St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-12-14
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EDIroR DExocRAr:-Ons Of tho mott
interesting and enthusiastic scenes which
1t has. ever been my pleasure to witness.
occurred q the Pre-, byteriaa Church ,.sqb
pssr, ID St. Cloud. On rhsnkskiving evening.
After all had partaksn # the substantial
supperprepsred,. several oraamented cakes
reuiaihedSto bs disposed oE!' One was aus-
toned of a. SIS, and another At 81 SO :
when the third was taken up it was SUP.
fsste& that shAt minister whe, should receive
the greatest number, of; votes should be en-
titled to The cake, TIE price 81 each vote be-
ing 10 cents. +
Mr.. +. Jones, who held The ieaks, ascend,
ed the platform, and with his independent
spirit aud ready viz soon drew the atten-
ton of tho assembly to the voting, and riv. :!
,e,ed the interest there for tho remainder
of'tke evening. For time the voting ran
nearly equal for Mr.. Campbell, the clergy
man OF the Presbyterian denensipasion. mr..
Chase, Of the Episcopal, aud Mr.. Griswold,
Of the Methodist. o. CARTS, Esq, Of ST.
Paul, was present, and his warm heart and
generous hand, combined with his spirit Of
fun, prompted HIM to suggest to = friend
standing near, that his name be put up IS
one Of the competitors for the cake, an
''he would run against the whole Of them,'
thereby causing money to ilow more freely
and perhaps stir up greater degree Of en-
thusiasm. Two lady friends within hear
ing caught the spirit, and as Mr.. Curtiss
had already deposited 81 in their hands,
flor the. good cause) they advanced to the
stand and registered forty votes for Mr.
Curtiss. Friend Jones, hearing the namo,
called out Justify. .,'4'Mr. Gu, tiss, forty
vote!'' then, in lowered tone. .sail TO the
ladies, ''One< of the clergy, is he! Of what
denomination - = The latter question was
replied to. but as to the former he was left
to his own supposition. His vivid imagina-
ton supplied the deficiency in stated facts,
and he proceeded to further the interest in
the "ncw minister's" cause by extolllng his
Zine sermons and .'great ability" The
desired effect was gained, excitement ran
high, and votes poured in for Nj. Campbell.
The friends Of Mr.. Curtiss enjoyed the
.:joks'' and assisted by occasional contribu-
tfons to his name, while he, determined 10
win, now that the race had begun, gave
vent to his benevolencs and noble generosi-
W by prom lily keeping pace with tic
votes for Mr.. Campbell, who had now far
distanood the other competitors. i. Interest
deepeped With oyery vote, aud greut en-
thusiasr prevailed. Mr.. Curtiss' identity
began to be whispered through the assem-
bly,, which caused still greater excitement,
and the friends of Mr.. Campbell bent nooly
to the work, determined that the stranger
should not carry of the palm without .
struggle: As the ''s,ranger" would occa-
sionally shower forth the votes, Mr.. Jones
would voc,fsro.sly appeal to the people of
st. Cloud rs community against one man,
and when he learned that Mr.. Curtiss was
from St. Paul, he placed it in the ligh. Of
city against city. r.. &c.,. :, -. >. ..
- Money flowed in freely aud the excite
ment grew intense. AS the proceeds ap-:
preached sloo, it was suggested tina. they
BE- given to the Pastor insle,i'i Of the chur ch
as the a"mount already received fro" the
supper would be sufficient to complete the
furnishing OF the church. The motion be
ing put to vote was unanimously agreed'o
As the hour, Of midnight approached, it was
announced that the polls would close in i've
mimi e.; at the expiration 81 which time
the report was read ny W. X. Noble, rs
follows: =: ..+..-@ -,
Curtiss, 64O; -; -.........,. IT,,
GamPoeii' yc;' ..'~,. Il
Chase. S.. ''t. ...q:. ~; ,% ~. ..:| a.. y
- .rotal, 1914 !; making the proceeds OF lie
cake S124.4o;s the proceel Or The. supper
s5uGo: n. receipt. Of the evening =. sl75 60.
Mr.. Curliisss being wi victorious. took a, tho
cake aid presented II 10 MI. Cam1u6eiii
Who received il With = heart soyerflortnx
with. gratitude. g4.,A speech f<om Mr.Cur-
,iss'' was r,hcn loudly called. Tor; q Thst
gentlemen advanced to, the, stand, md il a
ISW etoluent "nu tnrAliHs rsHH!a tls touGnsF
a chord in every heart present. lie seemed
70 sp4hk Under Inspiration, and we Enow