The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-14
sNutisit Etscrtors

4 W
I'd IN England:
When tho nomnntion.day comes an ec.
vatcd platform, or hustings, is raised in
conspicuous place. On il stand tho various
candidates with their select friends. The
mayor or sheriff announces to the people
assembled below that they must proceed to
elect representative, and reads the writ.
On this up steps a notable citizen of tho
place, and proposes Mr.. john Smith, whom
he pronounces the greatest man of the age
John Smith takes off his hat and makes his
speech. Then another notable citizen steps
forward, aud proposes John Jones, who de.
livcrs himself of his views like his prede-
cessor. A third notable citizen may then
propose John Robinson, and n fourth John
Brown, and SO on. When all have been
duly proposed, and have delivered them
selves of their sentiments, the mayor or
sheriff calls upon the people assembled to
make their choice, then and there, by show
of hands. This they do; and lie, after IL
careful inspection of the uplifted palms, du-
ly declares that John Smith and John Jones
are tile men elect.
AT this, up starts-as if in great amaze
ment, though he knew it all along, and
knew, as everybody else did, that the men
below were not half of them voters-the
proposcr of John Robinson, and demands
"apoll." The presiding officer assents, and
day is fixed.
! The voting, as i'll Virginia, is rivu roce
and is open TO all the objections with which
that system has usually been Charged
Large manufacturers, large landed proprie-
tors, stand at the poll to see how their work
men and tenants vote. Candidates, with
pretty wives, bring them to the poll to talk
to voters. Not long since the wife of
British noblcman won an election for her
brother by kissing a farmer, whose casting
vote decided the day. At the late election
Lady Jno. Russell and Lady Palmerston both
took an active part. In the country bo-
roughs almost every candidate had his bo-
rough carefully canvasscd 10y two Or three
Of the prettiest girls of his acquaintance
How could John Bull resist the imploring
accents of lovely young creature, who
was, besides, the daughter of an earl9 In
many places, the voter is ;,ssailcd by two of
the lovcliest little white glovcd hands, and
two Of the sweetest grlish voices, and two
pair Of the brightest eyes, whose posscssors
each imp'orc and cntreat him, for her sake,
to vote for "hcr friend and the friend of
England" Whatever may be said of po-
ltical necessities, this plan is undoubtedly
the pleasantcst.
| What is done here by " stumping" is Of
ten done there by personal visits. In the
SINAI! boronghs the candidate often visits
every elector between the day of nomina-
ton and the election day. Then tho lord
or baromct takes his hat OF to the butcher
and baker, chucks the groccr's daughter
under the chin, and kisses the fat face of
the farmers baby. This thorough system
of canvass is the more easily effected as the
constituencies are small-in comparison
with ours ridiculously small. Many of the
leading men of Engand-such as Lord
Palmerston, Golden, Layard, &c-have sat
for boroughs whose entire vote was not over
800. The whole vote pollcd in the city of
London does not exceed 1900, and it is by
far the largest constituency in the kingdom.
Golden obtained just 5S7 votes Layard
43G; kinglake was elected with 3O1 Sir
Robert Peel's son, with $50 votes, lost the
day by 81; Mr.. Gladstone only got lls {;
MIR. Lowe was elected with 234; and so on.
Men OF equal calibre in this country would
naturally think themselves disgraced if their
votes were not counted by tens of thousands.
Hard or SOFT Wafer IN Cooking.-Near-
y every one knows that Au,u water is such
in consequence Of its containing small
quantity of carbonate of lime, whereas soft
water is nearly pure. 1t may not have oc.
Cured to every Que that this difference often
becomes an important one IA the daily pro-
,eees Of cooking. Where vegetables are
boiled in hard water, deposit of this lime
is made upon the surface of the vegetables
as peas, beans, corn, &C., by which process
the food is not only not SO thoroughly COOK
ed in a given time, but even when done is
not so we'll done. 1t is always harder when
cooked, and less healthy. Tle minute de.
post Of limo upon the surface of such veg
etables not only impairs the taste and d.
minishes the softness Of the food, but also
acts unfs,vorably upon the digestion-an
effect important to those in health, and
r doubly so to invalids.
Monumcnt to a SlaUe.-The students of
Howard (Ala2 College have erected mon-
umcrt over the grave of the slave Harry.-
{ Ihe ceremony was performed on Sunday.
the 10th ult, that day being selected for