For a young man or young lady without private means, or with but a small income, the Civil Service opens a channel for pleasant work, regular hours, and fairly good remuneration. Government employees know what to expect, can calculate exactly on the punctual payment of the amount assigned to their respective positions, and are certainly not expected to injure their health or mental powers by overwork; in addition to which, in some positions, at the end of a certain number of years they will find themselves in a position to retire from further labor, with a certain, if moderate, income for the remainder of their lives.

The Civil Service System of the United States has been extended until it is now the only avenue of entrance to thousands of lucrative positions. The examinations are competitive. Suppose that one hundred candidates write at a particular Civil Service examination in the city of Boston, that sixty-five of these pass the examination and that there are forty vacancies to be filled. Of these sixty-five successful candidates, the forty who stand highest are chosen for the positions, the candidate, whether man or woman, standing first, taking the best position, the candidate standing second, taking the second best position, and so on down. This makes it very desirable and important that intending candidates spare neither time nor money in preparing themselves thoroughly for the examination.

Limitations of space make it impossible to give more than a general outline of the examinations and a few practical hints as to the best method of studying for the examinations.

Requests for blank forms of application for competitive examination for admission to the Classified Civil Service and all regular applications for such examinations shall be made—

1. For Classified Departmental Service, to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.

2. Classified Customs Service: Sec. of Customs Board of Civil Service Examiners, —— ——

3. Classified Postal Service, to the Sec. of the Postal Board of Civil Service Examiners, —— ——

Give in the blank spaces the name of the town at which you wish to enter the service.