The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-31

| of speech, with a description of each part;
six accents and their use in connection
with letters; three accents and their con-
nection infection; to name the manner in
which type is made up into forms and give
the definition of form; to make ten marks
used in correcting proof; to give the mean
Ing of signature as used in printing; to
name the ten specimens of type furnished,
and to write a title page for the annual re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury
"What should proof reader do when
he finds a sentence dramatically wrong?"
was asked.
The following was IA bad sentence to be
corrected: ''this is the composition of
johnson founded on some note or statement
of il speech Johnson said that speech rote
in a garrett on exter street see bossellman
Johnson on 1741."
SPELLING.
The spelling exercise consisted of the
following list of words Some of them
were correctly, others incorrectly spelled
How many can you spell correctly?
Flaccid, Maintenance, Cuspidor,
Dipthong, Britannia, Erysipelas.
Sacrilegious, Naptha, Pistil,
Inadmissibe Relevant. Cupola,
Tranquility Battalion, Traceable,
Alleged, Plagiarism. Sewage,
TrcatiscS. Dereliction, Desiccate.
EDITORIAL
The last exercise consisted in writing an
editorial. not to exceed 500 words. on the
first annual report of the Secretary of Ag-
riculture. This report embraced about 100
pages of matter The candidate was not
advised as to the character of editorial de-
sired, whether criticism or commenda-
tory article; whether for city journal or
for country patent outside. He was
merely given the report to read, but was
not limited as to time, except that the edi-
torial must be finished before 3 o clock that
afternoon, the examination having begun
on this second day at $50. After reading
the report it was to be returned to the ex-
amincr and the article written without
notes.
MANY FAIL.
Out of thirty-two, only three passed
successfully As the position for which
they were competing paid 81 600, the ex-
animation was considered to be hard one,
and the markings were made low. 1t was
necessary to attain general average of 20
in order to pass, soldiers excepted. they
being required to make only 65
REGULATIONS.
The questions were all printed, and each
sheet numbered, each applicant having a
number by which he was designated, so
that when the papers were submitted to
those who were to judge Of the merits of
the contestants the names of none of them
appeared. Unfairness in marking is thus
supposed to be avoided. The applicant is
required to furnish pen and ink and scratch
paper-that is, paper on which to make
calculations, if he so desire, before tran
scribing to the printed blank to be turned
in for examination by the Board
TIE CENSUS EXAMINATION.
Feeling that | had not yet undergone all
the woes of candidate for government
position in the civil service, concluded to
try the census examination, particularly as
much discussion has lately been INDUCED
in between the newspapers and Mr.. Porter
relative to the comparative merits of the
two examinations.
| was armed with the usual formal papers
admitting me to Superintendent Porter's
bureau, and arriving there was ushered
into room where there were - or 20 |
others, most of them being young ladies, |
though one or two could hardly lay claim
to so tender an age. 1t was not an I'M
pleasant wait of half an hour before being |
to the place of examination,
which we found to be long room with
long tables arranged much after the fashion
Of those in a country court house, for | had
a good opportunity to observe my fair
As my sex did not prevent
me from taking good look at them without
being rude, | really enjoyed the occupation.
But won tinfict description of them upon
you. They were like all such assemblages,
most of them pretty and all nervous.
We all began the task at the same time,
md had the privilege of occupying five
hours Our examiner was funny looking
title man, with stubby red nose and a
tubby red beard, and, of course, in keeping
With both, he also had red hair, and a
ountenance with an apparent patience
which indicated that he was good man
or the place. He was man that the
iris would not be likely to fall in love
nth. He was very on-eommunicative,
90, and with regularity in his move
lents worthy of well balanced mocha
ism he passed the question papers to the
ontcstants without word or visible sign
f any feeling of mercy or sympathy for
hose so nervous before him. For five |
ours did this little man watch us, and O
ontinue TO pass his question papers. In I
rider that you may have an idea of what | |
,me of them contained | append few 7
uestions from them. You may wonder
hat | knew about the Irish population, :
I'd that of the coIored man, but | shan't T
II you any answer gave. IL you, reader, :
nppen to be from New York, or Massa- .
lusetts, or jersey, you may answer.
Taken all together, | think Mr.. Porter's
summation fully as hard and equally as y
tactical as the civil service for the same 4
radc in respect to salary. Neither one "
entirely satisfactory to the general appli- n
int, who can never see the use Of certain p
Try useless queries, as he believes them to
;. Here are some we had to answer, as 4
EAR as | can remember them Y