The Washington times., 1909-07-14
Idle Pursuits Forgotten by
Now Eager Toilers for
Government.
OFFICIAL WHISPERS
HEARD BY DRONES
Youths, Eager for Labor, Wist Not
Passage of Time and Clock
Is Forgotten.
By JAMES HAY, II.


According TO today's reports Of the
chiefs OF bureaus in the Department or
Commerce and Labor, the movement Of
Secretary NageI for greater efficiency
in the work Of the clerks under him has
resulted In an increase Of from % to
80 per cent over the old amount OF labor
performed I'm that department.
The young men who toll there for the
good of the country have seen new
light IN the jolly summer resorts,
cooled by breezes as advertised, where
the hardest work is flirting and the
greatest mental concentration is puz-
cling out what a girl means when she
lifts her eyebrows or lowers her fan,
there may be idleness and ease. At the
seashore. sloth may claim the young
generation for its own. But in the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor, in
dustry has everybody by the ears.
Some weeks ago the young men heard
that they, far more than the older
clerks. would be affected by the con-
tempfated dismissals, demOtions and
reprimands. From that moment, ener-
gy, enterprise and hustle filled the air
with inc6ssant hum. The young men
got a new grip on their jobs. They
then, 10 make sure of the thing, fasten-
ed themselves TO the chairs and tables
with Yale-locked, triple-riveted, nickel
plated. armor-proof devices.
Time of No Moment.
It didn't matter at all what time il
was. Handsome youths, eager for Ia
Dor, showed up in their various offices
ahead OF time, and, when the witching
hour Of 4:30 came, they glanced coldly
at the clock and went on with their
writing, counting and figuring. They
were but humble toilers in the Score
Iarys vineyard. but they were bent or
telling IN the most approved style.
Strangers entered the offices seeking
information, but they were not noticed
by anyone save the man in charge
Pretty girls now and then fitted
through the corridors, but the futtel
and rhythm Of the elfn laces OF then
gowns get never a glance from the
workers.
Desperate haste was on every side
Papers were seized and fairly gobbleG
up by the eager eyes and hands. Moth
ing was too hard 10 90, nothing roo
complicated to be carried out all right
When days were hot. the cheerful clerks
laughed in ghouIish glee and went The
harder al their work. Mind the wealth
er? Not on your life! Those fellows
could work with the asphalt at boiling
point. and, If occasion had arisen, they
could have acted hike steam adding ma
chimes perched Or top OF icebergs-
Luncheons Neglected.
Even the luncheon hour came TO be Z
somewhat neglected institution. Hun
ger? II vas but a trivial thing, a mere
fantasy that vanished away like tht
bubble on the fountain in face Of tht
tremendous viii power Of the workers
IL was a superb demonstration Of thC
power of mind over matter. They
yearned 10 work and they had not tbs
time TO eat Their rebellious bodies
we're conquered, subdued, denied, disre
garded-and all with cheerful, optimis-
tic smilesi
Text books from which some Of tbs
ambitious idlers thought 10 absorb
enough knowledge 20 allow them 70 q
forth into the world armed with d.
plOmas and prestige, disappeared Ike
snow before the hot sun Everywhere
there was but the one meritorious, de
lightful, enhancing thought-tO worn
for the Government.
And was this done Tor money On
10; not for money. ii was done fOl
conscience's sake. They all knew tina
they we're conscientious, and a cOnscien
tioug man works all the time. OF course
they might have been deaf 10 con
science before they heard Mr.. Mage
and Mr.. MacHarg whispering swee
nothings down the official channels
But they were deaf no longer. They
heard. and they needed. And they cid
this without taking time of TO visit al
ear specialist.
Formerly life had been a lovely
dream. a mere dallying on the shores o.
idle circumstance. a pleasant waiting or
the banks Of those official streams dowT
which there came every month a gener
Gus barge loaded to the gunwales witt
pay envelopes. But no longer did the
approach Of the friendly craft create d
ripple on the calm seas Of honest en-