rooms
are above. There is magnificent double
bay window Like pavilion in the south
west corner running up through two sto.
ries. It will be charming residence. The
Senator paid 81 foot for the land, which
he bought from Mr.. Frelinghuysen, who
paid only 81 50 for it a few weeks before.
The second concert in the grounds of thu
Executive Mansion on Saturday afternoon
was even q greater popular success than tn
first one. There were thousands of peopl
present. The mistaken identities of las
week brought out the President, who ap
peared in his own person and stood in viey
of the people for an hour and half. Pres
ident Cleveland seemed to enjoy looking a
the crowd-at a non-speaking distance
I Miss Cleveland did not appear upon tn
south portico during the concert. Secre
tary Manning, Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Villas
! Mrs. Lamont, Senior Valera, the SPANS
! Minister, Madame de Struve, Miss Beac
. and Miss Mitchell comprised the party the
) listened to the music with the President.
4 learn that to Captain II. L. Howison vi
: be given the command of the new ste'
i cruiser atlanta, which will be placed Il
4 commission about the LIST of August. Th
i fine ship has her machinery in and vi
) have trial at the wharf in two or thre
9 weeks. There is naturally strong desir
among officers to be detailed to this shi
which is the finest large steel cruiser OF tt
United States Navy. Her armament of
= inch and 8-inch steel guns will be ready an
:, it is pleasant to know that in a few weel
. we shall have at least one first-class vi
(. ship which will have at least fair rate
II speed, and will carry as powerful guns
ID any ship of her size in the world.
Some time since Mr.. Cleveland found tn
J., during the week business accumulated.
certain amount of time had to be Civ
each day to various matters of routine, al
finally when he got to the end of it a sm
~ accumulation of matter was left over, al
. 80 Saturday has been reserved absolute
~ for clearing-up day.
no The various members of the Cabinet
" nally have decided to follow the same pie
10 But it don't work SO very smoothly
ny around. It occasioned laughable in
al dent at the Department of Justice last 81
IT, arday. The man who runs the elevator
"o an old soldier. He knows what an orc
IS means, and when he was told not to let a
H. one up he didn't propose to do 80. Abe
'er 10 o'clock member of Congress soul
81 massage. "My orders are to take no {
~ but employees of the Office up, said the ell
ator man, and I shall obey order
"D-n your orders. Pm an Amerit
=. citizen and have right to this pull
l's' building" "Don't know about tha
Ter said the operator. 81 know my ordt
all aud YOU can't ride here" So saying
or slammed the door and locked 1t.
'ep5 OK Yours truly, ALERT
Sad Career.
ISL ,..u;toof. pononz, million,
OF recently came to mournful death prlnclp
...hsx H.. lod nor