The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-03-24
Highest of all In Leavenng Power-Latest Report
Re-! q! Bs%5sg' Bssi9g
ABSOLUTELY PURE
An Old-TIme Office-Seeker.

The following is from the Washing
ton Star, and Is a gem in its way:
ain delving through a mass of an-
tique official literature, recently, APP
pointment Clerk IIolc0mbe brought up
the following old and unique applica-
tion for appointment
"BLurF SPRINGS, CAss Gov No.,
September 10, 1S49. x<x1< .
"DEAR SIR This is TO, a
and through you the presid1GC = :. (
am willing to accept of an ofliceJI6 {
this administration, provided II pays
well. But | have very little expecla-
tion of getting one. / consider myself
qualified to fill almost any office, but
there are hundreds of others who are
as well qualified rs | am, and perhaps
better. | consider myself an honest
man, nut there are thousands of others
equally honest. am political
friend of the president, but that is no
reason why should receive an appoint
ment. ! am stranger 10 fame and
fortune, but that is no good reason
why | should not receive one.
should, of course, like to have the best
Office, but beggars should not be
chooseIs. / should like to have an
! Office near home, but | do not wish
any honest and capable officer turned
ont in order to make room for me. who
am untried. | am a poor man. but
do not wish to plead poverty. am a
farmer, but that argues nothing for or
against me. | am also a surveyor, but
there may be a great many better ones.
l am self-taught man, but | have
much yet to learn. IGbave the reputa-
tion of a great mathematician, but | do
not wish to boast OF it. have n small
family, but everybody else either has
or wishes to have. / have lived several
years in Missouri, but | am yet nm
known to fame. | have sought Office
il is true, but have seldom been sue.
cessful. l see n great many Offices
bestowed at Washington City, either
with or without merit, but none has
fallen my share. This looks somewhat
strange, but how could il be otherwise.
The great probability is that | never
will obtain one, but who knows. You
may perhaps think that | am testing
with you in thus applying for Office,
but | assure you am in earnest. You
may accuse me, too of egotism aud
arrogance in thus addressing YOU. but
how can expect office unless | ask
for it. You may wish to have my
character before appointing me to
Office, but indeed | would not exchange
my character for any Office whatever.
: could perhaps get good rccommenda-
tion from my neighbors, but | do not
, wish TO ask them to tell lie for me.
IL you wish a reference To someone
high in office, l will refer you TO the
Hon. John +. Ryland, of our supreme
. court, but he knows very little, il any
, thing about me. II you can do moth
ing for me in the way Of office, please
: write to me and let me know, but make
no apologies. | shall wait anxiously
an answer to this letter, bu, shall be
agreeably disappointed if | get one.
My address Is Pleasani iXIIllG.- -p.--C -Cass,
aI.ts~tan Buren, county, Missouri, but
.Iy'hat of that? In looking over this
communication | see as many personal
pronouns as il it had been written by
Col. Benton himself, but assure you
: it was not. could write more, but
: fear would be wasting time TO nc
, purpose. No more, but remain yours
: etc, MARTIN RICE.
. ITO Thomas Ewing, secretary o.
o the Home Department, Washington
!, City, ID. c."