The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-26

TRYING TO LOOK PLEASANT.
ness and 1abbiness of their own i'm.
portance for Il time, but they will learn.
as SO many have learned before them.
that each and every individual runs but
very small portion of this great gov.
crnment, and they will ultimately find
their own level.
These remarks arc not made with any
intention to convey disrcspect to the
outgoing or incoming officials, but to
plainly intimate to the reader some
thing of the usually unwritten part of
the history of official life in Washing
ton. 1t is singular fact that many
men throughout this great country will
surrender fine business opportunities
for the sake of accepting government
offices, merely because there is Il CLAM.
our about the positions to which they
aspire and which they ultimately Sc.
cure.
During the past four years great
many democrats who were removed
from Office during the Harrison admin
istration have remained in Washing
ton, waiting for their party to come
back into power, in order that they
might secure offices. Mr. Cleveland has
given notice to these people that they
will not be eligible for appointments
and there is great Consideration in their
ranks. The outgoing republicans
wonld be wise if they would go back to
their homes and forget that they were
ever even fora brief time in power in
the executive departments in Washing
ton. They ought not to stand around
WliflnT fnI. 10 ~
great place with 4 big salary, because
OF the positions which they have held.
They should not hang on by their eye
Drows for four years waiting for their
party TO come back into power, in or
der that they may find food and lodr-
ing on the government pay roll. They
should immediately descend from their
perchcs. These are the words Of wis
dom. There is nothing more pitiablc on
earth than to see an cX-oiiicial in Wash
ington, who has been accustomed to
drawing from one hundred to three
hundred dollars per month in crisp
bills, fresh from the treasury, hanging
around the hotel Hobbies, and trying to
look pleasant. Each and every one of
them could go home, live on small
salaries, and have the respect of their
friends. But they do not want to GO
home. They do not want to leave thi;
beautiful city. Hence they remain here
until their trousers are fringcd, their
coats shiny, their hats sorrowful in ap-
pcarancc, their shoes run down at the
heel, their credit gone. their self-respcct
damaged and their families in the
depths of woe.
have seen so much of this thing that
it seems advisable at this time to take
the responsibility of suggesting to read
crs that they advise their displaced
friends to como home. hanging about
Washington, Micawbcr-Iilc, "waitinr
for something to turn up" is discrctlita-
bic. They should all realize this; and,
moreover, they should understand that
their friends understand the situation.
They ought to know that their friends
at home do not hold them responsible
for the political change which has oc-
Cured, but arc willing to welcome them
back and help them begin life again.
You do not realize, and words cannot
depict to you, what trial it is to leave
this city after once having lived IN it.
with ample means. But ofiiccholdnr
is a prccarious livelihood at best, and
ColtlcS 10 waiting 1Onr
years for another chance at it, he is
growing older all the time and the gov
crnmcnt has less use for him. More
over, he is playing a desperate game OF
chance; for he may have to wait eight
or twelve years, or even longer, before
his party wins another presidential cleo
ton. Consequently now is the accepted
time TO go, to get out, to skip. to tisap-
pear from these scenes. 1t is too bad
that rat Offices cannot last forever: but
when they are lost the displaced official
should go forth into the world, with
head up and independent bcarinr. intn
routine everyday life again. He should
bid farewell to every fear and wipc his
weeping eyes; and, with hear, foranv
tatc, face the world. There is n rood
living in il for any man who can learn
to labor and 20 wait for The fruition of
his work. SMITH ID. FRY.
All i:irh..