Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-03-12
THE ELEcrIos.--The election, for coun.


THE ELEcTIoE.--The election, for coun-
~ officers, on last Saturday, passed off
with unusual quiet, notwithstanding much
solicitude, as to the result was manifested
by the friends Of the respective candidates.
Amongst other noteworthy personages,
about the polls, we observed an "exile of
Erin" whose dilapidated appearance was
strongly suggestive of that famous melody.
We presume his memory was wandering
back to similar scenes in "s,oate Ireland"
when the votes of the t'Paisintry," were
bought, by the candidates at standard
price, as we heard him Offering his vote
for the low price of one dollar. The pre-
sumption is, that he found a purchaser,
as we saw him gloriously drunk short
time afterwards.
The most prolific source Of amusement
to us, however, was watching the casting
of maiden votes" and observing the
large accession of dignity, consequent
thereupon, as these persons walked from
the polls, stroking the incipient down up
on their ehins, with the complacency of
"bearded Pard" 1t must be refreshing to
those, whose mothers hardly "know they
are out" thus to assert their manhood.
Without the exercise of this manly pre-
rogative, we doubt whether some would
eva know when they had attained to "years
Of discretion" Perhaps there are many
of us, who find it difficult to realize the
change from youth to mans estate We
had fancied, in our boyish days, that TWEEN
ty-one was the boundary line between
youth and manhood, after passing which,
we entered into region of new and en-
tirely different sensations, and loosing as
it wsre our mental identity, became "nori
hon,iaes." But on reaching that magic
period, we experienced the same disap-
pointment, which some sea-voyagers do,
who, crossing the "equinoctial line" ex-
peet to see a real dividing mark We
would be disposed to doubt the existence
of different identity in grown up years,
frsm that of youth, did We not see many
"over the spirit of whose dreams, change
had manifestly come. We have often met
the playmates Of our youth, returned from
foreign lands, or from distant portions of
this great country, with new and strange
airs, with huge words upon their tongues
and still vastsr ideas in their heads, and
could not, for a moment doubt, their pos
session Of some exalted sense of matured
dignity, of which we had no conception.
We have thought of trying travel ourselves,
after seeing such testimonies to its virtue,
in awakening the dormant sense of man
hood. We have tried all the most approx
ed agencies without effect. We have ex-
perimented with both the beard and mus
tache in vain, and have worn standing
collars up to our ears, with no result. Nor
have "store Clothes" or "Tobias of Liver
pool" with dangling fob-chain, or kid
gloves, or golden headed cane or "pump-
soles" availed anything. We have resort
ed to love making, and carried the picture
of our sweetness for many days, without
benefit. We believe, however, we have at
last discovered the only fundamentally
that can produce a complete consciousness
Of maturity with modest young gentlemen;
and that is,-though we blush to say it
matrimony. This conviction was forced
upon us, from seeing not long since, a
married youngster, of our acquaintance,
walking down the street with dignity in
his step, we had never before noticed, and
"A "hdHteur" in his whole carriage, very
much at variance with his usual quiet man
ner. The change was so striking, we in
voluntarily asked him, what was the mat
ter. 1t is unnecessary to say what had
occurred at his house, but his explanation
cleared up in moment, the mystery of
some peoples sense of manliness, which
wo had long been endeavoring to pene-
trato.
We notice that our good looking friend