Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-14
GAVE UP A BIG SALARY.
In Order to Enjoy the Advantages of
Washington.


"Men often relinquish positions in one
city TO accept more remunerative ones In
another. but where a man will give up a
large salary in one city to accept a posi-
ton at a lower salary in another 1t Is
quite out of the ordinary" said govern
ment clerk to Star man this morning.
"A friend of mine In one Of the depart
ments recently gave up a position IN
Brooklyn paying $500 a year to accept
his present place at $1,000. A slice OF 5000
off ones income is considerable that L
asked him why he abandoned the city or
churches for the city of magnificent Vlstas,
especially since Brooklyn offers advantages
over many cities regarding separate resi-
dences at moderate rent and fine educa-
tional facilities.
We'll he answered. Sin the first place,
there Is but one Washington. Ill health
did not enter into consideration, as have
perfect health. Men often sacrifice good
positions on that score, but | prefer TO live
in Washington, and l will tell you the rea-
son why.
Brooklyn is all right place Of resi-
dence, but Washington is better. The pub
lie schools, and the private institutions OF
learning for that matter. of the capital
are as good as those of Brooklyn. L have
a growing family. so the question of edu-
cational facilities Is one OF importance 10
me. If l had felt that my children would
have suffered in this respect L would not
have made the change, but L believe that
their future is as bright in this regard as
if | had remained in Brooklyn, ana per-
haps better, because they are not exposed
to the rigors of such severe winters here
as there. Therefore, they have lost moth
ing by the change, ana may De Said 10
have gained.
In the matter of rent things are about
the same. In order to secure the separate
house l desired. as l did not wish to live
in q fiat, / was obliged to go out in the
vicinity of Prospect Park to rent house.
This meant a ride in jerky. overhead,
chld-killing and man-mangling trolley
cars of twenty-five minutes twice a day,
the cars during the morning and evening
hours being always uncomfortably crowd
ed. l Obliged usually to stand. and In
the open cars to sandwich myself between
the seats and the knees of the passengers,
holding on TO the back of the seat in front,
most fatiguing position. In winter the
travel is often impeded by snow and ice.
In the late fall and early spring the dead
ly open cars run in all weathers. Colds
were frequent, and innumerable fatal cases
of pneumonia have been directly traced to
Brooklyn's deadly open cars.
" In Washington during these months
both closed and open cars are run, so that
passenger may make his choice. Even
In summer, during rainy weather and on
days that open clear but subsequently de-
velop into rainy days. the car companies
will run in their open cars and send out
closed cars. This act of thoughtful con-
sideratiOn of their patrons convenience
would cause a revolution and riot in
Brooklyn.
al can now reach my office on the cars
in fifteen minutes. and have seat. Every
thing counts IN life. / am a bicyclist. Ex-
Cept such few streets as are paved with
asphalt, the street pavements of Brooklyn
are execrable. 1 ride to the office my
wheel in seven minutes over streets which
are clean and like floors. l ride all
over this city my wheel without effort,
and in fast time, attending to all my wants.
The wear and tear saved on ones nervous
and muscular system and the economy of
time is tremendous What is task in this
respect in Brooklyn is delight here. an
other point gained
:" Washington, with its wide tree-line1
streets. it's pretty, well-kept reservations
and flower-adorned parks, is really great
park in itself. There is plenty of breath
ing space. At every turn beautiful views
welcome the eye. Tenement houses, filthy
districts and other disagreeable features of
n crowded center are absent. The houses
of the poor, as we'll as the rich, have green
lawns, shaded by trees a fiitra ton plant
will soon give it's residents sparkling wa
ter. Its churches are among the best. 1t
has inner theaters, and more of them, than
best In the country. The brain-racking
noise of wagons on cobblestones is a thing
of the Imagination. The overpowering
strenuousness of life, the mad daily rush,
the high tension of daily existence the
dust, the dirt and the deadly overhead
trolley are things We hear about. 1t Is
possible TO get home in the middle of the
day without feeling that you must give IN
not severe. Social advantages are superior
in that man on moderate salary Is not
ground between the upper milestone of ex-
elusive society and the lower of the very
poor. The people are friendly, the stores
and markets frst-class. The finest refer
euce library In the country Is almost at
your very door
Life is prolonged by living under con-
dittons which conduce TO peace of mind
and the smoothing of the pathway of our
daily occupation Again. the hours in the
departments are not long and the
roundings usually pleasant The salary
Is sure. Where one occupies an executive
position. as in my case, certain standing
Is assured. The only thing L miss is the
privilege OF franchise. and 1 have not en-
tirely lost that.
took all of these things into consid-
Grafton, and concluded that l could live
longer and better In Washington on less
money than could in Brooklyn. SO pulled
out, and am glad OF it,"