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

The applicant for "A Civil Service exami-
nation in the city of Washington, after
having sworn that he is citizen of GER
tain locality. and that all other questions
such as to age, whether physically able to
perform the duties required, whether
married or single, whether convicted OF
any crime or under Indictment for any
crime. and numerous other queries pro-
pounded by the printed circulars
true, wends his way to City Hall building,
in which the rooms of the Commission are
located If it happens to be summer
time, and the candidate is too early, he can
bask in the delightful shade that surrounds
the classic walls of that edifce; or if his
tastes lead to art, he can contemplate the
wonderful statue of tx President Lincoln,
by Winnie Ream- Hoxie. that stands just in
front of the entrance if it be winter, he
can find shelter from the blasts Of Borcas
in the spacious corridors which are to be
found on every hand in this temple of
Justice But the average candidate is too
nervous on the day of the examination to
fully appreciate any of these comforts or
attractions. and usually gets as near to the
Commission rooms as he can, and as soon
as possible This was our case one morn
ing last September. We were at least a
half hour ahead of time.
While we stood in trembling cxpecta-
ton waiting to be admitted to the exami-
nation rooms. with ink. pen, pencil and
paper as our battling implements, the
Principal Examiner Col. w. II. Webster,
most clever and capable gentleman, by
the way, and his assistants were looking
for quarters in which to accommodate us,
because the unusually large number of APP
plicants being over 300, had more than
filled the space at the disposal of the Com
mission. 1t was found we could be pro-
vided for in another part of the building,
and in about an hour after the time APP
pointed for the examination to begin, we
were ushered into the Criminal Court
room, and for the time being were Judge,
Jury and bar-wc were an overflow, so
TO speak On this date it happend that
there were to be two examinations-on
the regular departmental and the other a
special for the position of assistant chief of
one of the divisions in the Agricultural
Department elected to try the latter
The examination lasted nearly two days, or
| should say that was the time that could
be occupied Many of the candidates
finished their. work at o'clock of the
second day.
SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS.
Special examinations at the Civil Ser
vice rooms arc not very encouraging to the
ordinary applicant, because the Depart
ment that requests the examination, as II
rule, has the party it desires for the place
selected, and the examination is held as a
matter of form | reveal no secret when
| make this statement, for it is generally
so understood in Washington by those who
are acquainted with the special depart
mental examinations.
AN INDIAN IN THE RACE.
On this occasion there were thirty-two
Of us, and our number embraced an
Indian, two Negroes, a Japanese, Il one
legged veteran and Frenchman. With
this diversity of nationality We started on
our task at 10 o'clock, when our examiner,
with awful sternness in his eountenance
and with an authoritative voice, made this
preliminary announcement to his already
nervous candidates
"If | detect any conversation during
this examination between any of the APP
plicaLts, l will Immediately withdraw the
papers of the parties so detected and mark
them Cancelled.
OUR CORRESPONDENT GETS NERVOUS.
As he said this, why | should have
thought it | can never tell, the image of
Mr.. Wackford Squeers came up before my
mental vision, and birthstone and trcacle,
iguratively speaking, ran up and down my |
spinal column, as my courage ebbed and
flowed | felt as if were in modern
..'Dotheboys Hall" Until this statement
was made the idea of unfairness had never
occurred to me; but after the ominous in
PRODUCTION regarded all my companions
with suspicion. This feeling was but
however, and it is my opinion
hat each treated his oppent with the utmost
and courtesy.
SCHOOL OPENS
The examination began with IN intro
luctory exercise We were furnished a
dip of paper on which TO write our names
md addresses, the day Of the month, and
he number of our respective applications, as
veil as the kind of examination we were
bout to undergo Three Of my colleagues !
lad forgotten the date, and two could not !
i've the number of their residences. This {
vas Of course the result of nervousness, {
which seemed in great measure to have
possession of most of those within my
After concluding this exer- {
Use, we were required to make an index Z
{ 20 pages of the First Annual Report of 5
he Secretary Of Agriculture. The eandi- Z
ates we're given the report without in '
trnctions of any kind, other than the a
ERECTION on the question paper to make t
he index. As there is variety of kinds !
i indexes, some being what is called c
full, others being sbriei," Others being
cleared, etc This was difficult task, c
ecausc the applicant could have no idea ,
I the kind desired. 2
In connection with this report, the fol i
owing words we're furnished, to be ar c
nnged in indexical order "McKewan, '
Inedonald North Point, Northpoint, b
'ermani. Virginia. In this exercise it n