Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-12-11
LIFe IN WASHINGTON.
r,pericnce OF = Man who Came to Secure
n Government Position.

r,perience Of Man who Came TO Secure
. Government Position.
He sat on O Lafayette square bench, saws
the washington Critic, wooden tooth-pick
held msditatively between his teeth, the
ncture Of club-man who had dined well.
Shutting down one Of the graveled paths
was man--a tramp. He passed the club
man, eyeing him closely, and, halting In the
gloom Of nearby tree, looked back to
where the club-man sat and then retraced
his steps.
"Ysur pardon, sir" the tramp said, in
husky voice, "will you give me little ad-
vice."
"Well, what is iti' the club-man asked,
shade Of annoyance showing In his good
natured features, for, like most heavy
diners, he disliked any thing that savored
of business after dinner. Besides, he
thought the man but beggar, and disliked
his not approaching the matter directly.
"PD take but minute Of your time, sir.
IL you'll listen to me. came to Washing
ton two months ago to get government
position. As you see, failed. For the last
eight days up % last night have been
drunk. have been drinker all my life,
but never drank so much nor so steadily
before woke up this morning with the
sun shining in my face through the trees
of park. Ny clothes were pawned and
replaced with these rags, my watch, money,
every thing gone for drink.
.'Did you ever have mania-a-potui No; I
can see that you haven't. Well, Ihave.
Two hours ago felt it coming on me. You
can see, holding up tremulous hand, ,'show
'unstrung my nerves are. can almost see
the devils now as they tighten their fingers
on my throat. And the thirst-thirst that
nothing but. alcohol will quenoh. You can
not imagine what II is to feel yourself petri-
fed, powerless. .deadto every thing but pain,
while lizards, ants, toads, worms, snakes,
every thing slimy, are twisting, wriggling,
squirmfdg over you, cumming your eyes
together. filing your ears with horrible
sounds, while every joint in your body is
racked and twisted until it seems
ready to come apart. Your brain on fire,
your throat parched and swollen, and the
hot, fetid breath OF devils in your face as
they taunt you with great faeons Of liquor,
held just out Of your reach. God, siri This
and q thousand times this I have felt, and
feel coming over me again.
~ asked you for advice. Well, I've got
quarter in my pocket. can get bed for
quarter, or can get q pint Of whisky that
will keep me out of the reach Of these devils
tonight until can get to sleep. But where
would sleepi If l get q bed I can't sleep
unless have something to drink. You sec
why asked your advice"
When the tramp began his story the club
man wore look Of wearied indifference.
But the tramp talked quickly and excitedly
with jerky, expressive gestures, his hollow
eyes fixed ON the club-man's every look and
every motion, lending strength to what he
said, until the club-man seemed fascinated.
AS the tramp finished he got up from the
bench and shook himself like man ridding
his mind Of an unpleasant day dream.
"Ugh, man. you ought to be an actor.
Here's fifty cents. No, here's q dollar, and,
for Gods sake don't talk TO me any more
about your delirium tremens. Ughl''
And the tramp bhuffled of through tho
deepening gloom, and. a. he passed into the
glare Of the electric lights In front Of the
Treasury, the dollar and tho quarter
jingled merrily In his pocket.
He was an ex-actor