AN OFFICIAL SWEEP.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1876, Page 5 (Supplement)

AN OFFICIAL SWEEP.

Apropos of a late race, a good tale comes from one of the West- End Government offices.' Liko the clubs, writes a contemporary, they often get up what was fainisiarly known . as an official •' sweep," to which the highest as well as the lowest clerk may subscribe. The head of the department, which shali be nameleas took two shares, and then went onfc of town for. a few days. On his return, the day before the race, he found on the table two cards, on one of which was written " The Duke of Parma," and on the other " Lord Clifton." He Tang the bell for the messenger. " When did the Duke nf Parma call here," he iuquired. " Don't know', sif;" «' Well, when did Lord Clifton come ?'* " Can'c say, sir," replied -the messenger. " Very odd !'" said the chief, and forthwith he went to the second in command, and asked him whether he knew when the distinguished visitors had called. _" Duke of Parma?".ol>seived the second in command, after a little consideration, " It must be the exDuke of Parma. lam sure I haven't a notion wbeu they came." Thereupon the head of the department sent for hia private "secretary. - " Mr. Jones," said he, "do you know anythiug about this? When did these gentlemen call ? I have asked everybody, and nobody seems to have seeu them." For some moments the private secretary's .life»waa in danger: the betting was ten to one on his splitting his sides. At last, when he had some-

what recovered, he whispered in a faint voice, " It's the "sweep, sir."."Sweep, sir! What sweep, sir." exclaimed the head of the department, getting angry. " The official sweep, sir ." " The official sweep, sir !" cried the chief, fairly losing bis temper. " And how dare the official sweep, sir, come into my room and put cards upon ray table with these names on them V At this juncture the betting was a hundred to one against the recovery of the private secretary, and for a second or two at least life was supposed to be extinct. At last he came round, and the matter was explained. Of course, the names on the cards were simply those of the horses which had been drawn in the "sweep." But the head of that department has looked a trifle sad ever since, and it seems very doubtful at present whether he wiU try his luck next year.