The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-19
A QUEER EXAMINATION.
The Style Of Civil Service Inquiry Forty
Years Ago in Boston.

1t was queer sort of civil service exam
iuation that Edward Ii. Savage, who has just
been appointed chief probation officer for
Suffolk County, was subjected to to test his
qualification for a position on the Boston
police force forty years ago.
His name had been sent in with those of
other candidates about week before the
time of the occurrence which is related
below, but for a reason to him unknown.
no announcement had been made Of favor
able or unfavorable action upon his appli-
cation.
He was alone, gloomily brooding over the
annoying delay, one day about noontime,
in the dining-room of his house on Prince
street. when there entered the crack MEM
Der of the force. in point of physical power
and prOwesS.
The visitor was James KimDall, and he
was combination of about equal parts Of
good nature and iron muscles.
Kimball and his wife boarded with Mr.
and Mrs. Savage, and the friendliest reia-
tons existed between them all.
Well, Jim," asked MIR. Savage. eagerly.
what do your hear about my appointment"
81 hear a good deal about it," answered
Kimbai, with a smile. Marshal Turkey
says the little squire reports you as broken,
the force named Spur. who made special
Investigations for the Marshal)
"The Marshal sent me down to try you,
and Pm here to do it. I've. come to test
your fitness for the position" -.
"Oh, yOn have. have youp' remarked
Savage. We'll. I'm glad the affair has got
along so far, for to tell the truth, I'm sick
and tired Of waiting"
No sooner had the candidate thus ex-
pressed himself than he was grabbed about
the waist by Kimball and pushed back ward
out of the room and into the kitchen, which
was upon the same tiOor
The assault had been made so quickly and
with such impetuosity that Kimball had
pushed his man almost TO the open door Of
the kitche from which il was his intention
TO cast him into the bank of snow which
was TILED up in the center of the yard, be-
fore Savage could interpose any successful
resistance.
just before the door was reached, how
ever, he managed to get twist on the man
from headquarters, and change the direction
OF the course which they had been taking.
Just beyond the door was the kitchen win
dow. which was closed tight, it being the
month OF February. BY the time the men
had come opposite the window the tide of
battle had completely turned in Savage's
favor, and he then by herculean final effort
hurled his antagonist through, carrying
away glass, sash and frame, to the conster-
nation and dismav of the better halves of
the two men, who were, as 1t happened, the
only spectators to the combat
Savage had not been able 10 uisengage
himself from Kimball's close clasp when the
final fight was made, and as they both landed
in the soft, yielding snow-bank, his weight
caused the crack policeman's form to sink
out of sight.
The wives of the belligerents joined in the
fray, one armed with rolling-pin, the other
with a long iron soup-ladle, and together
they walloped the man on top till he cried
for mercy, Mr.. Savage meanwhile having
torn the greater part of Kimball's clothes in
pieces, poured snow down his back and
pretty badly scratched and bruised his face.
When Kimball finally got upon his feet he
was as savage in mood as the victor was in
name; but his innate sense and good nature
soon taught him that he was the only one to
blame, SO the whole thing ended in hearty
laugh all around.
Sayage's parting salute to Kimbail was:
:" You're pretty looking peep-Frank
Tukey's best man-to come down here in
your prime. to try it on poor, brnken-down
old man. Go back and tell the Marshal if
hen come down here with his little squire
I'll serve them both the same way"
The following Monday Mr.. Savage was
appointed a night police officer at per
diem salary of 81 S711a.-Bostcn Globe.