Corruption is more likely to originate with chiefs of subdivisions, as in the recent case of young Ayres of the Census Bureau, who was killed, and Mrs. Bonine, who was acquitted of his murder. The trial was a mere farce, for society felt that whoever killed the vile libertine who had used his place to seduce or browbeat young girls had served society. Justifiable homicide would doubtless be the verdict should death strike a few others. Such cases are, however, rarer than in commercial communities. The people of the departments largely constitute the membership of the churches of Washington. Senators and Congressmen, with their wives, do not bring letters from their home churches, but the department people do. The latter practically support the churches and the religious institutions and religious work of the district. XIV INCIDENTS IN AND OUT OF THE DEPARTMENTS "I MUST go down to the Census Office to hold a scrub-woman in her place," said a Western Congressman to me. He added: "Let me tell you about her. She does not belong to my State, but you will not be surprised that I propose to hold her in her poor place, which brings $20 per month, when I explain her case. She is the widow of a regular army officer. Her husband in the Civil War was twice promoted for personal bravery. His native town presented him with a sword as a tribute of his courage. His widow scrubs floors along with colored people, and his only daughter does menial service twelve hours a day in the printing-office. Of course the widow is too old for a Civil Service place, and that is the best I can do for her. She has no G. A. R. influence, her husband was so long a regular that she has no State back of her. I am glad to do what I can." Not long ago the beauty of a country town, let us say of Texas, was brought to Washington for a place. Her Congressman's quota of positions was full; he knew, however, of one place which was ably filled by a Southern woman who came here with President Johnson's family as instructor for his grandchildren. President Johnson had, before leaving, secured her a place in a department, and now the Texan asked her official head in the interest of the beauty. The girl was bright, flippant, and loud. She used her first month's wages to obtain a red velvet dress cut square in the neck to show her white, firm skin. She did her work fairly well, but one day people in her department heard a scream, and they also heard some one getting a severe slapping of the face amid cries of "I have a big brother in Texas, and it will take him only two days to get here, and he'll beat the life out of you!" etc. [Illustration: THE SUPREME COURT] Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller