The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-07-16
UNCLE SANS NIECES.

Hulhocr l'',OVO narklng au army half again as
large as that Of Nonophou in the retreat which
he writes of in his "Anabass.' A curious
army it is-od and young men aud won en-, of
all types, strong and weak crippled, and act
ivc-its variety is rs broad rs that of human
life Fihy-cight hundred of its number receive
salaries which range from 5000 to 81 800 a
year. aud ALL from chief to privates, arc allotted
vacation of one whole month at almost any
time of the year they choose to take it.
This army of clerks never strikes 1t is con-
tent with its wages, and it has no reason to com
plain OF its hours of work. These hours are
practically only six daily. The departments
open at o clock, and the clerks are expected
to be at their desks at that hour. They work
steadily until noon, and then take usually an
hour for luncheon. AT o'clock they arc back
at their desks, aud at 1 their days work is
done.
The treasury contains between $500 and
1000 clerks. 1t is tho largest department of
the Government. At 4 p. IN. four human
streams pour forth from its various exits and
the streets arc crowded in q moment. Here
goes n dashing young lady with lunch basket
in her hand, dressed in the latest fashion and
with Il new spring bonnet resting jauntily
above her banged curls. Beside her is gay
young man i'll a Derby, who chats with her
almost lovingly as they pass out together. In
front is q plainly dressed old woman, who prob
ably keeps family out Of the S72O q year which
she makes by copying papers all day long, and
back of her is long, thin dude with q collar
rs big rs shirt cuff and enormous cars. Fur
thor bnrt, * n in,
rs you look at her you wonder whether her hus-
band was soldier.
There are 1000 women in the Government
departments at Washington, and among the best
looking and most intelligent ladies of the capt.
tai arc SO employed. They come, rs IL rule,
from good families. Many Of them are the
widows of noted Generals, the daughters of
cx-Govcrnors and ex-Congressmen, and now
and then you will find the relative Of q Pres-
dent or n Cabinet minister. Many Of them
have Travelled widely and the great majority
are educated and refined ladies'. They do all
kinds of work, and receive salaries ranging
from S12O to 81 500 year. As money count
crs they arc much more expert than the men,
and the rapility with which they count thous-
auds upon thousands of dollars without making
mistake makes your brain VIII; as YOU watch
them. These money counters bout So
mouth, and they count millions Of dollars evcry
month. At one sdo of each one on the table
lie great PILES Of grccnbacks, douc into pack ages
as they come from the press | am spca king
BOW Of the IL ticmprion bureau of the treasury.
These bills are old and dirty. The strip of
paper around each package of 100 bills states
A.,
the country. The young laly takes this off, and
mUistcning her fingers with the wet sponge in
front OF her, she counts the bills like lightning
and, if the package is not right, she reports so
TO the chief, and the banks from which the bills
come must stand the loss. The girls seldom
make n mistake, and il they do so or pass q
counterfeit without noting it they must make
the mistake good, and the amount is taken out
OF their salary They can tell, however, n bad
hill simply hy feeling it, anl u bank cashier
will make hundred mistakes where they
make one.
Not long ago one Of the young laly CO untcrs
was engaged upon Il lot of 500 notes She
had been dronpin" the scraps on the floor be-
side her III II pile, attc. verifying the count
While she vas countihga pack tgc she would
lay this scrap, marked with The name of the
bank which sent II, on the table beside her
At last she carc TO package that contained
only nnety-ninc notes. anl on looking for the
scrap was terrified to fad that it had fallen
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