out every point
clearly and exhaustively; in fact, I have ventured to call it a
science"--here Mr. Perkins allowed himself to smile--"and it might be
defined Schedulology.

"Yes, to see a double sheet of foolscap divided up into some
twenty-four compartments, each with a question and a blank space for
the answer, is pleasing to the eye--very pleasing indeed.

"What annoys one," and Mr. Perkins became quite irritable, "is to
examine a schedule after it has been filled and to discover how it has
been misused--simply mangled.

"It is not the public simply who are to blame; they are, of course,
quite hopeless, and have an insane desire to write their names all
over the paper, with family details; but members of the Civil Service
abuse the most admirable forms that ever came out of our office.

"Numerous? Yes, naturally so; and as governmental machinery turns on
schedules, they will increase every year. Could you guess, now, the
number of different schedules under our charge?"

"Several hundred, perhaps."

Mr. Perkins smiled with much complacency. "Sixteen thousand four
hundred and four, besides temporary ones that are only used in
emergencies. One department has now reached twelve hundred and two;
it has been admirably organized, and its secretary could tell you the
subject of every form.

"Well, it does not become me to boast, but I have had the honor
of contributing two hundred and twenty myself, and have composed
forty-two more that have not yet been accepted.

"Well, yes," he admitted, with much modesty, "I have kept copies of
the original drafts;" and he showed me a bound volume of his works.

"An author? It is very good of you to say so;" and Mr. Perkins seemed
much pleased with the idea, twice smiling to himself during the
evening, and saying as we parted, "It's my good fortune to have a
large and permanent circulation."

All November Mr. Perkins was engaged with what he hoped would be one
of his greatest successes.

"It's a sanitation schedule for the Education Department, and is, I
dare to say, nearly perfect. It has eighty-three questions, on every
point from temperature to drains, and will present a complete view of
the physical condition of primary schools.

"You have no idea," he continued, "what a fight I have had with our
Head to get it through--eight drafts, each one costing three days'
labor--but now he has passed it.

"'Perkins,' he said, 'this is the most exhaustive schedule you have
ev