The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-27

ment She asks if there is anything be-
sides passing the examination necessary.
Nothing, says her informant, except that
her name shall be among the three highest
on the eligible list Alas! there were several
hundred in different parts of the country
who took the examination for department
clerk al the same time she did. Her being
a woman is something OF a disadvantage,
he adds. for men, who have votes, gen
orally receive the preference from con-
gressmen, on whom depend the appoint
ments.
When the woman has had time to recover
from this rather discouraging information
she decides to consult the Manual again.
There she learns that in order TO pass she
must make an average grade of 20 per
cent. that she may not hear the result of
the examination for three months, and in
case she is not appointed within one year
after passing the examination. it will be
considered void and she VIII be Obliged 10
take another.
When She turns to the page called pros
pect of appointment" her heart sinks still
more. Under appointments" the column
marked female" is almost continuous
series of blanks.
PREFERENCE FOR MEN.
In the past three years of the 1.O36 men
who had been examined for this particular
work, rs per cent. had passed and of these
10 per cent. had been appointed. OF the
1866 women 70 per cent. had passed and
only per cent. had been appointed. Her
State is only entitled TO fifteen more ap-
pointments during that year and there are
24i persons eligible TO them, 2l2 of whom
are men.
Within a few days OF the expiration of
the three months the woman's record is
sent to her with the word passed" oppo-
site her name And three months later,
by some unusual combination in the game
of chance, the obstacles which had seemed
almost insuperable had melted away and
she proved To be one Of the limited number
receive I.
She become a department clerk in Wash
ington at a salary OF 500 per annum, be-
ginning the work the first day of the
following month.
After short residence in the capital city
she realizes that boarding and other neces-
sary expenses are much higher than she
had counted upon, and is much disconcert-
ed at the end of the first year TO find her
self considerably in debt. 1t had seemed
an ample income, S75 a month, and she
| had expected TO save at least one-third
: of it.
| There is a months vacation each year
! with Saturday half holidays in summer
| The hours are short, from until T.
| Looking forward to this fair amount OF
! leisure time the woman had expected to
accomplish much in the way Of study and
| self-improvement. Every opportunity is
| offered for such study here, where one in
| every fourteen of the inhabitants is a gov
eminent employee.
Many of the technical. law and medical
| schools do not begin their sessions until
| half past for the accommodation of these
! clerks. Lectures concerts, musical recitals
are given at this hour. picture galleries
/ are opened, every incentive given to those
who wish to study.
But this year and the following years pass
and at last the woman realizes how com
! pletely she has fallen into the idle ways
| of incident Washington. her one ambition
cept the mere mechanical duties of her Of
| flee.