Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-05-02

smooth sailing, and we feel really only
amusement when men like James Rus
sell Lowell and Mr.. Phelps come back
from England as English as the most
exacting Anglomaniac could wish.
If it be then that the position is a
purely social one in every element, the
diplomats wife is of scarcely less
national Importance than the diplomat
himself. If Secretary Blame and Pres
ident Harrison had selected the corps
abroad with sole regard to the female
representation, there could hardly have
been greater success.
Mrs. Lincoln, wife Of the minister to
England, has had "a long and brilliant
social experience, as the budding
daughter as the then Senator Harlan
during the War and the reconstruction,
and later as member Of the Cabinet
circle, when her husband was Secretary
Of War. Few women are more genuine
ly and unconsciously American in ev-
cry thought and action. Her social
status is so we'll defined and her exper-
fence so broad that there is no danger
that she will be overwhelmed or social
ly bu'lied by London society. A grown
daughter, a son aged sixteen and
younger daughter accompany their
parents.
Younger than Mrs. Lincoln by many
years, is Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, daughter
OF D. O. Mills, the millionaire of Cali
fornia creation. She is very attractive
IN appearance, of the blonde order, above
the medium height, and is notable in
dress for subdued colors. Mr.. Reid will
rent magnificent hotel in Paris, and
it is safe to say that his own thousands,
ably assisted by the Mills millions, will
create a respectable sensation even at
the French Capital. They will take
with them their son of seven and daugh-
ter, a tot of five years.
To the land of Andalusla, where we
have sent more gifted literary men than
to any other court, Mr.. Palmer Is &C
compan!ed only by his wife. being
childless. Mrs. Palmer is native of
Maine, and was an heress when she
met and married Thomas W. Palmer
While her husband was in the Senate,
Mrs. Palmer was a notable figure in
Washington society and proved her
self very clever society leader as we'll
as a kind and genial personality.
The wife of Col Fred Grant was Ida
Marie Monore, at the tirae of her mar
riage the recognized belle Of Chicago
She is very fine musician and some
what of linguist. There are several
young children, including daughter
born in the White House in 1876,
Mr.. Lyman IN speaking to your Cor
respondent said that The poor pay Of
such employees who are required to have
knowledge Of higher mathematics, as
contrasted with the compensation of
ordinary clerks, is one result Of the
long continuance of the system Of ap-
pointments through political favor.
1t is hardly necessary to SAY that Mr..
Lyman is a civil service reformer.-
The Offices, which the ordinary politi-
ical worker could fill, were provided
with comfortable salaries. The ordi.
nary political worker does not trouble
himself about the parameter of the
minor axis. The computer never
amounted to much IN politics, and
hence he was given a salary that taxed
his ability to the utmost IN computing
how he could make 1t cover his ex.
penses.
Some time ago the ordnance bureau
of the Navy department called for
clerk, who besides ordinary clerical
qualification in return for his 5000
year had to compute the center of gray
ity Of all the new guns so as to deter
mine where to place the trunnions.
The United States government, thor
the civil service commission, is hunting
all over the United States for compu-
ter. The government wants a man who
knows all about anal ytical geometry
and logar thms and the semi.parameter
of the minor axis. That is all he need
know, so the government offers him a
salary of $3.50 a year, with chance of
promotion to 5000. If he were compe-
tent to copy letters into ii book, or
write briefs on jackets, it would not pay
him to apply for this place, as he might
60 in and get a clerkship that would
pay him from $1,000 to $500 year
Civil Service Commissioner Lyman al
most despalrs Of filling this place of
computer. The vacancy is in the
Nautical A lmanac office and the an.