Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
WATCHING THE CLOCK.
One of the Odd Characters of the Navy
Experimentation EHe Keeps Watch
Over the Department. CloCix-A Prac-
teal Joke OF Which EHe Was the
Victim

The Navy department contains its share of
the odd characters who are to be found in all
the executive departments Prominent among
them is clerk who, although advanced in
years is full of life. In years gone by he prac-
ticed medicine, and is still called Doctor. His
principal oddly is in seeing with unvaryine
promptitude daily that the noon ball at the
naval observatory falls on time The large
clock which stands in the corridor near the
Secretary's door has an electric connection with
the observatory, so that the drop of the ball is
indicated BY click and Jump of the second
hand OF the clock, and If the Doctor should ever
fail TO hear the click and see the jump, that he
may compare them with his chronOneter, there
is no telling what would follow. The shadows
outside his Office window warn him of the ap-
prOach of midday. and glance at his watch
tells him when to make a move. At exactly
two minutes of12 o'clock official papers and Of
flee cares are thrown to the winds. With
sudden bound he dashes out of
the room, watch in hand, and strides down
the corridor. He takes his stand In front of the
big clock and. with his spectacles over his fore
head. glances rapidly from clock to watch and
from watch to clock until the MONDAY click has
clicked. While In this posture of expectancy
he pays no heed to the chaff of fellow clerks the
wondering gaze of visitors or the giggling Of
messengers, but watches and waits, in all things
else like statue. After the second hand has
jumped he slowly closes his watch and beams
complacently upon those who may be near him.
''Row does she run to-day DOCTOR" soma
one is sure to ask.
Three seconds slow, SIR" is the prompt re-
Spouse.
(which. the clock or the watch?"
"The clock, of course; this watch has only
varied five seconds In the past year, sir. The
clock is three seconds slower than observatory
time. The watch and the observatory are to-
gether."
The above conversation or one very like it,
may be heard six times week by the big clock
in the Navy department corridor. The Doctor
Is possessed of an unbounded good nature,
which Is seldom ruffied. although some of the
younger clerks joke him pretty severely On
other than clock matters In the early days Of
civil service rules some of the boys in his office
cOncOcted a scheme Of having daily reports of
the amount of work done. which by good deal
of forging of superior officials names had the
semblance Of ultimately receiving the attention
OF the Secretary. The Doctor was not in the
secret, and thought the system genuine one;
but was daily worried and mystified by the fact
that his name was credited with only half the
work actually performed, aud never rested
until he had succeeded in correcting the mistake
by furnishing unmisrakable proof in the shape
of letters in his handwriting. He finally saw
through the joke and enjoyed it as much as the
rest. The other day at noon he had the pleas
ure OF escorting a number OF pretty
young ladies through the department, but was
so Mustered by the proximity and watchfuness
OF some of the boys who spent lunch time ap-
parently in doing the building. that in endeav-
orlng TO lead his fair squadron from the Score
tary's room he mistOok the door and had them
inspecting the Secretary's elegant bath-tub be-
fore he knew it. One thing that the Doctor
takes especial pride in is his skill at rolling ten
pins Notwithstanding his years. he rolls the
Oal!a with surprising accuracy, and has bested
MANY opponents more youthful and apparently
harder than himself. He has standing chal-
lenge. to which he calls the attention Of the
boys when they attempt to bette his prowess.
Notwithstanding his idiosyncrasies the Doctor
is an excellent clerk. attending to his duties
with Judgment and accuracy. and his impcrtur-
bable good nature makes him everybody s
friend.