The National tribune., 1899-09-21
THE NATIONAL TRNE c. THURSDAY o.

joined Col. Frenchs regiment, the 4th
Me-, Co. 81, Capt. Burns. He could not
, enlist as soldier, on account of his color,
but was Capt. Burnss body-servant. He
was wounded unto death defending his
Captains life in the battle of Bull Run;
and when the slaves of the District We're
!, made free, President Lincoln said Sophie
lost her 81 900 by not knowing in time that
she was a slave owner.
Through the influence of many who were
interested in this case, especially Mr..
Seaton and Gen. Spinner, she was ap-
pointed sweeper in the Treasury at S12
per month. AS time went on four women
Were assigned places in the Redemption
Bureau-Miss Belle C. Tracey, Miss Fan
ME Halstead, Miss Elizabeth c. Stoner.
and Miss Henrietta Kelly. The proof OF
their efficiency lies in the fact that three of
these women held their positions for 80
years.
i Sophie was assigned as messenger in
this Department. She kept the Depart
ment swept and clear of refuse cuttings.
One night when Sophie was "clarin' up"
after the days work she found box of
greenbacks that had been cut counted,
and packed to transfer to the vaults that
had accidentally been overlooked. She
first called to the watchman; he did not
hear her voice as it echoed along the empty
corridors. Her second thought was, that
will not do; he may be tempted beyond
resistance, and it will only be my word
against his"
She thought of her four small children
at home, alone, with no one to give them
their supper or put them to bed; but the one
duty that stared her in the face was to
protect that money. She quietly closed
the door, turned out the light, sat down
on the box, and waited for the hours to go
by.
1t Is a rule of the Treasury Department
that the Treasurer must visit the building
every night at midnight. After hours had
tediously passed, and Sophie the only
occupant of the corridor or nave, she heard
the shuff1ing step of Gen. Spinner in the
corridor. She quietly slipped along the
corridor and knocked at his door. When
the General saw her he supposed she had
| accidentally been locked in. She took
him to the room and pointed to the box.
The two carried the money to the Generals
| room, and then he sent her home in his
carriage.
| The next morning when she returned
she found the General still keeping guard.
He told her to go about her work, and come
to his room again before she went home.
When she again went to his room he placed
in her hand her appointment papers, given
for honesty, and for 30 years she has earned
and drawn her $50 per month. Fifty
thousand dollars were in this box. At
another time she found $4,000. for which
/ he fncf l~<
ners own handwriting.
| Old Sophie says: "Yes, for 80 years
these eyes have seen nothing but money,
and [ have never had desire to take
dollar not my own. have black face
but would rather leave the legacy of a
white soul to my children than all the
money in that building"
| The last letter Gen. Spinner ever wrote
was to Sophie. threads:
| GOOD SOPHIE HOLMES: 1t was very
kind on your part TO send that picture of
yourself to your old and heavily afflicted
| friend. l can not see it. looked at it,
| holding it upside down. Josie tells me it
is an excellent likeness. / can not even
see what am writing to you, am so blind
regret that can not see you in the picture,
for there is nothing in the world that gives
me more pleasure than to look upon a good,
honest face. You possess such one, and
your conduct proves that it is truthful
reflex of your mind and disposition"
Sophie is now pensioner. The in
| trinity Of years is upon her, and no hard
work is required Of her Visitors to the
Treasury can always find her at her old
place, peacefully and with cheerful heart
| living out her declining years.
Women have gone on through the years
| holding positions, because they have fully
qualified themselves for the duties before
| them, and we have known some of them
drawing a salary of 81 200, whose time
was largely spent in teaching men how to
do their work, and in going over their work
| correcting it, for which these men were
drawing an 81 800 salary. In many cases
the men failed in ever grasping the busi-
ness. In face of all this we know an ex-
Secretary of the Treasury Department who
said $40 per month was good pay for any
woman; but this same Secretary is still
making mistakes. To-day it is not all
| against the women.
If his statement was true in the sarae
rate, many men in the Departments who
|
81 800 as voters, not workers.
Ii. as men say, women are the weaker
| vessel, then. as voting is SO much easier
than working, the voting and the 81, 800
| should be woman's, and the working and
the 5000 should be assigned to the men.
1t is not necessary to enter into particu-
lars what women do in keeping their fami-
| lies together. We know many mothers,
| and as many unmarried women, whose
salaries go to the support of the family,
and it is rare that woman borrows on her
| next months income.
| Woe to the day that should bring the !
| hour when women no longer occupy i'm
portant positions in the United States
service, for politics and trickery will have
| run riot
(To be continued.)
This VIII Interest Many.