The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-05 00:00:00

the 3tontbrible 065erlyer,

SATURDAY, DECEMBER sth, 1885.

ELECTION GOSSIP.

THE beautiful duchess whom Gainsborough
drew so splendidly, in the painting which
afterwards disappeared in a most ruysteriouF.
manner, attained no little celebrity in Fox's
time for her activity and zeal in electioneer-
ing matters. She, with another feminine
aristoctat of wealth and weight, furnished
inspiration and subject for one of the best-
known of election cartoons, from the pencil
of a past-master of the art of pictorial atire
Tho mantle of the notorious Duchess of
Devonshire has not perhaps, fallen on the
distin2,nished Jaws of this political time,
though rank to-day does not lack beauties by
any means. Fair ladies of high degree are
found assiduously engaged in canvassing for
their friends of the sterner sex, to be sure,
and that in the interests of either party ;bnt
no peeress has been so far carried away in
the campaign as to seek to bribe the voters
with a kiss. _ One irreverent cartoonist at

thought of this same idea, recently depicted
, a lady ready to bestow an osculatory favour
on a rough butcher-burgess, in the hope of
thereby securing his suffrage for her candi-
date. He of the cleaver, thanking my lady,
with shocking taste and sad ignorance of a
kiss's value, said "if it made no matter to
• her he'd rather have a pint of four-half."
We are afraid that this man's indifference to

the sweets of pretty lips, notwithstanding
such a method of influencing electors, would
if indulged in, in many cases be deemed
sufficiently considerable to bring both its
practisers and those that thereby benefitted
into trouble for committing a serious infrac-
*ion of the Corrupt Practices Act, The kiss
given by a comely, bright-eyed, damsel—
or, for the matter of that, , dame either—
would doubtless be a strong inducement to
many a lady-loving voter to act as the giver
of the kiss commanded. The bribe would
be of the strongest—being something which
the party to whom it was offered would by
naturally inclined to accept. Later in elec-
tion history it cams to be the other way
roam!. The candidate ingratiated himself
with the voters by stooping to kiss their
enildren, As Punch, speaking here anent,
this week pats it.

In other days the Candidate.
As old Election tales relate,
Of our stsid English Nation,
Kissed all the women ; bqbieA too
Got many a "buss." as was their due;
Folks won by osculation.
NOT the voter is approached direct by the
gentle influence of ladies, instead of being
reached through the in termedium of child-
ren or wire. Of course everything would
depend upon the pergonnel of the lady
selected to distribute the favour. There can
be little doubt, though there is no authentic
record of the unlawful giving or taking of
corrupt kisses, in contravention of the spirit
of the Bribery Act, that ladies have played
a most important part in the present elec-
toral campaign. The ladies of the Liberal
party have worked very hard, but those on
the Conservative side have been numerically
stonger, doubtless through the action of the
Primrose League. Lady Randolph Churchill
has specially distinguished herself for stand-
ing nnwearyingly by the side of the Indian
Secretsry in the electoral breach during the
Birmingham struggle, and though her
efforts were not crowned with that success
which waited upon them at Woodstock
a-while ago, when the same public.spirited
lady fought her absent husband's battle
alone, she had much to do with the gallant
.front shown
.against the "Tribune of the
People." Sir Charles Dilke's new-wedded
bride saved that statesman from defeat,
doubtless at Chelsea; and Sir Thomas
Brassey owes many votes recorded in his
behalf at Hasting to the tireless endeavours
of the fair voyag,3ur of the Sunbeam and her
daughter. The World tolls how Mr. Puloston
was powerfully supported in his Davenport
canvass by twq charming daughters, and
how the opposition party brought oat an
amnsing metrical skit, entitled, "Do Vote
for Pa." Mr. Puleston's friend seized the
skit and adopted it as their "Cry," and the
political amazons went on to victory repeat.-
lug it. After the poll was declared at mid-
night, and Mr. Paleston was found elected,
an enthusißstie Conservative shouted to one
of the ladies, who had waited to know the
result : "We did vote for pa, miss." We
might tell of strong efforts put forth by Lord
Iddesleigh's daughter at E:ceter, and of
many a fair "electioneer"— to coin a word—
besides, who, with winning smile, persua-
sive speech, and strong purpose, has told
heyaviiy at the ballot box ; but space forbils.
A word of clectim gossip t ) close— light in
tone—with masculine characters only in its
twilling. The Ci.,ty P,-ist has a good story
concerning a candidate - for Parliamentary
honours in connection with a metropolitan
constituency. After a hard "heckling' at
the hands of unsympathetic voters during a
recent election meeting, the poor candidate
was plumped for a plain answer to some
specific political puzzle. "Can you reply
'yes' or 'no' to any question," demanded he
of his troublesome interrogator. "Of course
I can," returned the heckler. "Then have
you left off beating your wife—yes or no."
Either /*polls° would have made the man
stand publicy confessed as a wife beater. He
did not answer. Better than this was Mr.
Ashmead-Bartlett's acquittal of himself
during the Sheffield campaign under similar
ciroumstances. His querist was equally
emphatic as to his ability to return the
reply-direct. "Then," said Mr. Ashmead-
Bartlett's, calmly wiping his eye-glass, and
fixing his tormentor, Are you as big a
fool as Yon look—yes or no." The inquisi-
tive Sheffielder hurriedly left the room.

TUENISII ON Not(A L STLCKY'S HIRE
PITILCHIAII.II Pzzom not naeelimary
locr.nanlcAl sista pri.ate, without the objection
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aiitgoalli** wit 'laud* IneozafTwaring firma to ealect
gods froi Wnte,f2r Prtielalue. Cntrtago paid and
Offices, 79, Queen
special crraoriumses for son...tr;,
Merit) Stave% Lon:101, N.C.

M 00.000,000 Ts TIM effin? Ot ORANclik7 !
°(4l 111,-,40., 41, Soui.llacuptoo
Oak W.Q. have just putslielsed a lust ot tlito Leila to
Ilk wealth. Reatlar, send a puetal order for 18.6 d., at.d
en wit forward you this valuable list, and if 5 ou bud
Z*4 Yid yes are entitle& to any money or property
bli gess eve. I.los & Gs. will show c)11 tlio Way.

NERVOUSNSES LOSS OF ENERGY

and 171TA.1, POWER.
11/4" 'Lag front whatever cause, not as treated by Quacks
with mineral poisons nact coloured water, but effectually
cured b
Y a N•WEL AND 111. I FILY SUCC SSFUL MODE
OP T
ATMENT, diecoverod by the advertiser, who,
ftit rnmir years of .xtreine sufforiug, was completely re.,
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Pronlyt-d by fe.olinjs of humanity, he thus makes known
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r4IS "Pr, fairardt partieslors g say foray*
• reept ar a 'tamped end directed exvelape.
A du ree.—J • T. `ICWRI-.L. Esq.. Chiswick, Middlesex.

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