The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-09
LOOKING FOR WORK.
q Half Day with the Private SEQ
rotary of Uncle jerry Rusk.
Scores OF Women Applying Every Day
Cor Positions in tho Department OF
AGricuiture-Hope Lives Etornnl
I'm the Human Brenst
Especial Washington letter.

a panorama of human nature today
unfoldcd itself unexpectedly before me,
and caught a few of the pictures upon
the end of my pencil, SO that others
might see them, be interested and pos
sibly instructed by the experience
Sitting in the Office of Col. Henry
Casson, private secretary to Uncle Jerry
Rusk, conversing upon current topics,
was interrupted by the entrance of q
lady. Her business having been attend
ed to, she gave place to another, and
another, until an entire morning had
passed away before realized it. These
people came seeking employment in the
seed room of the department of agricul-
ture. Every one of them was poor; that
was evident. Every one of them evil
denced hopcfulncss; but upon the faces
of several there were manifestations of
want, suffering and despair.
The first one was Il woman, who once
was beautiful. Her hair was raven
black, her eyes dark and lustrous; but
the skin upon her face was drawn and
wrinkled, with covering of paint and
q frescoing of powder. She wore a
smile which was radiant with wrinkles
and wonderfully embellishcd by gilt
tcring double row of stOre-teeth. Pri-
vatc Secretary Casson politely informed
her that her papers of recommendation
would be filed and considered ut Il later
day, and that there would be no APP
pointmcnts of any description until
some time in December next. Although
this announcement was made in kind
~ manner it caused her to drop her
smile for Il moment and look solemn.
But She was of n naturally cheerful dis
position. quickly recovered herself and
resumed her good air, saying
that she would call again
The second one was thin and angular,
but very matter-of-fact, with II short,
crisp, barking sort of Il voice. She de-
clarcd that she was from West Virginia,
and that Gen. Golf most heartily in
dorscd her, and wanted the appoint
ment to be made right away. When
Private Secretary Casson gave her the
stercotyped information about delay in
appointments she nervously jcrlsed her
self ont of the room with the threat
that she would call again.
The third was a timid little woman
from South Carolina, who acted very
nicely when Col. Casson informed her
that at present no appointments would
be made; but she preferred to take her
letter of recommendation away with
her.
The fourth proved to be gentleman
of color, who inquired in u very lofty
manner if he might see the secretary
Upon being questioned by the secretary
as to the nature of his business he con-
descended to inform him that he had n
letter from Bishop Hearst. The colonel
told him to take a seat and he would
present his letter to the secretary. But
the only encouragement that the appli-
cant received was the information that
the secretary thought great deal of
Bishop Hearst and would be glad to
accommodate him, but that he had
nothing at present to give. lie left the
Office apparently with no i'll feelings
towards any of it's occupants. leaving
his letter to be placed in the file case
which graccs one side of the room.
The next would-be protego of Uncle
Sam proved to be a very anxious one.
She was n thin woman of about thirty
summers and an indefinite number of
winters, with a loud, squcaky voice.
Upon being given the usual informa-
ton concerning the impossibility of Sc