Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-02

ner OF the Arlington hotel. He had been
writing letter 10 his wife in the west
and insisted upon reading II TO me. 1t
was tale OF disappointment after dis
appointment, but of logged determine
ton to hang on till the last place Is
filled. As he read the letter my friends
cheeks were wet with tears. and when
| advised him to give 1t up and go home
he said, mo; my wife and / have set
our hearts on an appointment, aud il
fail I'll never show my face in the town
where live"
Though most OF the place seekers are
still at the hotels, the boarding house or
furnished room stage of the business
will soon be reached by many OF them.
As one after another runs short OF funds
be will abandon his expensive ~ rters
at the inn, and in few months more
we shall have roaming the streets OF tho
capital the usual crop OF frouZy, seedy,
discouraged and dilapidased men who
came to Washington for Offices and
found them not. Within 60 days we
shall realize agaia the truth Of the old
tradition that many man who comes
TO the capital asking the President to
give him q fereign mission winds up
with request for an old pair OF boots
to walk home in.
Speaking OF foreign missions there 10
an unaccountable craze for going
abroad. The crop OF hunters for con-
sulships is the biggest crop Of all In the
office seeking field. can understand
why even successful men might want 10
go abroad as minister OF their govern
ment. 1t is an honor and leads to
pleasant sojourn In foreign capital. Ii
is also easy TO understand Why a man
should be willing to take one OF the best
consulships-oneo OF the places which az.
ford an income OF from s., 600 TO $4,000
or Sl2, 900 year.
These places. however, are very few,
and the great majority OF men seeking
consulships must be content with posts
which pay from 81, 900 to SO. 500 year,
and which require them 10 bury them.
selves in sleepy little towns which no
energetic American would ever think OK
choosing as desirable place OF resi-
dence. Yet there are many thousands
OF men In the country bringing all the
pressure they can TO secure just such
places.
Go over to the State department any
OF these days, and you will see group
OF men gathered about the big globe In
the corridor either picking out consul.
ships or looking up the geographical
position OF the places for which they
have already put in application. Every
day so or more men call at tho consular
bureau OF the State department and ask
for copies OF the register which contains
list OF all the consulships. with salary
and fees. Not one in score OF these
men will get an appointment, but they
appear TO take great delight In turning
the big globe around aud In poring
over aliases with the register In their
hands.
Nearly every man who asks for con-
sulship has some excuse for his demand.
One wants to 20 abroad for his health.
Another's daughter has a fine voice,
which must be cultivated In European
schools. A third is Studying Scandina-
Wan literature with view 10 making
some translations for which the world
is yearning.
There Is q tradition, you know, that
consulshIps may be rightiully used as a
sort OF convenient method OF pensioning
Oft Literary fellers." but President
Cleveland doesn't uphold the tradition,
and II | were seeking consnlship I'd
throw literature TO the dogs and pre-
tend TO be simple business man whose
sole ambition was 70 make good con-
sui and develop American TRADE as much
as possible.
An amusing story is told - sn>oiilca
seeker from Georgia who wanted HE
congressman, Mr.. Moses, 70 take him TO
the President and ask for an appoint
ment. Mr.. Moses accompanied his con-
stltuent to the executive mansion and
paused In the lobby 10 talk with soma
friends. Presently he stepped Into the
elevator 10 go up 10 the library, but
missed his constituent aud assembled
without him. The Georgian, who had
improved the opportunity to take peep
into the east room, caught n glimpse OF
Moses as he entered the elevator, but
did not succeed In oyertaking him.