The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-18

days avoided Mr.. Jamison's eye as he
| mado his tour OF the ROOM but payday
| passed and breathcd more freely upon
| finding that the government yet had
need for my pen.
What types of Southern maidenhood and
| d!gnif1ed, matronly graoo, of social posi-
| ton and heroic endcavor, wcrc brought
together within the dngy limits of that
old note.signcrs room reached only by
narrow stairway!
Many year has gone to its grave
since then but, once more. their faces
pass before me-some In smiles, moro in
tears.
PERSONAL.
Again see tho vacant chair and desk
that should have been filled w Miss
Stevenson, sister of Major-General Stew
venson. Less fortunate than ourselves,
she was the hundredth applicant for n
vacancy that did not exist; Saucy JON
Mo Dennison, with q Russian sunfoWor
nodding over her black curls, Tits before
me; Miss Stuart, Of the cavalier virginia
race still bends-a pale slip OF q girl
over her desk, intent onl OH preserving
the fair integrity of her name upon the
$500 note; the Wilknsons from Louisiana
known as our Colonial Dames"-and
Mary Darby, allied to the Prestons and
IIamptons, Of South Carolina, pass many
merry Jest In quiet undertones. viva.
cious Victoire Blanchard. dauHhtef q
General Blanchard. with the voice OF q
lark in her fair young throat, keeps up
a monologue in a charming medley OF
French and English. Next to her sits
Nine Proctor. the majestic sister OF Cen
, eral BeaureEard. What a picture she
makes, her snowy hair dressed in Ia
marquise, her body clad in silk. wrapped
in velvet and wearing the costliest OF
lace! She is numbering bonds and, as
sho sits erect. using her pen as II signing
n petition with q stately grace all her
own, she has the regal air Of Marie An
tonettc. In those vanished days, as
queen, she gave daily audience at her
desk. The ladies, all, We're eager, when
through with their personal allotment of
notes, to assist this grandc dame with
her bonds.
EVIL DAYS.
Our Confederate employees dressed in
most unique fashion-a creation Of the
tines Sherman had not yet cut the Con-
federacy In two, so that the parapher-
MALTA Of a rich wardrobe was as common
In our department as 1t had once been in
the home drawing-room. While n calico
dress was cheap at $40. It was cheaper
still to wear the costly dresses already
paid for.
But evil days We're drawing nigh.
At the close of "a, 1t was in the air
that all things were coming to an end
in Dixie. BY faith and love made strong
at heart, still praying for blessing upon
our beloved Confederacy, we worked
steadily on through the dreary holidays
and tho drearier month of January. '65.
At tho approach OF Sherman. all was In
disorder. It was save himself who can.
The money printing machine fell into the
hands of tho enemy. together with n
large amount of treasury notes. The sign
ers, already dismissed never again to be
recalled. by slow and devious ways rn-
turned to their homes-scattered through
the States from Maryland to the Gulf
Now, after over forty years7t those days,
once so full Of pride and hope; the work,
so earnest and loved seem phuntoms
all-merely q dream that has come
athwart tho brain and vanished with tho
night!
ut is on record, however, when ladies
We're first appointed as clerks in Rich
mond that a Grabbed official complained
Of tho ''roomful Of ladies' just over his
head who distracted him with their
noise in moving chairs and running
about"
-. 4. The whole number OF clerks
is now 262, of whom 1870 are ladies'.
ventured upon the employment OF the
latter. under the belief that they would
be found diliEent and efficient and that
Congress would approve the relief which
was thereby extended to large portion
OF tho most loyal, suffering and deserve
ing Of our countrywomen. The plan has
been found to work ell."-Memminger'
Report, Jan. %. 1868.