The Washington herald., 1918-08-25

Tom Miller. of the Police Court,
and IL you have been drinking i.
costs you an additional month"
Soon after Grover Cleveland was
installed as President for his frst
term q dapper politician from the
Presidents home city, Buffalo.
came to Washington looking for a
job in the diplomatic service. He
was armed with gilt-edged creden-
tials and Endorsements from prom
inent Democrats in many sections
Of the Union. After looking over
his stock of recommendations one
Of his friends remarked:
Jack, you have enough indorse-
ments to make you minister extra
ordinary and envoy plenipotentiary
to Jerusalem"
And Jack thought so, too.
But alas and alack. he had not
reckoned with the uncertainties Of
officialdom in those piping days
when Democracy had just made its
temperance on the national stage
after an enforced absence of many
years. But Jack was happy and
possessed a big roll Of greenbacks.
He put up at the best hotels ard
soon became the central figure OF
a large contingent of the "come-on
boys" who preyed upon the ambi-
tious and unwary in those days of
easy marks. He was certain OF an
important diplomatic appointment
and must therefore hold up his end
in proper style. So he encouraged
the "come-on boys" to continue
flattering his prospects. bought
them wine and good cigars on the
slightest provocation. and took
many q joyous whirl about town
after the shades of night had been
drawn with supper parties after
each tour along the wide white
way.
Money vanishes-
At last his pile of money grew
smaller and his appointment was
still under consideration" with
nothing definite in sight. He then
reluctantly changed his place of
abode to a second-class hotel. Final
ly another candidate for the for
eign mission he had picked was given
the job, and his hopes went down
to zero.
Never mind" said one of the glib
"come-ons," with a whack on Jacks
broad shoulders, there are plenty
of good Jobs in the consular service,
and should you fail there. take a snap
in the government service here In
Washington"
So Jack was further ENCOURAGED to
continue to spend more money from
his dwindling pile in a riotous for
lorn hope. As fast as he selected
positions for himself some other fell
low was appointed to them. Finally
he could count his remaining dollars
on his fingers and toes, and he was
compelled to secure lodgings at q
cheap boarding house of the class
fourished here some years ago. From
imported wine Of rare vintage he
came to quench his thirst with beer
in stovepipe glasses, and soon he be-
came a frequenter of the free lunch
counters for which old Washington
was noted.
One day, acting upon the suggestion
of his landlady. he applied for a posi-
ton as messenger In one Of the de-
partments.
1T is big drop from minister
extraordinary to messenger" she
said. but you've got to have some
kind Of employment"
1t was a saying Of Eugene Higgins,
appointment officer OF the Treasury
Department In Cleveland's FIRST term,
that there were 100000 applicants for
every messenger job under tie gov
ernment SO Jack failed to land even
such an insignificant place as hat
and in utter despair he employel his
remaining few dollars In landing hira-
self in the middle Of cheap whisky
jag. He wandered into a park al
night with a full cargo of Booze
aboard and was soon asleep under q