Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-28
New York Star Dem
Evolution of the Office Seeker,

Bureau officials at Washington are dis
cussing the remarkable change wrought by a
single years experience in the ideas, the
methods, and the appearance of the office
seekers 1t has been produced gradually, by
impercpptible degrees; yet it is as complete
| and radical as the most startling stage trans
formation ever contrived by conspiracy of
costume, scenery, trap doors and magnesium.
The office seeker Of year ago was a guile
less innocent, full Of child-lke confidence,
bubbing over with enthusiasm, wreathsd in
| smiles. and throbbing with proud expectation.
The office seeker of to-day is a gloomy
cvnic, stepped in frowns and incredulify.
He views life with sc0wlng eyes, and regards
his FLOW man as mortal toe. And all
tins i. the work of one sad twelve month.
Early in the summer OF 1885. Washington
.warmed with democrats A rule they
were whole .ouled men, who had travelled far
but kept their cheertuness, and VINO landed
at the capital with hearts as hight "a the grip
sacks in their honest hands. They gazed at
the broad reefs and scuptured marbles and
grac ous foliage of WASHINGTON after
the manner Of men who have come into
a rich inheritance and mean to do their
duty by it They went to shake the
democratic Presidents hand and to assure
him that they had no disposition to hurry
anybody about that office. And when they
visited the particular department wherein
their application was lodged, some smiling
private secretary had only to show them the
pigeon-hole in which the papers were filed,
and to assure them they were all safe and
being we'll cared for, in order to send them
away rejoicing. In those prmeval DAYS, to
which we now look back as to the vanished
innocence of childhood, the average office
| saaLor ar b,,t ~
vastness of the fields opened to him at Wash
ington, he contented himself with a general
application. and left detail to the government
He went there happy, confident, unsuspect-
| ing He came away satisfied, treasured. ex-
pectant He distilled odors of primitive faith
and genality. lie charged that wicked at
mosphere with the ozone of original Joy
| The office seeker OF to-day is his predeces-
sor's antpode He is an embittered, frown-
ing person; alert, suspicious, profoundly
versed in guile proof against cajolery and de-
ception. watchful, insistent and ubiquitous
| The private secretary does not live who has
the hsrdhood to show this gloomy citizen his
papers reposing in the pgeon-hole by way Of
reassuring him. He knows what office he
wants - knows all about it; can tell
the salary and perquisites to dollar; has
the exact date of its becoming vacant, and is
prepared to produce the republican incum
bent's resignation if that will open the wav to
appointment He is armed at all points :can
MT be put of by vague promises or pacfi ID
| by evssive answers. Cabinet officers lock
their doors and double the sentry at the outer
gate when he approaches. Chiefs of bureaus
fee from him. Congressman tremble as he
passes and the stautest janitor qusls under
his fixed and glittering eye. His innocence,
his sweet trust trust in man, his assurance of
realization-all, all are gone, never to re-
| turn.
| II is the terrible metamorphosis of exper-
| fence. IL is the evolution of woe.