Evening star., 1902-08-09

OF allegiance or resisning. They declined
to take the oath. resigned and enlisted in
the confederate ARMY. Nearly all died or
were killed during the war.
When the 1st Rhode Island Regiment,
Col. Burnside. came sto this city early in
tne war. the men were quartered in the
modei room OF the patent office. The first
thing they did was to take a bath in the
ols iountan IN thes court President Lin
coin called to see them. The regiment had
Two daughters of the regiment" and when
Burnslde called Lincain's attention to them
the PRESIDENT made the most awkward bow
that was possible fora man to make.
Wartime Kecollections.
Durlng the war large part of the time
OF the clerks in the pension Office was de-
Vo'eo TO talking war; Mr.. Ford said yes
terdaS' When weahad a victory all hands
would go out and take drink When we
hao defeat it produced the same result.
however, the pension Office was on a par
Win all other government offices in this
respect. On one occasion 1 met Mr.. Hell
mick, the chief clerk, who was jingling
some keys in his pockets and looking very
plea sed Asking him the cause of his
MARTY, he replied:
L have good joke on the boys. They
are all over at the Waverly-every one of
them getting drunk and / have locked
them out
one afternoon the boys were having a
good time at the Waverly and they con-
ciuoed 1t would be the proper thing to in
Flte the commissioner to drink with them.
accordingly one of the men, who is yet in
the service. was delegated as a committee
OF one to extend the invitation. He prompt
ly Went to the commissioner and said:
Mr.. (hic) Barrett. the (hic) boys are
having a thic) time over at (hic) the Wa
very and want you to join en-
The absurdity of the situation caused
Mr.. Barrett to laugh and he replied:
1T appears to me that you have had
enough. Go and tell the gentlemen they
had better go to work
1t must be said, to the credit Of the
clerks, that if they lost any time by dissi-
patton they made it good by coming before
and working long after office hours.
Recollections Of Joseph Barrett.
When Mr.. Lincoln came to Washington
he brought with him Joseph H. Barrett of
Ohio, his intimate friend and biographer,
who was commissioner of pensions from
1861 to 1868. Mr.. Barrett was one of ma
lures noblemen: genial, yet dignified; a
good disciplinarian, yet not martinez.
He was always kind and gentlemanly In
manner, yet severe when necessary. He
governed the office with ability and justice
to all. When he came into office he said:
Gentlemen, you know your official
dutles ana are expected to perform them.
l believe that every employe is gentle
man. If 1 find it to be to the contrary
there will be a vacancy. These are the
rules of this office
Mr.. Barrett is yet living and has the
best wishes of all who know him"
During his official career Mr.. Ford has
seen the effects of politics in holding gov
ernment position. Appointed in June 1s49, as
assistant messenger at $50 per month; pro-
NOTED (date not remembered) to s72 per
annum; promoted October i, 1850 to 500
per annum; promoted December 30, 1862,
to $1,000: promoted August q, 1885, to
81 400; promoted July IA, 1881, to $1,000;
promoted February %, 1882, to s1,soo; pro-
NOTED August II, 1882. to chief Of division
at $1,000; dismissed May 23, 1885; rein
stated September Is, 1885, as copyist at
$500; September o. 1888, promoted to
81 900; promoted April 10, 1889, to chief of
division at $1,000; reduced January 80, 1890,
to s1,SO0; appointed assistant chief of di-
vision February 6, 1890; reduced to 81 200
June &C. 1893; dismissed June Z, 1895; re-
appointed September 3, 1895, at $500 as
copyist; promoted June Z, 1896, to $1,000,
and promoted January Z, 1897, to $1,000,
thus making twenty-one changes in posi-
ton during his fifty-three wears of service.