The Washington times., 1905-06-11

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS
In the first days of the civil service
a eMs Dock in the eighties-the author OF
young Indiana lawyer, came to Washington
TO accept clerkship in the office OF the
dreainiest sort of dream that he had
planned his way into the office of the At
He describes his entry into the service
OF the Government and the shocks to his
dignity administered not only by the lordly
Waterman, but by future associate
BE tells how he plunged into the routine
work of applying the little law in printed
pamphlets to letters of inquiry.
The reader is made acquainted with his
roommates, he chief, "a man OF fifty or
hearty in manner. with puffy eyelids.
kempt. profane; hard drinlser, gambler.
Kind END to everyone; lawyer by courtesy
campaign speech: the second n authority.
MT Macpherson, a tall. extremely taciturn.
thin-lipped, dificult-to-approach Individual.
"a lawyer by virtue of general legal
knowledge as extended and accurate" says
tered: an 1rishman. oMara. about thirty
years old. .'suave. fluent tempered,
and fine advertising agent of his own
time in 'gassing the gerls. and who 'da-
fed the Dimnycrats to put him OUT
through the influence ii of her huspa aners
friends, and an unmarried woman. the
Dragonhy.'' who seemed TO rely for her office
standing upon the intimate friendship with
q member of the National Senate.
The first year passes by before the author
realizes it. He enjoys living the life in
big city which affords diversions unattain-
able in the small community from which he
came Nevertheless he does not devote all
his spare moments to pastime for he pursues
his studies in the endeavor to get diploma
from a school of law. So passes the first
winter and tie next.
Then comes an event which brings about
a change in all. The chief OF the division
though fellow-clerks believe Macpherson
titled to the promotion. 'sYis, It Is Mr..
y Mara, and m sorry you are disappointed,
says the appointee in noting the look of
surprise on the face of the writer. Macpher-
son quietly makes arrangements to leave the
division, ana the writer takes steps to do
likewise. His Judgment tells him to go
back home His pride urges him to stay
tains a transfer O. Mara lending his aid
lie learns with surprise that his posi-
ten is a clerkship. requiring no legal at
tainnlents, but reconcfleS himself. best
he can. TO the bed he has made and has
to lie upon,
O'Mara in the meanwhile reaps praises
from the newspapers for the ''reorganiza-
ton Of the division.
During the Harrison Administration the
scramble after plums kills the last of the
writer's theories the merit system then
enforced. and ne accepts the advice of Mr..
Macpherson 10 join and help run the In
diana Republican Association. lest IL run him
out of the service. Attacks are made on
his qualifications for membership through the
Vaccinations of O'Mara, but an unexpected
friend is found in Colonel Powell, the new
assistant attorney general and conscientious
public servant and the writer wins in his
fight for Office in the association. He secures
a transfer to the office directly under the su
peryision of Colonel Powell and is made
happy by chance TO return to legal work. He
undertakes the labor of compiling the laws
which affect his department. In the mean
while he brings from Indiana girl who
had been trained to think the making Of a
home for her husband and her children the
best work God could give her" Days begin
In which the sun touches every leaf and
blade of grass with gold.
The writer rejects promising opportunity
10 his nome town ana practice
law.
The volume of laws is finished and meets
with the approval of the compiler s friends
Colonel Powell and Macpherson The depart
inent however, gives no credit Tor the pub
iication 70 the man who did the work. That
goes the Secretary.
Home expenses and new arrival, Baby
Annie, plunge the young Hooster into debt
and though friends lend assistance and cele-
brate the birth OF the child by arranging a
salary increase. every day Dnds trouble
'.ifaping on.
o. Mara is detected in an act of insubordi-
nation and dismissed. He falls on his feet
and is made district agent Of great con-
tracing company.
Digging persisfently along. though not con-
tent to dig the Indlanian develops into a
capable routine clerk. His hopes grow high
when a chance for promotion is offered
through examination. but they are dashed
10 the ground when he learns that the av
in letter writing. The winners of the ex-
animation are men incapable to fill post OF
executive power. and Philip Schuyler Is, after
all called upon to assume the duties of a
division chief He Is told that the question
of salary will be settled later He finds out
later through Colonel Powell that all the sub
gtantiaI recognition vas given 70 other clerks
who could not carry the responsibilities.