Evening star., 1901-10-26
SEEK GOVERNMENT PLACES
LETTERS RECEIVED BY CIVIL SERy-
ICE COMMISSIONERS.
Very Haxy Ideas Entertained by Man!
Persons as Indicated by Their
Written Communications.

| MANY persons have a very hazy idea of
| the general scope and purpose of the civil
| service law and the duties of the civil SER
| vice commission. The commissioners re-
| ceive numerous letters from people through
| out the country who are seeking govern
ment appointments and from others who
| merely desire enlightenment various
| subjects. Some of the writer's seem to
| think the commission a sort of bureau for
| the adjustment of miscellaneous grievances
and many of the epistles are ludicrous in
| the extreme.
The examiners also find mirthful side to
| their routine tasks, for in looking over the
| papers of applicants for government posi-
| tions they occasionally meet with an an
| swer calculated to awaken the risibilities of
| a peSSimiSt.
| Here is a definition Of specific gravity
CLEANED from an examination paper that
certainly possesses the merit of originality:
Specific gravity is an unknown quantity
| in the atmosphere which draws all sub
| stances toward the earth
The applicant is often required to write
a letter upon some subject specified by the
examiners. The writer of the following had
| been requested to furnish his opinion as to
whether or not corporations are a benefit
to the peoDle:
II think that corporations are one of the
greatest levers of the world upon which
thousands of people are elevated to yonder
nelghtS or science, knowledge and culture.
Let the inferior race strive to incorporate,
| to contend for the right to make mark
| in the world; to that of the superior race of
| the white. White corporations will be more
and more beneficial to every opponent IL we
will but strive to follow the precepts of bet
| ter, higher, nobler things in life. The hill
| Of emince (eminence) and fame is waiting
our coming and corporation in the business
shall be exalted to it's beautiful top. II we
stand up on the foundation of integrity, If
we put into operation the great power of
corporation, why the blessings will be ours,
and God will crown us with unfailing sue
cess. So let us learn at once to corporate,
let us fire up the engine OF corporation, let
us move forward the reverse lever of cir
cumstance. pull out the throttle of tact and
talent and move on with a flexible endu-
rance to the great city of success which no
other soul can enter on the locomotive pow
er of corporation"
This candidate mikes his metaphors some
what, yet he writes with a certain decep-
tive air as If he might really mean some
thing.
Seeking Information.
The next Is a letter to the commission
from South Dakota man who is seeking
Information. His style is lacking in that
flexible endurance" which characterize
the preceding letter:
"As l will need a little information about
patent laws. The case Is as follows II
potSiL - SIdIfteu anu contains the SneaC
of drawing and the one sheat Of drawing
contains two views of the invention, the
first view showing the invention at one of
Its adjusted forms and showing the hole
which is in use and not showing the hole
which is not in use. but in the second view.
The second view showing the hole which
1t shows not In the first view, both Of It's
holes are shown but in two views. Please
would you inform me of the matter If
can make or vend my right with both of
the holes under the same patent or what
must do
The following was written in answer to
the question: Should a prudent man go
into debt or not?'
Your question as to whether a prudent
man should go into debt or not in my opin-
ion 1t will take prudent man to contract
debt in the first place his prudentness he
become onest and onesty Is the best ap-
polecy and prudent man can game the
conferdent Of business men and In my
opinion man should be prudent befor he
contract debt my reasons for dwelling on
prudent Is because / a prudent man
myself and 1 believe in prudency No more
on subject"
Samples of MisinfOrmatiOn.