The Portland daily press., 1893-04-03

Receptions at the State Experimentation
eral Grants Advice TO Hayes-Some Try
ing Scenes-Running the Gantlet-Ofi-
cial Perpiexities.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-There is
something very ludicrous about this Of
fee seeking business. For two or three
weeks the capital has been the theater OF
many little comedies, and I fear not a
few tragedies, among the men who are
ambitious to serve their country in one
capacity or another. Day after day the
act is played over and over until at last
it becomes decidedly tiresome to all con-
cerned. Let us visit the Office of one of
the members of the cabinet this morning
and see what we shall see. The Office Of
the secretary of state will do as well as
any other.
1t is o'clock, and the throngs Of gov
eminent employees scurrying through
the streets to their work seem unusually
large, and SO they are, :or among them
are the Office seekers on their way to this
various departments, each to the great
public Office which contains his hopes,
his fears. The Office seeker gets up early
in the morning. Hope, you know, springs
eternal, and no matter what the dis
enlargement Of the day before nights
sleep and good breakfasts yet the
ambitious ones are quartered at the best
hotels-tend to restore self confidence.
Fifty or seventy-five enter the treas
4 H.. RI
their way to the general postoffice and
the great interior department; many GO
TO see Daniel Lamont in the war office:
others set out for the department OF
Justice or agriculture. When we enter
the antereoIn Of the secretary of state
at half past 8, we find we are very late
Twoscore or more of gentlemen art
ahead Of US.
l wish l could wildly describe the
scene for you. Men are sitting about Oh
sofas, chairs, even tables. Many are com
PEELED to stand An usher informs then
that seats may be had in another ante
room, and he beckons the way, but non6
follows. Their eye is on the big door al
the other end of the apartment, bellind
which Secretary Gresham is known te
be. With surprising unanimity they
silently agree to stay near this door, sea-
or no seat. So they sit and stand about
watching that door and looking askanc
at each other. There is very little con
versation. For some reason men VIII
know each other well are not inclined t
talk. They are too serious. Every ma
of them appears to returning over in hi
mind what he will say to the secretaf..
when they stand face to FACET the,
ever do
These candidates for the minor ap
pointments, as ministers abroad and con
suls, are a well appearing lot of men
They have good manners, good, clothes
good faces. Many Of them are known
to be prosperous in their business or pro
fession, and it is not dire distress bui
fell ambition which has driven them t.
this extremity. 1t is plainly evident that
each of them has carefully made his tot
let this morning. He has arisen early
enough not only to breakfast, but t.
shave. But he hasn't had time to enjos
his after breakfast cigar, and he and al
his fellows. who dare not be seen CALM
on the secretary of state with cigars ii
their mouths, cast envious chances at til
only man in the room who is smoking
newspaper correspondent who seeks new
and not Office.
There is something ludierously pathet
ic about this great and general effort t
y, host +f,ic-
this petty self denial, this careful stud,
of words and department Us If they wer
Juveniles awaiting catech!zation and in
spection by the merchant who is abou
to hire an Office boy. Not all are reall.
well dressed. One has INDUCED the lux
ury of very shiny hat in order to oifse
the glisten of well WORN coat. An
other covers his frayed and greasy IN
dercoat by keeping his overcoat tight
buttoned down before. And third
tall gaunt, colored nan, with face
serious that it would make his fortul
III tho undertaking business-hides
ragged shoes as well as tle can with
pair of new. gray and unusually lars
spats!
An incident which is almost tragl
now occurs. and this cslored man is
central figure in it. Ha chances to
at the en- of desk, and his hat is not
view Somewhat naturally, therefore,
Georgia iilan mistakes him for serva
and then commands, as white man
Georgia untlsilkingly commands al1n
any negro
Sam PM my ovelccat on the WI
dow over there in the corner"
The colored man, WHO, happen
gnow is ii college graduate. a success
teacher and one who would make a CT
table representative If this governm
IN the consulship to which he aspir
replies with nice dignity and bear
and without any shoxy of anger:
n beg your pardon; you have evide'
ly made mistake. am a stranger
this office and not an employee.
The Georgian toe, proves himselt
Gentleman Perceiviag his error he ap
ogizes though can zee it goes agai
the grain TO Apologies to q colored MAJ