Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-03
The Le1t-Handed Fiddler, or Heading
on the Musaee


"Insurem me brass band, and III insure
your election" /" was the musical reply Of =
wirc.worker to Q question from an e..
piripg political candidate ~ TO the proper
means to secure his election. And 80
widely, during the last election, was music
called in to aid oratory that this answer
serves as good endorsement to the poets
note, that
emusic hath charms to sOOthe the savage hrsaSL,"
and attractions to-"go to the polls and
vote early"
The forty horse power Of music on
elections bling thus settled by common
consent, leads us to believe that too much
credit cannot be awarded, (style Of ax.
preston sanctioned by usagel) TO the
Kentuckian who faced his political Oppo-
nent's music as follows:
Both were candidates for the office of
Governor of Kentucky, and "stumped"
tho State together quite harmoniously un.
I'll they reached one of the counties In the
chill country" Here II was necessary to
make decided demonstration, and &C.
cOrdingly the two candidates fairly spread
themselves to catch oil the votes possible
soaring up the American Eagle, and
calling down the shade of Washington;
pitching out prOfuse promises, and pitch
ing into each others party politics, in .
manner decidedly refreshing to the hear.
ers. On the first days canvass, victory
hung suspended by the tail feathers over
the rival forces, but the second day fol-
slap into the lap Of the shortest and stout
est candidate, leaving his long and lean
opponent mo kind Of show" In vain
the long man pumped up the waters Of
elOquence, and poured out full stream
there was nobody to drink. But round
the short man elbowed and crowded Q
mass Of thirsty voters, drinking In his
tones with delight. Why this attractions
Had ho barrel of old BOurbonI No;
he had hddlei Getting the start Of the
long man, he had addressed the voters in
q short speech, and then, for the first time,
bringing out fiddle, retired short dis
lance from the speakers stand, In order
to let his opponent reply; playing, how
ever, such lively airs that he soon drew
the entire assemblage away, and left the
other side Of the question unattended to,
unhcard
For three days in succession the short
man and the fiddle carried the day, in three
successive mass meetings, in % many
towns in the Hill country, and the long
mans chances for single vote in thoso
parts grew remarkably slim. In vain q
long consultation was held by the latter
with his Political friends.
"Get the start Of him ct the next meet
ing. and speak frs" " advised one.
"Rraises dleandplay them ChOOnesi"
said another.
Yell him down" shouted third.
The long man followed the advice Of
his first counsellor, and got the start in
voice, but the noise Of the fiddle run him
neck and neck; he would have Iistenod
to his second monitor and raised AddlA
only he knew it would ~ thro0aA A9As
couldn't scrapo . nete; an9 8 ~ -
third adviser, be told hin IT. = yslline
down" ahortman Was ssimply Fidlcuaoaa.P
Affairs grew dsspsrAAs VIII long Nah.
when on the third meeting, he aeN, g
usual the ontirocrowd Of fVOEsgS ewnoplnK
of to short mAa and his 6ddla loaWinI
only one hearsE. and he . 1amN GnA whD
was Just about 30 koNble sAae thoIoSheRA
"Can II be possible thst fUsnsn, slli.
EenS Of this grest end gissicns eointEy,
neglecting the vital intsEss e thslr IanA.
win run likeWild msn aasPC PCa1.6utStriti1i
Can 1t b possible, ~ :" AID tlslaaIe
man. % whom l0og Ran N.as AAussle
quenuy decouFsiHg, answsEed, e. he, toe
@WSl, u en- ala hast" g,4 a-rr
Do4ak Snca@pad IN tho lag man's
] face, as he watched short man at de-