The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-18
TREASURY
GIRLS
"reminiscences of a Confed-
crate Note Signer.
THEIR RESPONSIBLE WORK
How Signatures We're Put Upon Paper
Money-Anecdote of General Jubo
EarIy-War Incidents,
Etc,

written for 1.-The Lost Cause" by Mrs.
John p. Dimitryo
It was in May. 1854, that l entered the
service of the Confederate Government
NV appointment in the Treasury DC
pa,tment Note Buream was Originally
intended for Richmond. but owing TO
the transfer Of that branch Of the SER
vice to Columbus. S. c., reported to
Mr. Jam,son. the chief of the Bureau
at that place.
TO a young girl of nineteen. who had
known little of life beyond her small
ys,d or dlassmates and teachers, ~
was fiery ordeal to face the hundred
or more faces lifted in curious greeting,
as she stepped across the threshold OF
the room occupied by tho signers. How
ever. with courage born of soldier
blood. ! walked steadily by the side OF
my escort down the long alley running
through many rows of desks. and, IL
nally. we stopped at the narrow railing
which helged in tho chief clerk and his
assistant, at the rear Of what seemed
an endless room.
The oath Of allegiance to the young
Government Of the Confcderacy was
promptly taken; n simple outfit, con-
sisting of penholder and pens, spring.
clamp and a writing paa--was handed
me. and a bundle Of Treasury notes
made ,ip Of 500 sheets was thrown over
my arm. Again. with my escort DIS
guide. that narrow alley was traVersed
to the desk allotted me among those
who. from 9 A. NJ. until p. NJ, for lons
months were to be my daily associates.
Thus It was without training or previous
experience Of work beyond textbook
and blackboard. ! was suddenly launcheu
upon life--u Confederate Government en-
ploye, treasury note-signer!
OFFICE HOURS.
There were no sinecure positions in our
department; we Were not permitted to
be mere ciphers filling up room. Within
official hours. the secretary was consid-
cred a martinez, for he eXhcted strict at
tention to work. There was no special
supervisor of the ROOM but 1t was under
stood that each lady was to be monitor
upon herself. All were ladies-many or
them OF the highest birth, position and
culture. With SUCH 1t was ever nobility
compe!s a ihtle conversation between
desk mates Twas not frowned upon. but
there was no indecorous skurryine from
desk to desk, or chatting IN loud ZONES
with boistcrous laughter
It did not require any great amount or
brains to sign ones name several thou
sand times in the course of day either
for registrar or treasurer. But 1t was
this difficulty OF signing, by the way
which led to the appointment OF ladies'
In the Note Signing Bureau OF tho Treas
ury Department. Although the printing
of tho first notes was comparatively slow
work, for It was done entirely by hand,
they accumulated so rapidly that It was
found TO be physical impossbity for
Mcssrs. Clltherall and Gilmore to give
them their official signatures. Clerks who
had unique signature were at first as
signed to represent these gentlemen on
our promises to pay" but the rapidly
growing needs OF the department, togeth-
err with the formation of the government
Battalion finally opened tho way for tho
appointment of ladies to FIJI their cleri-
cal place, IT was not long before this
division became mnre interesting than
any branch Of the public service. 1t could
not be otherwlse--made up MS 1t was OF
the Widows wives and relatives OF those
who were then at TIE front, or had fall
en- in their country's defense"
LOST NOTES
The loss-almost at the birth OF the
Confedcracy--of the treasury notes. en-
graved and printed in New York, made
J
in that line. Our paper was at first,
brought from Baltimore by agents en-
ployed IN the special service Of the de-
partment, Later on. the Richmond mills
gave US a fair article of linen PAPER so
smooth In surface that II allowed tho
rapid writing of a signature free from
blots.
Our notes had steadily improved, both
in design and quality, from the day the
first proof Of eight SOD notes on sheet
was submitted by Hoger and Ludwig Ia
our chief Mr.. e. C. Memm!nger. we
now thought our autographed currency
very beautiful-for 1t was all our own
and had unbounded confidence that, six
months after the ratification Of peace, =
Il would be good as gold. IT was the
special ambition OF each lady to record
her name upon that fair and noble note
known as the $500. Although tho tracing
OF the name was purely mechanical, the
fact of being entrusted with the signing
OF note so high in value always gave
the lady-recipient Of this coveted honor
much prestige In our little world.
THE sIGNERS' WORK,
As the notes were caught fast In one
corner, signing the name eight times or
sheet, and throwing 1t over the clalnr
70 take up the next was swift work Il
was whispered that there was an un
written law TO the effect that the pen
atty for blotted notes was redemption %
their value out of the offenders salary
To my unspeakable horrer, several con
demned sheets We're returned to me fo
duplicate signatures and. what added I,
promotion 70 the S5r9 note Eor seYera