Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-12
SHE WAS FULL OF NERVE.
A Young Lady whose Light Will Not
he Hid Under n Basket.


"The most overwhelming display Of
nerve that I ever met up with, face to
face" said an official who was connected
with the last census organization from
the start and who is now a factor in the
present nucleus Of the big 1900 census
force that is to be, was furnished by
Chicago young woman, n very pretty,
clever and generally prepossessing girl,
who walked into the original Office early
in 1889, when census employees were just
beginning to be selected and addressed
me thus:
eft is necessary to take an examina.
ton to get position on the census force.
isn't it?'
cit is said I.
"'Well,' she said, while I don't feel
any doubt about my ability to pass the
examination, I wish you would just let
me have an exact list of the questions
that are put to applicants by the exam
iners. want to run over them and get
the answers down pat
81 wiped my glasses and looked the
young woman over carefully.
'Er-isn't that rather an unusual sort
Of rcquest?' / asked her.
YES she replied, Il think 1t is, but
when | go up for the examination | want
to pass with a rush. | dare say that
could get through it without any trouble
even IL had no previous opportunity to
study up the answers to the questions,
but | want to walk through with posi-
lively electrifying speed For instance,
| understand the examiners ask appli-
cants how far the moon Is from the Cape
of Good Hope. We'll, I'd like TO have the
list Of questions, so that | could get some
body to calculate the distance for me and
enable me to Just jot it down without a
particle of trouble. ! wouldn't care to be
embarrassed by having them ask me how
far the moon was from Cape Horn in
stead. That's why | want the exact ques-
tons. Again, supposing they were to
give me problem something like this in
fractions: "A pole stands 10 feet above
the water II feet in the water, and the
remaining portion of the pole, which is
onethird of the whole length, is in the
mud beneath the water. What is the to-
tai length of the pole?" Well, I'd like to
have that all worked out so that
wouldn't be subjected to the bother of
having the examiners change the figures
on me-.
"'You are trine inclined to treat your
self kindly, are you notT | asked her, try
ing as hard as | could not to be sarcas-
tic.
"Well, yes, rather she replied. I am
going to get into the census bureau some
how or another, but l really prefer the
simplest route. I'd like to be prepared
in advance. It's all very well to go up
before the examiners and bother and ia
tiguc oneself with problems that one has
not got all pat in advance, but I'd really
prefer not to do that unless have to. OF
course, if l have to, I'll do it. But can't
you let me have the questions in advance
typewriter, prefcrably-so | could just
go ahead and spend a quiet morning dig
ging out the answers
THAT was ChicagoesQue, wasn't it?
felt like asking the young woman how
things were out in Chicago, but l didn' t.
said:
"Do You think it would be fair to the
other applicants for positions if, even
supposing had the questions, | were to
furnish them in advance to you and not
to them? Why, if l may inquire, do you
prefer such an extraordinary, such an I'M
heard Of, request?'
| "'Well,' she replied, looking me square
in the eye, i need the money, the salary
and | want to make dead sure of getting
! it,
There was something captivating
about her nerve, and. although she did
not, Of course, get any list of examiners
questions in advance, she passed the eX'
animation hands down, worked her way
up to one of the good bilets in the office
and is going to be back with us again
when the new force is organized. -
| Washington Star.