He didn't know what these examinations were, so he went, all lighthearted, to the Civil Service Board.

He read the questions about the mummies, the bird on the iron, and all the other fool questions--and he left that office an enemy of the country that he had loved so well.

The mummies and the bird blasted his patriotism.

He went to Cuba, enlisted in the Spanish army at the breakin' out of the war, and died fightin' his country.
That is but one victim of the infamous civil service.

If that young man had not run up against the civil examination, but had been allowed to serve his country as he wished, he would be in a good office today, drawin' a good salary.