The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-08
HE GOT A CLERKSHIP
TIE SENATOR MADE A BLUNDER BY
WHICH TIE APPLICANT PROFlTED.

WHICH TIE APPLICANT PROFiTED.
Whom Senator BLANK Wanted Anything
From Secretary Chandler, 10 Wanted
It Eaa-How tho Young Man Was Let
Down Easy and Ecmained.
Back in tho seventies, when Zach
Chandler was at the head of the interior
department, young man from one of
the western states came to Washington
to try clerical life in ono of tho depart
ments. He had been quito ward poll
tician i'll his western homo and imagined
both the senators from his state would
be glad to do him favor. He spent
several days taking in the sights of the
capital, then went up to the senate one
afternoon and sent in his card to Sena-
tor Blank. Tho senator responded
promptly, had the visitor shown into
the marble room, and for some time
they sat on Il sofa together, talking of
homo nows and tho homo crops. Then
the young man broke tho ice by inform
ing the senator just what kind of place
he wantod-didn t care much what de-
partment it was i'll.
''Well, don't know" said tho scna-
tor. Such places are not to be found
every day, and there arc hundreds hero
from about every state in the Union
looking for almost anything in the shape.
of an appointment.
Come up to my house about
O'Clock tonight" said the senator, land
we'll talk the matter over"
Promptly ut the appointed timo he
1nl leo ., Ill L
to the library, where ho found the sen
ator putting q cigar and looking over
The Evening Star.
"Ah, good evening, Mr.. -! was
just thinking of you said Senator
Blank. II have written strong letter
to Secretary Chandler, requesting him
TO give you q position in the interior
department '-picking up an unsealed
letter from his desk and handing it to
the young Office seelier-"and 1 would
suggest that you call at his office and
present it about 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning. l have also mailed the score
tary little personal note, letting him
know that when I want anything in his
Office want it bad ~
Tho young westerner was bowed out
handshake. AT his hotel he sat down to
think over his good luck. Then no
thought of the senator's letter, and pull
ed it out Of his pocket and read:
DEAR CTANDLER-Somc time tomorrow
morning y young citizen OF my great and Clo-
rlous state Will call on you with strong in
dorsemcnt from me for clcrliship. have no
earthly interest in him, so turn him over TO
your tender mercy. Let him down easy
Yours BLANK
The young man dropped the letter, and
n big sigh struggled up from under his
watch pocket. Il wonder what he said
i'll the little note ho mailed to the secre-
tary?" thought the young candidate.
Then he realized that the senator had
given him the wrong letter, and he at
once determined to call at the interior
department. the next morning and see
what the next chapter would bring forth
About 10 o'clock the next forenoon
the colored messenger showed young
man into Secretary Chandeliers office.
Senator Blank told me last night he
had written you and advised me to call
on you this morning. said the young
gentleman.
"Ah. yes, smiled the secretary good
naturally, picking up from his desk an
open letter and CHANGING over it. "The
senator speaks of you in the highest
terms, and is very urgent in his request
for your appointment. Wait u moment F"
And touching Il bell he sent his messen-
ger for tho chief clerk. After mo-
ment's conversation with tho chief clerk
the secretary said:
You arc fortunate. There is 81 200
clerkship made vacant by resignation
this morning, and have ordered your
appointment to the place.
A month later Senator Blank was
walking through the patent office, and
in the corridor met tho new clerk in his
Office coat The senator was surprised
and trifle disconnected, but he shook
hands with his young friend and said he
was glad to SEQ him there
We'll, IN glad to he here, " respond
eli the clerk. ''And, senator" putting
his hand inside his vest and looking
squarely i'll the others eye, fright in
my inside pocket keep that little per-
sonal noto you thought You mailed to
Secretary Chandler, telling him when
you wanted thing you wanted it bad "
Explanations were unnecessary. The
senator went out of public life and died
long ago, but the clerk manages to
squeeze along through tho hard times on