Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-08
Ihe Left-H"nded Fiddler. or Heading off the Music
From the (Porter'sl Spirit of the Times.

hsu'e NE d o[ass Dan0, and III insure your eleC-
ton'" was the musical reply of L" wirew orker' to
aquestion from aspiring political candidate as to
Inc proper means to secure his election. And so
widely, during the last election, music called in
te aid oratory that this answer serves good en-
dorsement to the poets note, that.
Music hath charms to soothe the savage brast''
and attraction togo to the polls and vote early"
The forty horse power of music on elections being
nus settled by common consent leads to believe
that' too much credit cannot be awarded (style of
expression sanctioned by usage y TO the Kentuckan
VINO 1aced his political opponents music as follows
Both were candidates for the office Of Governor of
kentucky, and stumped" the State together qlite
harmonlousy until they reached of the counties
IN Inc hill country" Heleit was necessary to
make decided demonstration. and accordingly
The two candidates fairly spread themselves to
catch all the votes pOssible-scaing up on the Amer
lean eagle, and calling down the shade of Washing
ton pitching out profuse promises, and pitching in
TO each others party politics. In manner decidedly
refreshing to the hearers. On the first DAYS canvass
victory hnEg suspended by the tail feathers over the
rival forccs but the second day fell slap into the lap
OF the shortest and stoutest candidate leaving his
long and lean opponent g no kind Of show" In
vain the long man pumped up the waters of eoquence
and poured out full stream-there was nobody to
drink But round the short man elh0wed andcrowdeda
mass ofthirsty voters, drinking in his tones with de
light. Why his ATTRACTION Had he barrel of old
Bourbon No; he had fiddle! Getting the start
VI lau duuEeSStU Cle voters IN SNORT
speech. and then for the first time bringing out
fiddle, retired short distance from the speakers stand
IN order 10 let his opponent reply playing however,
such lively airs that he soon drew She rnt!re assem-
hlage away, and left the other side of the question
unattended to, unheaTd.
For three days IN succession short and The fiddle
carried the day. in three successive mass meetings. in
as many towns in the hill country, and long mans
chances tor single vote in those parts grew remark.
ably slim. In vain long consultation was held BY
the latter with his political friends
"Get the start Of him at the next meeting, and
speak frst' advised one.
"Raise fiddle and play them choones v said
another
"Yell him down. shouted a third
The long followed the advice of his first coun-
selor and got the start ia voice. but the noise OF the
fiddle run him neck and neck he would have listen
cd TO his second monitor and raised fiddle only he
knew it would fall through, he couldn't sclape a
note and as for his third adviser, he told him that
yelling down " short was simply rdicu ous u
Affairs grew desperate with long man, when, on
the third meeting, he saw, usual tie entire crowd
OF voters sweeping OFT after short and his fiddle
leaving only one hearer, and he lame one who was
just about 10 hobble off after the others
Can ii be possible that freemen, citizens of this
great and glorious country neglecting the vital in
terests of their laI d. will run like wild men after
cat-gut strings! Can it be possible, say q And
the lame man, to whom long man was thus eloquent
~ duSN tIeu, DIS 100, cleared out
9; Well it can, old hoss J"
Despair encamped in the long mans face as he
watched short man, at distance, playing away fol
dear life and the gubernaoria chair on that " blast
ed " old fiddle; but suddenly ray of hope beamet
over his " rueu vsage,r then another, and another
ray, till it shone ike the sun at midday.
Got him now, sure m fairly shouted the long man
he threw up his arms, jumped from the stand, anC
started for the tavern, where he at once called
meeting of his political friends consisting of tn,
landlord and one other, then and there unfolding
plan which was to drive his rival "lo where in M
time.''
The fourth meeting was held Short man ad
dressed the crowd with warmth, eloquence and bre
witty, Vacating the stand for his adversary and strk
ing up lively air on the violin. in order to quash h
proceedings; bat though as usual, he carried the
audience away, lie noticed that they critica
as numerous, One six .tooter in home<pun, walnut
dyed clothes, with wild looking eyes, and coon Skin
cap, eyed every movement of the fiddle bow, with
intense disgust finding utterance at last in
"Why don't you fiddle with that tother hand O
yourn 2"
T'olher hand - shouted a coyus of voices " Fire
up with that tolher had - Faster played the short
man, but louder and louder shouted the crowd
' T'other hand t'oher hand! !"
Gentlemen, assure you-"
1" No more honey, old hoss. We amt bars +!
shouted the man with The 'coon-skn cap.
" I'0ther hand, tother hand y yelled the crowd
while even from the distant stand where the lone
man was holding forth to next n0body' for listen
ers, seemed 10 come faint echo, "I'Oher hand
t'otheT hand !"
Short man began to be elb wed crowded, pushed
in vain he tried to draw the bow at one time his
bow sent up to The Shoulder the bridge
at another, down went the fiddle, until he shouted
! out
"Gent!emen, what can do but assnrc you that
'Tother hand !" roared coon skin, shonlderins
bis way face up to the short man, We've kearC
about you You fiddle down rhar in that ID
Bluegrass country, mong rich folks, with yonr rgh
hand and think when you get up in the hills mon:
pore folks, letl hand fddlins good enuf for them
you've cuSsedIy missed it Lcft-hand doin's wont
run up hyar; tote out your right stranger, loOl
| out for squalls -
The short man looked out for squalls, threw dowr
the fiddle and the bow oh oh jumped on his horse
and put straight horse tail between him and hi
enraged " fellow citizens "
| " It's fact" says the long man, my opponent'
being eft.handed rather told against him up in th
hill county, and whoever circulated the story, "
there, that he always fdded with his right hant
down in the Bluegrass country headed eff his musi
for that Can paign."
! SUNDAY LIFE IN CHCAGo-fIere is a picture 0
Sunday lie in Chicago, city now and or some tim
under Republican administration. ltis furnished b.
the Times:
"Here in Chicago on Sunday we have fifty s
churches open during thu forenoon and evening; bu
at the same time there les than eighty bal
rooms in each of which the band plays from NOR
ming till midnight, and Waiting goes without in
termission. In addition to these festivities we hav
two theatres, each with its performers in tights ant
very short garments, rivallng E!Iser in their grace
full evolutons Saloons have their front doors close
| by proclamation, but do thriving business throug
side entrances"
+ QUITE EQUAL TO DAvY CROCKETT The Ranhridg
Argus says Mr.. VIM Gregory, residing just helcV
Ricoe's Bluff, on The ApaIa ,hicoa liver. killed TWEEN
ty one bears last year, and from the destruction
Of his pigs there appears to be decrease in thei
number in his neighboshood. When he can spar