The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-10
WORKING FOR UNCLE SAM.
A Woman Clerks Story.

the Government Departments at Wash
ington is not by any means bad exis-
tence. | have tried it and speak from
experience.
One day not long ago l found my
way to the office of the Secretary in the
Interior Department. A colored man
OF great dignity sat outside of the door,
and upon my entrance into the ante
room rose respectfully and, taking my
card, waved me to a seat to await re-
suits while he disappeared through a
doorway opposite me.
In few minutes | was ushered into
a large room, half office, half library,
and facing digni6ed gentleman who
rose and politely asked me to be seat
ed. He still held in his hand the letter
l had sent in by the porter together
with my card. the black border ol
which looked as strange and forlorn as
my life was then. In as few words as
Apssihle told nim my history up &c
that moment and why had applied to
him. Would he give me position as
clerk in the Department.
He silently turned over several pack
ages of paper lying on the desk beside
him, and then said "Do you know
your application makes 1901 that
now have before me, asking for clerk
ships in this Department."
One thousand and one How
quickly my thoughts flew back to the
strains of favorite waltz, Zone Thous
and One Nights p The room and the
man before me faded before an
other vislon-a group of gay young
girls dancing to the music of the waltz
as it dripped from my careless fingers.
Zone Thousand and One Nights !!
Less than that many nights before
had been one of party listening tc
that music played by German band
"Under the Linden" in Germany, loved
and cared for, with no thought OF sor.
row.
l was brought sharply back to the
present, with its bitter contrast, by the
entrance of the porter, followed by two
gentlemen. The Secretary shook my
hand as farewell, and promising tc
send me an answer in the morning
bade The porter see me safely to the
car in the next street. In Arranging
my veil a watch guard unclasped anG
dropped with rattle to the floor. One
of the gentlemen who had just entered
picked 1t up, and looked significantly
at it and then to the Secretary, handed
it to me. 1t was the square and com
pass set in large white diamonds, which
belonged to my husband | do not know
whether that little incident helped me
to gain my position or not, but have
thought possibly 1t did, as | saw the
same design hanging from chain worr
by the Secretary of the interior.
Next morning the bell boy brought q
note and large official document con-
lining my appointment to clerkshiE
IN the Pension Office at salary of ST..
900 year. was to go the following
Monday morning at 9 O'Clock for ex
examination and to be assigned 10 i:
room with others thus employed. The
next two days were spent In search fo
clearinghouse. Of these | founc
plenty, but at not one desirable place
could | get room and board withou
that all-important thing, some recon
mendaticn, thing had never once
even dreamed of having.
I think my experience those two
days ought to be written, and would bs
interesting, to say the least, to students
of human nature. My only crime, un
fittess or whatever you may term it, a.
expressed or hinted, was my being "sc
young," $50 pretty" and a "widow +
Think of it. | wished most hearth,
that day that might be old, gray ant
hideous ugly. l am glad there was M
wicked fairies about that could chang,
people at their own wish. l fear
should have been left repenting, a clerl
to this day in that old gloomy building
on the avenue. AS l could not chang,
my face, and certainly it was not m,
fortune, l decided to change my tao
tics, through the means of the telegraph
| was enabled to secure satisfactor,
references, even for that particular anc
pampered class, Washington landladies
On the Monday following | went tt
a building on Tenth street, think th'
same one where President Lincoln wa
carried mortaly wounded if not, it wa
next door to it-where the examina
tions we've held. In answer to my raj
l was admitted to a long, low ceiet
room filled with writing tables an(
chairs. AT one of these tables two la
dies were busily bending over pen anC
ink, evidently undergoing the ordea
through which 1 must pass. A short
stout gentleman with pair of large
green glasses surmounting his most
looked over my paper of appointment
| and giving me chair at one OF tn,