The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-28
Gbe feIitiana 1emotrat.
HEADING OFF THE MUSIC.
FROM "poRrER's SPIRIT OF THE TINES"

worker" to question from an aspiring
political candidate, us to the proper means to
ecure his election. And SO widely. during
he last election, was music called in to aid or
ltory. that this answer serves as good ell
lorsement to the poets note, that
Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast"
md attractions TOGO to the polls and vote
carly"
The forty horsepower Of music on elections
being thus settled by common consent, leads
us to believe that too much credit cannot br
awarded" (stylc Of expression sanctioned by
usagc!) to the Kcntuckian who faced his po.
litical opponents music AS follows:
Both were candidates for the Office Of Gov
crn of Kentucky. and "stumped" the State to-
gethcr quite hafmon,ously until they reached
one Of the counties III the "hil country" Here
it was necessary to make decided domonstra-
ton, and accordingly the two candidates fairly
spread TIL ms Ives to catch nll the votes posi-
ble-scariig up the American Eagle and call
ing down the shade Of Washington; pitching
out profuse promises, and pitching INTO each
others party politics in manner decidedly re-
freshing to the hearers On the first days
canvass victory hung suspended by the tail
day fell slap into the lap Of the shortest and
opponent "no kind of show" In vain the
long man pumped up the waters of eloquence
and poured out n full stream, there was no
body to drink But ronnd the short man el
bowed and crowded mass Of thirsty voters
drinking in his tones with delight. Why this
attraction? Had he u barrel Of old Bourbon?
No; he had fiddle! Getting the start of
lnng man he had addressed the voters in n
short speech, and then, for the first time
bringing out fiddle, retired short distance
from the speakers stand in order to let his
opponent reply, playing, however, such lively
airs that he soon drew the entire aSsembnge
away, aud left the other side OF the question
unattended to- mnheard.
For three days in succession short man and
the fiddle carried the day, in three successive
meetings, in as many towns in the hill country
and long mans chances for single vote in
those parts grew remarkably slim. In vain n
long consultation was held by the latter with
his political friends.
Get the start of him at the next meeting
and speak first" advised one
"Rase fiddle and play them choonesp
said another.
"Yell him down." shouted third.
The long man followed the advice of his
! first counsellor and got the start in voice, bu
the noise of the fiddle run him neck and neck
he wogld have listened to his second monitor
and raised II fiddle, only he knew it would fal
through, as he couldn't scrape n note; and rs
for his third adviser, he told him that cycling
down" short man was "simply ridiculous"
Affairs grew desperate with long man, wher
on the third meeting, he saw, as usual, thu
entire crowd of voters sweeping off after shor
man and his fiddle, leaving only one hearer
and he II lame one, who was about hobblins
off after the others.
"Can it be possible that frecmcn--citizcn
OF this great and glorious conntry-nggIectlnl
the vital interests of their land, will run lill,
wild men after catgut strings? Can it b'
possible, say?' And the lame man, to whom
long mau was thus eloqnen'ly discoursng, an
swtrrd as he too cleared out
"Wel it can, old loss."
Despair encamped in the long mans face a
, he watched short man, at distance, playing
away for dear life aud the Gubcrnatoral clai
E on that blasted old fiddle; but suddenly IA.
of hope beamed over his "rucful visagc,' thrl
another and another ray till it shonc like tn
Suii ~ HIli,dy,
Got him now, surc!' fairly shouted tn
long man as he threw up his arms, jnmpe'
i from the stand and started for the tavern
t where he at once called meeting OF his pollt
cal friends, consisting of the landlord and on
other, then and there unfolding II plan whc
was to drive his rival "no where's in 40 time.
The Il urth meeting was held Short ma
> addressed the crowd with warmth, cloqnenc
f aud brrvty, vacatng the stand for his adyel
y sary, and striking up lively air on the wolff
y in order to quash his proceedings; but thoug
as usual he carried the audience away, he NJ
ticed they were as critical as numerous. Oh
sx-footcr, in homespun, walnut.dyed clotle
with wild looking eyes and coon.skin ca
eyed every movement of the fiddle bow wit
: intense disgust, finding utterance at last in
i "Why don't you fiddle with that 10th
n hand o yourn!"
"Tother hand!" shouted chorus Of voice
FIRE up with that tother handw Fast
played the short man, bnt louder and loud
n shouted the crowd, "Tother hand, 10th
d handw
= Gentlemen, | assure you --"
'No more honey, old hoss We amt bars
shouted the man With the coon'skln cap