The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-20
STILL MIXING MORTAR.
The Man Who Wanted to
Get On Worcester's
Police Force.

When an old-time stenographer falls
to telling stories it is a good time for a
reporter to take out his notebook and
jot down a few points.
1t is a traditional saying that woman
cannot keep a secret, but the very ma
ture of the shorthand and typewriting
Of maintaining dumb tongue.
There are degrees in stenography the
same as there are in all other trades.
Some stenographers earn as low as SO
per week; others more than a senator
of the United States, and few more
than the vice president. e-.s.--
"Unless a woman has some inborn call
to the business" a stenographer told
The Spy man yesterday, 'she had better
get a job selling ribbon and nick-nacks
in dry goods store, or let herself out
as a maid of all work. In the same way,
a man who is untitled for the business
is wasting valuable time that
would be far more usefully expended in
learning the bricklaying trade or study
ing the noble art of horse shoeing.
"A good stenographer should be like
soldier, obeying orders without question
and keeping a still tongue in regard to
the business of the employed,
There are stenographers in Worces-
lCls luSA dil4 NOIlell, WHO lUeyt got TO
talking, would furnish the newspapers
with RATS of good material for stories.
by adding long lists of honored names
to the docket of divorce libes.
But truce to this line Of conversa-
ton" said the stenographer, noting the
eagerness with which those who heard
her tried to trap her into giving a few
names and interesting details Zoo
much talk has wrecked empires"
Continuing, she said: There is
humorous side to the business as we'll
as serious and secretive one, and in no
instance does this show itself so much
as in civil service examinations. L have
had occasion to make typewriter
copies Of certain answers given in ex-
aminations, but in none Of these does
one come across such amazingly out
landish answers as are given to ques-
tons put to some candidates for posi-
lions on the police force.
Il remember particularly making a
copy of answers returned a few years
ago by one man who would like to travel
a beat and whirl the baton of brief
authority with his wrist He was the
most splendidly misinformed individual
that it was ever my fortune or mis-
fortune to encounter.
AS you are well aware, there are any
number of catch questions sprung on
candidates during civil service examin-
atoms, not only for the purpose of test
ing their ingenuity, but also with view
to getting an estimate on their range of
knowledge.
Some Of these questions Senator Hoar
or G. Stanley Hall could not answer
off-hand, and you can readily imagine
the mess that some of these civil SER
vice candidates make of the business.
1.-THE examiner asked, Who was the
first president of the United States
horn in the United States?' Now the
meaning of the question was this: Who
was the first man born In this country
after the revolutionary war established
the United States of America, to b.
come PRESIDENT
"Of course any number of the can
didates misunderstanding the purport
of the question, said George Washing
ton. AS a matter of fact, the real answer
should have been Martin Van Buren,.
1.-THE man that I have in mind, how
ever, had vague notions in regard to the
succession of presidents, but he was
bound to render an answer of some
kind so he said, Brian Boru.'
What strait connects the Black Sea
with the sea of Azov?', came the next
question.
The Atlantic ocean, came the ready
answer. s,seese
s" Name the largest continent in the
world continued the interrogation.
Isle of Man. came the reply on the
heels of the question.
Where do you find the bigger khan,
in Bokhara or Khiva?
I don't remember said the aspirant
for place on the force, that the com
missioners ever gave license to any
persons bearing these names. but they
f,,Ir eriHr nc hon
one can get at Peter Doyle's.'
Name the nearest naval station to
Worcester was the final question.
Paxton was the laconic reply"
What became of him?" asked the
reporter
Tile is still mixing mortar" said the
reminiscent stenographer.