The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-21
LIFE IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
PLEASURES OF UNCLE sAM's MANY
MINOR EMPLOYEES.

Responsibility the One Prominent
Characteristic of the Department
Clerk of Either Sex-PubIicity the
Policeman That Watches over
Their Honesty and Purity-FOr the
Administration Every Time and
the Pre- sident Their Idol.
Washington Letter in New York Sun.
The one prominent characteristic Of the
department clerk of either sex is resoec-
liability. That there has been a change
for the better, be it great or small, all must
admit Public sentiment, though demand
ing business methods In public affairs, has
done much In bringing II about. Civil
service reform, in its crawfish way, has
helped, despite the cumbrance of its own
inherent absurdities. But the sense of Sc
curity has been the main factor-that as
faithful endeayor receives the reward of
continued service. From this one condi-
ton officeholding at Washington has de-
veloped from a quadrennial scramble into
a profession, a life-work, confined within
narrow limits, it is true, and sterile of
ambitions and hopes, yet devoid of fears.
In word WashIngton's main popula-
ton is anomalous; it consists of many
thousands who. are in receipt of a mod
crate but fixed income who have work
that varies little in duration and charac-
ter from day day and from year to year.
and who are imbued with the conviction
that their tenure is dependent upon good
conduct. This condition has already con-
tinued long enough to show the traits and
peculiarities of a distinet species.
Moderate living prevails in Washington
All the necessaries, rent, board food and
clothing can be obtained at reasonable
rates, and, since most salaries are payable
monthly, credit of thirty days is a mat
ter of course. There is a vast influx of
ready money, all new money, too, for no
one ever sees a worn bill here into the
hands of tradespcople on the first of very
month, and then for the next four weeks
the dealer is content to go about with
only car tickets in his pocket There Is
a far different rule however, regarding
luxuries; clerks need mot seek credit for
silks and jewelry; they would thus subject
themselves to suspicion in addition 10 re-
fusal. Salaries are well known, for the
government is a commercial agency free
to all corners. Hence curious pater-
nalism exists in the city none the less real
for being tacit and unquestioned. A clerk
soon comes to perceive that his position
it prohibits him from doing many more
1t is the office of the tradespeople to reg
ulate the length of his tether-that Is oil
Probably post hoe rather than propter
hoe; but that clerical respectability. so ap-
parent, is both sober and subdued Zeal
is shown by regularity rather than activ-
ity. There is a Difference of bearing which
attaches itself to those long subjects to au-
thority. OF the feminine side there is
shade rather than sunshine. While there
are many pretty young girls in the depart
ments, they have an air of self-repression,
as If they really shouldn't be, and wouldn' t
be, either, If they could possibly help It.
For this reason, perhaps this little leaven
of youth and beauty has but scant effect
upon the whole lump. A composite photo
graph of the women would certainly show
eyeglasses, In the primary stage, too. of
degenerating into spectacles; and there
would be hint, at least at hollow cheeks
and lines about the mouth. Side curls,
also, would be indicated, and, underneath.
the legend might be written: LET every
ming be done decently and in order.'
Much of the neutral tone of clerical life
is due TO monotony; one does not look for
independent action from a machine The
Walt Whitmans of the departments are
few, and be il rene mbered, too that Walt
Whitman lost his job. The very certainty
of pay, which habit has made ADEQUATE.
takes away stimulus. Let an artist draw
a salary, and he Is apt to cease drawing
anything else. Then the other point of ex-
perience must be accentuated Many of
| these clerks have lived; they have survived
their ambitions; they are content to take
up with a makeshift and develop it into a
| livelihood. What proportion of business
men are successful2 Wen, is it not nat
ural that the friends and connections Of
the failures should do their utmost to
| shunt them into so secure a siding? How
many widows aud daughters, gently bred.
are left without means Of support? We'll,
| is II strange that they press and strive
| for a small clerkship with an eagerness
born of despair? The rescued from ship
wreck are grateful and happy yet the
| shadow of loss and peril overhangs their
| spirits.
Another reflection naturally comes, and
| that is that young America is not so young
| as he was in Jackson's days. Then oppor-
tunlty was ever reckoning; then vistas
were ever widening. Then he was off to the
plains or the gold fields; to take a fly IN
| this city or a crack at that. Now II he
sees an armchair he is apt to settle him
! self in it, even II the seat be uncushion-
| ed.
The daily routine Of the average. wash