Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-23

are sought. Prices range from $500 .
month down to 400. Even this will not
do for obvious reasons, and fnally the
new Official and his wife tak1l rooms in
what is known as a cannon boarding
house---a good and comfortable enough
place, but not stylish or fashionable at
all and almost a deathblow to the social
ambitions of its occupants--and pay
therefore 5000 a month. Neither the
rooms nor the fare is what they wanted.
The family miss many Of the comforts
Of life to which they had been accus-
toned in their own home. They are
thrown into the society of the people
they don't care TO meet, but must oe po-
lite in order to avoie trouble. The chill
dren have.no yard TO play.in. The par
lors are stuffy and freQuented by flirty,
III hammered persons OF both sexes, and
the father and mother chafe amid such
| surroundings for their eldest daughter
and the other children.
The dream of social conquests In
Washington, even CT social enjoyment,
is rudely dispelled. Faded are the Wis
ions Of a fine establishment, a carriage
and pair, q pony for the children, Of
handsome gowns and many admirers for
the eldest daughter. When the COM
fol IS of life are hard TO get, 1t Is time TO
stop talking about the luxpries. Pinch
and scrape and manage as they will, the
official and his wife find it impossible to
make both ends meet. The hundred
and odd dollars per month left out OF
the salary affords little latitude for
dress, doctors bills, amusements and
the thousand and one expenses OF q
family. A carriage ride would mean
bankruptcy for the week. Mother and
father wear out all their old clothes.
The new official gives up smoking and
very rarely takes q drink. He declines
invitations TO join a club or W and
avoids the society Of the very few men
whose acquaintance he expected to cul-
tiyate, because he realizes he cannot go
at their pace financially.
After a few months OF this sort or
life, in which they run behind week
after week and find it necessary 10 draw
on the little income they have from
their property or business at home, the
family bundles up and goes back to the
little country town TO make as good a
face OF IL as they car before the In
quisitiva neighbors, They are In love
with Washington, OF course, aud have
had a perfectly lovely time aud enjoyed
the society so much, with emphasis on
the so but the children need the
school az home, and the climate did not
agree with Arabella. They will go
back in the fall when Washington Is
lively again. When fall comes, Ara
bella goes back To stay for a tim with
her father, but the other members OF
the family remain at home and econo-
mize in order 10 give Arabella a show.
And how does the husband and father,
the new official, fare all this time2 Not
very we'll. 1t is hard to be cut OIL from
the society OF his family. He has never
tried that before and doesn't like IT,.
He wants the boys, and the baby, and
the mother by his side. Besides, the
work is anything but fascinating. Not
too hard il is humdrum and routine.
1t calls for no enthusiasm; II presents
no stimulous for energy or ambition.
He soon realizes be is a mere part,
and a small part at that, OF a great
machine. In the town whence he
came he Is looked up TO as a man OF
some Importance, and the folks at
home a X genuine satisfaction In the
envy OF their neighbors-and this Is a
little consolation-but in Washington
the new officials quickly perceives he
is vety small potatoes and not many TO
the hill, aud this hurts his pride.
He has not saved q cent out OF what
at first seemed 10 be such a splendid sal
airy. On the contrary, no has Incurred
a large debt. To tide over he sold the
house or other property at home, and
must face the world practically where
be faced ii when be was a young man.
He must begin life over again. lie has
lost his law practice or his business at
home. in many ways he has lost
status. Competition is keen In this
world and the man who steps aside from
q given field ever for four years need
NOT expec 70 return at the end OF that
time and find his place ~unoccupied. But
this Is not half so serious as the change
that has come TO the man himself. lie
has deteriorated in strength, spirit and
energy. He is no Logger I'll for conquest.
The odds are that be will never agaiu
be the man he was.
This is not an imaginary picture. ~
I chose TO do so, l could describe not
one but a score OF such cases, giving
names and other particulars. or course
there are exceptions, cases In which
oniceholding leads to valuable connec-
tions, business or professional. But
these are rare. The rule Is that Office
holding brings Immediate loss OF money
and place and the worse dry rot that
forbids recuperation.
WALTER WELLMAY.