The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-20
WEARY OF JOB HUNTING
vrMRER or TTRGTNTSNs DIDN'T
WANT OFFICE zNYHoW.
They Gave Up the Fight Almost Before
They Had Fairly Begun-Cailers Mt
the White House.
TIEYs BUREAU, RArLrY BuILDINo.
WASHINGTON. April 10. 1893.

e.
tion from the city. and their customary
haunts now have the appearance Of
never having been occupied by Office
seekers.
II is fact. and begins now TO demon
s,rate the statement / made some eight
weeks ago. that half OF the applicants
did not know what they were asking
for, and did not really want a position
that great many Virginians have actu-
ally quit the field without even filing
their papers; others have simply en-
tered their petitions without personal
calls upon the officials, and at least hail
u the first fock that caught the infec-
ton are busy at home undsturbed by
thought Of office. and really wandering
what on earth induced them even 10
entertain the idea for moment.
There can be nothing on earth more
demoralixing than The hunting for Fed
,ral offices and the allurements that lurk
I'm The holding Of them has been start
lingly shown up in the fact that after
four years Of alleged attention 10 some
other business the eN-ofhceholders OF the
country, almost 10 a man. were easer
TO forsake the bench, the puipll the
school-room. the law oihce, the store,
the counting-room the bank desk ana
the advantages OF mercantile aCqu iI
auceship for the scintiliauhB !e' ue'"si'o
glamor OF the Federal once
II ts a dangerous. inconstant and hckie
.,,,r.,-i, ehounding in uncertainties and
.,iet. with instability, and even under
,ha rnost propititous circumstances IN
,ariablv ends with a distaste for ordl-
,srv avocations and a lack Of means
g. successfully contend with the disincli-
nation for constant and coniinng laoors'
Then. too. many OF the minor consulates
and secretaries 10 legations only yield a
-avenue sufficient for the barest support
~ man. the remainder being entirely
-.ntingeut. How inconsiderate then the
,,,n who either leaves family and friends
for such a position, or else jeopardizes
the lives OF loved ones who attend him'
deriving all Of the endearing compan-
ianships Of lifetime. These considera-
tions are generally lost In the first nush
o. prominent political aspirations. but a
man does not walk far before he finds the
end Of the rainbow a long way off, and
the verdict Of the officeholder in the END
Ia qlwavs that Of the enterprisng lsraelite
who searched the clouds in a balloon. and
on reaching earth again. declared TO his
waiting friends: 1T vas all tamn
schwindie bout dem silver Innings
The hotels are fast losing their large
gatherings Of visitors, and II is much more
than likely that there will be no such
rroups again this season as have lately
thronged the lobbies. but there has GER
-ainlv been filed in the departments
enough good words. praise and fattery
f0 make ono believe that the world.
the flesh and the devil were losing ground
very fast and from the great horde Of
rir'u0us men crowding down toward the
limit Of life. that the millennium was
close at hand.
the different phases OF the situation here
for the past month. The downtown
hotels with their long damp. gloomy
corridors. and clerks who knowing all.
knew nothing. have been crowded by a
rare class Of mankind. Nine out Of every
ten had on a big wide brimmed hat Of
gray or black material a Prince Albert
coat a little short in the sleeves, gen.
orally with one button gone. and always
showing both front and back the length
of service IL has withstood. The trousers
reach 70 the tops Of heavy shoes or stand
out Ike the crinoline. with their encase-
Tnent Of heavy boot legs. Their smile,
however was always cheerful and hope
ful. and they asked for missions, big
consulshins and division chiefs. and they
went home sad. At the uptown hotels.
with pofted plants basking in the sun
shine. which bcamed through plate glass
windows. there was always a crowd Of
hrely atfired men. SIX hats. gloves,
C1ueS boutonnieres and patent leather
shoes were theirs. but upon their faces
were anxious looks. and no smile was
visible. They asked for the deputys
desk for clerkships and for fifth and
sixth auditors. ana they went home with
commissions and are smiling now.
The ofice-seekers got down to business
again to-day I'm good shape. and kept the
President busy from $3.50 In the morning
until in the afternoon. when he went
down IN the East room 10 hold the regu-
lar Wednesday public reception. There is
no rule Of the White House which pre-
vents ladies from calling on the President
during the morning hours. when he is in
his office but so far few have taken
advantage of the privilege, though hun
dreds shake his hand every day at the
public receptions. Representative Hol-
man. OF Indiana, is so far the most gal
LIANT Of the present Congress. as he has
taken more ladies in 10 see the President
during office hours than any other Rep
resentative. The public receptions in the
East room on Mondays. Wednesdays and
Fridays are very Democratic affairs. The
ladies. who are always largely in the
majority. 90 in their walking gowns
and DO not even remove their gloves
when shaking the Presidents hand. The
strangers. who always take advantage
~ these public receptions, are invariably
disappointed that Mrs. Cleveland does
not appear with the President, and many
are the questions put to the President
as 20 when she will appear. SO far Mrs.
cleveland has not appeared at any pub
lie function. and those who have been
able TO call on her have only done so
tv snecial ARRANGEMENT. and even this
rriviege has been denied since Lent.
There was n good deal OF SUR rise eX-
pressed when she did not even receive
the Diplomatic Corps when IT called on
the President In a body shortly AFTER MS
Inauguration.
uniform. a man approached him as nc
stood on duty at the White House door
and offered him dollar II ne "ouio
show him through the house
The sergeant was naturally indignant as
the man was hard 70 convince uat ne
Nas not there for the purpose or SHOWING
visitors all there was to be seen. lnueeu
there is little that Is open 10 the ORDINARY
visitor he can 20 into the big East tVoii,
or look q, the wrong side OF the stalneu
glass partition between the closed poruon
OF fhe house and the entrance ana ps
mounting the Steps can look at the very
plain outside Of the Executive ol"ces'
II would be good thing. II Is thous"',
~ the ushers were required 10 wear
simple badge as II would let people Know
VINO they were, and the big crowns corH ,e,'r
be thus much more easily handled. lhe
policemen know for what they are en-
poyed the keeping OF order-yet "l,n
IF oh