The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-27
TO ENTER CIVIL SERVICE
EXPERIENCE OF WOMAN WHO BE-
CAME A DEPARTMENT CLERK.
DiscOuraginG Prospects for Women,
but Now and Then One Gets In
Examinations Required.
New York Sun.

woman who has not prepared herself
for any profession and suddenly finds her
self face to face with the necessity OF earn
ing living is apt to turn first to the gov
eminent service. To enter this, she rea-
sons, her good common school education
will enable her to pass the required civil
service examination, and courage and per-
severance will accomplish the rest
Accordingly. she prepares TO take this ex-
animation There is book called Manual
of Examinations for the Classified Civil
Service of the United States" which may be
procured from the Civil-service Commission
at Washington. 1t contains all the infor-
nation necessary for preparation for the
examination, explains how to apply for ii,
gives the chances of appointment, etc.
The woman learns from this that she
must first send for an application blank,
which must be filled out and returned to the
commission ten days before the examina-
ton is to take place. If she has not firmly
undertaking she may find herself consid-
erably daunted by this first step, for the
questions are personal and necessarily more
or less disconcerting.
l. Do you use intoxicating beverages?
form?
g. Are you now married?
T. Were you ever married?
o Have you ever been convicted of or
indicted for any crime?
8. Have you any chronic disease?
eye?
s. Do you wear glasses?
hearing?
10. What is your exact weight?
IL. What is your height?
IL. Date Of birth?
ID. Place of birth?
IA. What has been your principal bust
ness or occupation in the last four years?
The answers to these and other questions
must be absolutely accurate, and three ac-
quaintances must vouch for their truth and
they, too, have to answer questions regard
ing their age, health, occupation etc. Then
the applicant must go before a notary and
swear to all her statements and ne, Also
has to write out answers to the questions
about his health, birthplace, etc. He then
stamps the document with the official seal
and it is forwarded to Washington.
If ii Is not properly filled out, and this
is not unusual a postal card is sent to the
applicant admitting her to the approaching
examination, but supulating that if the
mistake is not properly corrected within
certain time after the return of the paper
the permit will be considered void.
The woman decides, meanwhile. TO study
the model examination given in the Man
ual." 1t is closely adhered TO in the actual
examination, indicating as nearly as pos
sible, without being an exact reproduction,
the nature OF the questions that will be
asked.
RED-TAPE PROCEEDINGS
These examinations take place in the
! spring and fall, and are distributed over
the country as even as possible. Suppose
the examination does not take place in the
| city where the applicant lives, but in a
neighboring city. She goes there the day
before, for the examination begins prompt
| ly at o'clock. and a slight hardness will
oisqualify her from taking it.
According to the directions in the MAN
| uaf' she provides herself with erasers,
! pens, pencils and ink. Making her way to
the postoffice building she is ushered into
| a large room on the third floor, where she
| finds the fifty or sixty other applicants
seated at long desks facing one another
She gets a number-l9, Island with this
| she signs all her papers AS she is apply
! ing for the place of department clerk she
1 is obliged to pass examination in the fol-
lowing studies: l. Spelling; 2. Arithmetic;
Copy; 5. Copying from Rough Draft.
The second and third of these branches
| count rs in value, the first 10, the last two
| 10 each and penmanShip 10.
The woman Of middle age and domestic
| tendencies again becomes the anxious
| schoolgirl as she writes out with painstak-
words, such as "Chautauqua, evanescent
| ascetic," etc. or as she tries to balance
Mr.. BIS and Mr.. C.'s complicated debit
! and credit accounts with each other com
/ putes the difference in customs duties be-
| tween refined and unrefined sugar finds
out the widows percentage of income from
| ner DOnuS OF as she mas .nerSelf writing
letter TO the Civil-service Commission, in
| response to its request printed on the ex-
| animation paper, upon the best method
| of preventing or adjusting labor strikes
! She tries to be careful of her penmanship,
| for this, has been shown, counts high
| in the general average.
| The examination lasts from 9 o'clock
| until 2, with no intermission, and the
woman, If she has not been accustomed
to routine work, finds il a laborious five
hours. Yet she must not complain that
| Uncle Sam is a hard taskmaster when
old men, wrinkled and gray. are applying
| themselves to this same task with all the
cheerfulness and vigor of youth
MORE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.
| When the last examination paper is
handed to the examiner the woman pre-
pares to leave. But as she puts on her
hat another paper is placed before her, one
intended to establish her identity and test
the accuracy Of her replies TO the questions
in the application sheet.
| They are the same familiar ones which
! she has already answered with the help of
! the family Bible. How old are you? What
| is your exact weight? Name two persons
who signed your application" etc There
| are a few new ones, such as, What is the
| lowest salary you will accept? Will you
take a position In Washington? In your
| own STATE? Anywhere"
| These neeiful precautions vet NOT
withstanding their apparent adequacy the
| government is occasionally duped Recent
| ly il happened In one department that a
| young man nlled out the application blank
and obtained the place, but his brother.
| ination for him.
| When the woman returns home she con-
| suits somebody connected with the govern
ment service as to her chances or appoint