The Washington times., 1894-08-05
THE DEPARTMENT LIFE.
MUSINGS OF A PESSIMIST.

Many phases of life are brought to my mind
by my continued visits to the departments.
As stroll through the corridors and mix with
with the employees at the lunch tables.
gather n few facts rom the iotsam and JET
sam OF the ofticia! lie. and 1 press my teeth
together aud say, I'll put the public in touch
with few truths.
Polyglot humanity lives moves, and has its
being in Uncle Sans workshops. The hands
that build and mold have no piece OF clay
that is smooth. ell-rounded. and perfect,
that they can point to with potter's pride as
the product of their skill and industry. Tney
achieve nothing individually. Their labor Is
IN vain. Nalited ambition finds expression
only in the strife for promotion. in order 10
gam which, sometimes, my pretty maid,
''stoops to conquer"
As walked through the departments yes
terday men and women were at their desks
tranquil, II not happy. Nobody was very
busy. / guess there wasn't much Work 20 dc.
Many desks were empty. Many clerks are
now taking their leave" One would imag-
Inc this do-nothing sort of life was sinecure,
but do rs did. go behind the scenes, pull at
the heartstrings, and you can get some real
live information.
There is absolutely no independence OF
action allowed. scarcely of thought. When
there Is no work to do Idleness is enforced.
! newspapers or writing personal letters.
Discipline is necessary in a large army but
the wonder Is that the rule was made at all.
No doubt this accounts for the blank eN-
preston on the faces OF some Of the clerks.
Ine women are always in peck OF trouble.
Even the polite "fraid-cat" renbleS now
because she says this administration is an
tagonistic to women. The women of the
North. and those Of the West; those who can
boast OF pure Democracy; those who are LOYAL
Republicans tremble as they think of the re-
ducticns daily in progress. The bureau chiefs
and those VINO occupy stations OF high and
low degree confirm the idea. This is what
they say:
'.They want to give the places to your
fathers. brothers. and husbands See what
momentOus question is solved The false cry
OF immoralitl - in Office will cease. Men will
be removed from the pale of temptation.
Women will be compelled to stay within her
home circle and exert her influence i'll that
field which is broader and limitess.'
So spoke an official whose word is para
mount, at any rate, in his own bureau, and
who prefers men in his bureau.
l asked him if his beliefs and convictions
were born OF the North.
no" said he, Il am Marylander. love
woman. and | want TO see her removed from
this sphere of baneful influences
He means well. even if ne Is not awake
and marching with the vanguard of his own
sex, who NIT what woman is doing now in
the business and scientific walks of life.
Here Is an instance" he sai1, ''of young
woman who gave up an enviable position as
a school teacher. She had it in ner power
to frame the destiny of the youth Of the
country. She sacrificed her influence to Sc
cure government position because she was
allured By the prospect of easy work and big
p?y- She has lost all ambition, except for
dress. Modest and plain was she at first, but
she found she mad no sphere beyond her
Office, so she dresse TO please her associates.
Her dress now is sometimes as pretty as the
CLINT Of foam on a summer sea. but history
will repeat itself. In her case. as in others,
in time she viii grow Indifferent OF appear
ance. and will. when nearing the close OF her
DovItiRte. carry huge bag beneath her dress,
filed with lunch and other contents as mys-
FERROUS as you can find in boys breeches
pocket"
great when one weighs the cost!' thought l.
There is another bitterness to contend with,
the bitterness born of jealousy. Jealousy
OF the attention and promotion bestowed
upon ones rival Then again is the cruel
fear which so baunts many women that they
hesitate TO express an Independent opinion.
II the life is so easy. why do the young
women pale and grow sickiy? One il par
ticular l saw yesterday whose eyes were the
sepulchres of despair. l louged to talk 10
her. to utter words of sunshine and cheer. but
knew she would mistrust that I was some
secret agent in the service. There were many
who showed in their faces they take things
hard but at one time they might have been
the sunniest. sweetest faces in the world.
N. V. S.