The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-12
DEPARTMENT WOMEN.
GOVERNMENT CLERKS WHO %
NOT LEAD HAPPY LIVES.
Weary Women and Tired Eyed Girls.
sad Stories of Disappointed Mortals.
What II Means TO Be Furloughed The
Disease of Discomfort.

Disease of Discomfort.
In the weary women and tired eyed
girls who enter the cars one car easily
discern the government employees. If
one could see into the history of these
women who are left seated here, pages OF
LIGHT ard shallow would unfold thcr-
selves before )ne's wondering eyes IL
one could follow these women To their
desks in the morning. watch them rs
they eat their hurried luncheon either
brought in a napkin from the uninviting
boarding house table. and eaten sitting at
their desks, or consisting of a roll washed
down with a cup Of coffee or saucer Of
unsubstantial cream at some of the many
luncheon rooms in the rCighbOra0od Of
all the dcpartments-sit by their side
during the dragging afternoon. and when
the hour Of release strikes go with them
bacl, TO their tiny hall rooms in boarding
houses. and see the nerveleSs. wearied
look with which they throw Themselves
down go rest-ah. surely one would then
know better than now what endurance
and patience a woman must possess to be
a good government clerk
Scarcely room in all those depart.
menis but is rich In sad histories. llore,
sitting with bowed mead. writing at this
desl,-hcr stern. white features silhouet.
ted against the dark screen behind her
chair and the July sun shining fun on
Ter shabby black gowns a woman who
WAS in her youth the naughty daughter
of II proud and wealthy family in a
southern state Stories are still told
there of her extravaganza, her arrogance.
her exquisite Dresses and her beautiful
entertainments Married i'm her early
youth toa brave and loyal gentleman who
adorcd her and had the means to crafty
every caprice. the name of her country
home was a synonym for gracious hospi
tally. lie died with his affairs involved,
n long lawsuit swallowed up all that re-.
manned 20 her. and now. NJ nearly 60
years Of age she trudges through snow
and heat to work 10; her bread. submits
meekly 10 reproof il she is five minutes
late. and goes 20 her little home in the
afternoon too tired to do anything bat
slip on a wrapper drop on lounge and
try TO rest
There across the way sits 4 sweet faced.
faded looking woman She is anxious and
tired. though she brightens into a smile
~ she speaks but no one fathOms the
depths Of her burdened heart. Her
thoughts are far down in an old Virginia
farm house. whore her two little mother.
less nieces are running wild, destitute Of
education or reiiniuginiluences and wish
out any too much clothing. Their old in
firm grandfather sits helpless by the Gre
side in winter and on the vine covered
porch In summer and in droamiurof long
past DAYS forccts :he little maiious at bis
feet The best blood Of Virginia runs in
these chu ,reu's v.ils. tut blood uo rat
ter how b.ar 10 may be- does not feed on
cl0the or warm one and This amty i'm
Washington Is ,ho.r sole supporter and
protector. Ii her means kept pace with
the generous instincts of her warm and
loving heart how royalty would those vel
low haired niece5 be lodged and fed and
clad. But on the bare 5000 q year out
Of which must come board and laundry
bills and clothing and street car, what can
she do Yet by a noble self denial she
has managed 20 save something out of
this pittance. and is hoping IN the autumn .
10 bring these neglected lasoies To the .
the city and place them in good school, /
when in the midst of these happy plans .
She receives notice that on account of the .
failure OF the passage Of the apprOprla-
ton bill necessary TO carry on the work of
the room in which her work lies she and |
many Of the other clerks viii BE- fur
Laughed
DO you know what that means
1t means her position is abolished her .
occupation gone, and her cherished little .
hoard of earnings must be ussd to pay for
the bread to keep her alive.
Il would not mind for myself" she !
saws; Lean find work somewhere surely.
but and tears come into the patient .
eyes-"those babies down in the country, I
what will become of them2 can't sleep
at night for thinking"
In another room. not far from where
this womans work has been. is seated the
only daughter Of man who once counted
his wealth by the thousands Not a
pretty woman. though Once it would have
been thought heresy 10 say that in the
little northern town where she grew up
70 happy womanhood. And one can now
understand what a dainty charm might
Surround her if she were dressed In some
dark rich color that would throw her deli
cato tints into high relief Ifthat slender
foot were thrust into a shapely bronze
slipper deep hued tortoise shell pins held
those faXeu locks in place ON the little
head. and that milk white throat rose
above the folds of a wine red velvet gown,
can You not ste what pquant picture IL
would be-;
After leaving school she won't abroad
and studied for four years met charming
lcquaintaaces and stored her heart and
memory full Of pleasant experiences,
which Still are a fund of delight to her in
these evil DAYS upon which she has fallen.
The deaths Of her two brothers quickly
followed by the crash Of her fathers fall
ing fortunes and his paralysis, called her
back to this country and TO a new and
different life Friends had not gone with
fortune, and through their efforts well
paying clerkship was secured, and here at
her desk she sits and works with simple
bravery and unconscious heroism, going
home in the afternoon TO nurse with ten
ierest care the helpless old father, TO
whom her coming is as Il ray Of sunshine.
The bright visions of her youth have van
ished with her girlish bloom, but n cheer
full soul smiles ont of her worn face. and
an interest in books, art and friends keeps
her Young at heart.
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