The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-20

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DIDN'T STOP TO INQUIRE FOR HIS BREED
worse than useless, and n dcmoraliZing
element in the office. Every chief of
division has been glad when the day has
come for their discharge; although the
superintendent and chief clerk speak
in the highest terms of lady clerks, rs
n rule.
The special agents who travelled over
the country two and half years ago
making inquiries and obtaining infor-
nation for the use of the census office,
tell great many interesting stories
concerning their experiences. For cx-
ample. one of those who were engaged
in learning about the oyster industry
tells Il good story concerning his eX-
pericncc with negro oysterman about
ninety miles south of here on the Poto-
mae. lie said:
Glow many oysters do you catch in
q year?''
Dunno, boss"
Don't you know how many bushels?"
"No. boss"
"Well, what did you sell them for?"
wv hat they were worth, boss"
''But what We're they worth?"
whatever ] could get for them.
boss
Come now, what did You get for
them? Give me some idea"
''Iiain't got no ideas, boss
'Well. what was paid you for thcm?"
Enough to pay all my debts, boss
Glow much did you owe?"
"Owed everybody, boss"
That was all the agent was able to
elicit from his subject. who is fair
specimen of an oysterman To get
the facts as TO his case it was neces-
sary to go around to everyone with
whom he had dealt during the year
and make an estimate.
A gentleman writing from New
York said to the superintendent of the
census: ''If You hear anything OBJ
verse to my character from this vi
entity YOU need not believe that it is
so, as / am not an idiot or any other
of those mean things that have been
called. can read and write and have
good health. do not mean to have
my name and character injured, as
am agent for various articles.
'Please write and tell me if the
census talier or anyone else in this
ncighborhood has made any nasty re-
marks about me.
"P. S.-Do not send this back, but
keep it to refer to-
This letter is on file and will remain
on file Ito refer to- many years after
the eccentric writer has. like imperial
Caesar, turned to clay. But there are
no letters in the Office showing that
any of his ncighbors had written any
thing CONVERSE to his character"
Il certainly earned my salary to-
day" wrote census gathcrer in
brooklyn. ''It is true that | only re-
turn seventeen names bnt in getting
the information from Mrs. Foley got
a pair of black eyes and badly
sprained ankle. My eyes came into
contact with Mrs. Folcys fist and my
ankle was spraincd as I rolled down
the stairs will be on duty tomorrow,
but will wear green shade over my
eyes and walk with cane"
Manifcstly Mrs. Foley, whomsocvcr
she may be, regarded the census talker
as an insolent interloper who had no
business to know about Mr.. Foley, his
business his age, the age of his wife,
and whether or not their house was
mortgaged.
An agent writing from Rochester. y.
Y, states: THE Anderson family,
whose census is inclosed. keeps yell
low dog. did not stop long enough
to inquire his breed for he had the
bad breeding to take portions of my
trousers and n few drops of my blood
I did not look back even to see what
manner of dog he was in appearance.
He had strong jaws and sonorous
voice, which is still resounding in my
ears"
The young gentlemen who read this
letter may take the hint and prepare
themselves for unusual experiences in
the year 1909 if they should apply for
and secure positions as census agents
at the close of the century.
SMITH II. Fry.