Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-03

There is a considerable element of tragedy
In the office-seeking business. One of
the saddest sights to look upon in
Washington Is to be seen in statuary hall at the
Capitol during sessions OF Congress. Here
women in all stages Of need sit day after day,
sending in their cards to members of the
House whose influence they are anxious to OBJ
tain The doorkeepers come back with state
ments, often false, to the effect that the
Representative is mot present today" or
out OF his seat" Some Congressman send
word to come tomorrow" merely for the pur-
pose Of putting off the visitors, who, lacking
car fare, trudge YEARLY home to their
sOS ing, places, to return S; again
quest. In the public reception room of the
Senate similar scenes are enacted. but the Sena-
tors usually treat the women better. They tell
them frankly whether they can cannot get
places for them instead Of keeping them in
fruitless suspense.
LAND OFFICE DISMISsALs.
On July sixty -eigh. employees Of the land
Office will be thrown out into the cold world.
1nasmuch as it is not known which ones will
be selected. this is an anxious time for all the
clerks in that bureau of the Interior Depart
ment Some of the dismissed will be women,
though how many nobody knows. Ex-Com-
missioner Carter is the author of the mischief,
the reduction in force having been made at his
suggestion. 1t may be inferred that there are
circles in which he has not rendered himself
particularly popular by this action. In fact,
the women in the land Office predicted defeat
for the republican party from the moment
when Mr.. Carter was appointed its manager
during the recent campaign. They tried their
best to defeat his proposition in Congress by
personal appeals addressed to every Senator
and Representative; but it was in vain.
GENERALLY WELL BEHAVED.
The percentage of improperly behaved women
in the departments is very small. Gossip
quickly makes known the habits of such per-
sons even if their character is not rendered
evident by extravaganza III dress or demeanor.
Whenever female Of this class is found out
she is removed at once, no matter who indorses
her. For reasons which may be surmised with
out further explanation individuals of this sort
are apt to have the most powerful influence be-
hind them
During and Immediately after tho war many
women of more than dubious character occu-
pied situations in the departments. Such
things are almost unknown nowadays. When
Congress is in session fashionably attired
females. whose faces quite familiar
to officials who have been long in
Washington, continually haunt the Capt.
tol. Such persons apply fo- employment when
ever there is change OF administration.
counting on the inexperience OF new
letters from public men, which they
get because the latter are either very well ac-
quainted with them or so little acquainted as to
be ignorant of their character Az a rule their
game is ''tumbled to-" their applications are
filed and that is the end of them.
CABINET REcREATIoNs.
The members of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet are
wondering if they will be kept all summer in
Washington. Just now it looks as though the
President would not get away at all. They
would all rejoice in rest after the labors they
have undergone with Office seekers. Gen.
Gresham would like chance to WELD the rod
and fly. Fishing is his iavorite amusement,
and many fine trout. bass ard Crawling has
fallen prey to his hook. His pet ambition is to
capture tarpon. IL he gets u vacation he will
spend some time on his l60-acre farm. where he
raises wheat, corn and garden truck.
Secretary of the Navy Herbert is likewise
fisherman There is nothing he enjoys so much
Col. Lamont hopes to go to Bar Harbor Itmisht
almost be said of him that he has amuse-
ments. lie likes - drive good horse. but he
does not drink, smoke. or play cards. or
frequent clubs. Hoke Smith enjoys riding
horseback. Secretary Carlisle figures out the
financial problems of the M ion over a game of
solitaire. The problem of the cards assists his
intellectual processes. For sheer recreation lie
likes game of poker. with his friends
at a small limit MIR. Morton is above all
other things fond OF writing to and getting let
tiers from his four grandchildren in Chicago
and Nebraska City. Their ages run from nine
to eleven. that their literary efforts are sutfi-
ciently mature to be entertaining.