Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-07-13

experience can sit down and demon
strate to his friends in the parlor. or
in the schoolhouse, that the people have
been robbed Of not less than $5Q,WO.
600 each year, for at least ten years;
and in that period alone there has been
waste of the enormous sum of $780,
900, 900.
Then there is our peculiarly-con-
structed civil service law, which is
building up an, ofiice-holding aris-
tocracy, which viii continue this state
of affairs, unless some apostle with
courage shall come along and tell the
truth, the whole truth, and awaken the
people.
Great God, Mr.. Secretary, can you do
nothing for me at all?''
The tears came despite her strong eff
fort to control her feelings as she stood
beside the desk of the cabinet minister
of the nation. Her whole frame trem-
bled with emotion as she said:
when the colonel died, he said to
me, almost with his last breath: 'Mollie,
believe that have hAt you in comfort
able circumstances. But if you ever
become poor and needy, go to Gen.
Sherman or Gen. Sheridan, and tell
them that you are my widow. You
will be well cared for, rest assured of
that. Teach the children to remember
that their father was soldier, and that
he died of the wounds received at Cham
pion hills, in Chickamauga, and at Five
Forks. The doctors say that the last
wound in the lungs is what has
brought me to this gasping close of life.
But the country will care for you,l
Mollie, and you need never fear
"And so believing, Mr.. Secretary, he
died. And now you tell me that the re
public has no power to help me? Gen.
Sheridan is dead, but 1 have Gen. Sher-
mans letter telling about the colonels
services before Vicksburg in December
1862, and later at Missionary Ridge. Gen
Rosecrans writes of his gallantry at
Chiclamauga- But Sheridan is dead
and cannot tell of Five Forks. wrote
TO him about it, but the next day the
newspapers said that Sheridan was dy-
ing. Mr.. Secretary, l am in absolute
want. must have something to do;
please make place for me in the de-
partment."
my dear madam" replied the secre-
tary, "the civil service law is in the
way, and can do nothing unless it is
to appoint you as a charwoman, at $40
per month. VIII you accept that?"
Yes, Mr.. Secretary, will accept any-
thing to keep away the pangs of hum
IN rive tra.a roof 20 eHo1to,. $50
and to keep me from sin and shame"
The appointment was made. The
talented, beautiful girl-bride of the
soldier who had fought so well is a
gray-haired charwoman in the depart
ment. In the same building is the wild
ow of confederate general She got
into the department under the last adj
ministration, no matter how. She got
there and her salary is 81, GOO per an
mum. She has S133 per month. She gets
S33 per week, and works with pen.
The widow of the union soldier gets
only $50 per month, and she works with
broom, scrubbing brush and feather
duster' after the other lady has gone to
her elegant rooms TO dress in silks and
satins, laces and ribbons for the opera.
The soldiers widow wears calico. eats
crackers and cheese, and in winter
shlyers in freless room with bare
floors and hard bed; for SEQ per month
does not buy Injuries in the capital of
the nation which was saved by the
prowess and self-abnegation OF men
ike her noble husband.
SMITH d. FRY.