The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-25
Rural Sages Reviewing Sum-
ner's Speech.
A SMOKING coNcLAvE.
Arguments Of the Village Throng-"Doan't Turn
the Good Old Horse Away''-The Quskers Of
Quaker Street Declare Themselves for
Grant-The Old Mem for Greeley
The Young Non Against Him.
The Pastoral Of the Petty Politicians---lts
End Not Yet.

End Not Yet.
TOAD HOLLOW, August 20. 1872
Unknown to any annals Of fame. honored with an
tunexampled title which calls up images Of bog
ponds overshadowed by willow branches and
wherein the sonorous bullfrog nightly carols with
hOarse trails and trls to his love, ana where the
tree toad gives shriler melody to the same worthy
purpose, this is indeed very pleasant valley. 1t
lies between broad, sombre-wOOded hills in the
western part OF Schenectady and in the eastern
part of Schoharie county. The land is not highly
cultivated, but the soil Is strong as is evidenced by
the general dark shade Of the andsca pc, and gives
generous rewards to the toll Of the busbandman.
Here are houses nesting In among the fields and
woodlands which lack beauty but look comfortable,
and have done well the shelter Of the succeeding
occupants for many generations, wherein the
seeker after knowledge Of public opinion must go
to he truly well-nformed rather than to the semi
rustic towns and cities along the highways OF
travel. Among these rough, rock-ribDed
hills the ordinary hamlet contains but two centres
ofinterest-the inn and the country store. The
popularity OF the latter is more general than that
of the former as the majority of the farmers here
are temperance men, who abnor ''dram shops"
THE COUNTRY STORE
of the chief village Of this neighborhood on Quaker
structure weather beaten and unique; In front
broad stoop and two small show windows The in
terror Is darKened and stained from floor ceiling
with tobacco smoke and spittle. Shelves are filled
with bright rows Of Dry goods, spice boxes, knick
knacks, hats, shoes, boots, crockery, jackknives,
chewing gum, slate pencils school books and all
manner Of 'nummery diddlery." Scythes, hoes,
shovels barrels Of hour ana fish and various other
things block the way. In front Of the counters ia
small space. 1t is occupied by q dozen strong,
leather-upholstered chairs. Keeled up In these
against the counters at angle Of less than forty
hve degrees, congregate At eventide
THE RUSTIC FATHERS AND SONS,
such Of the latter as have reached the age at which
swearing and tobacco smoking become signs Of
manhood
The innocent HERALD correspondent was in q
strange sphere when he entered this realm OF moral
argument and sufrocating clouds of smoke. The
stOop was occupied by throng Of men, all Of them
coatless. In the middle Of the road street game
Of croquet was IN progress. The players were not,
Is s usual In the metropolis, composed Of ladies and
gentlemen, but altogether Of the latter, who seem
to monopolize the amusement here. The sides
ranged against each other were known re-
spectively as "the Greeleyr and "the Grant"
party, ana mimic exultation followed the VIC
tory Of either among those Of the specta-
tors who were of the political stripe which
the victors represented. Ladies' passing through
the street cast amused chances at the contests but
never participate, having apparently resigned 1t
entirely to their serousminded lords A farm
wagon win drive into the village with one or two
resh arrivals perhaps, at sundown; a new COM
pany takes possession OF the field and the battle Is
renewed. Thus pass the slow hours;
THE GENTLE GAME OF POLITICAL CRoQUET
thus being symbolized, while the political topics Of
the day are vociferously discussed by the idlers
One OF the most demagogic fstc men of this re.
gion, of small consideration publicly, but Of much
to himself, and wont to affect prominence In the
politics Of the county. town and village, Is Mr.. Ad-
olson Wilbur at present truly entitled to be
called Esquire, being Justice OF the Peace. His
little history has been that of q radical democrat
from his earliest meddling with ambition, and at
the beginning OF this campaign he was with appro-
priateDess numbered among the "Bourbons." But
alas how hath his frmness falteredl His intense
love for popularity and safety Of position quickly
showed him the way that his party was treading
and the way that the majority Of the rural districts
would 60. So he came forth from his intellectual
secluson, and right valiantly did swear by the
white-haired Sage Of Chappaqua, whom hitherto he
had sworn at. He proved an apostate to his for
mer oaths, but had host for company, and in his
small village was popular with the crowd.
contrary -opinionated individuals, both democratic
and republican, that the scenes Of discussion
the tongue. Squire Wilbur, Alonzo Macomber, ex.
State Senator Edwin Wilbur, wealthy politician,
enfs ID the
fair daughter acts as his deputy; DR.. John Hill and
other smaller fryn engage on adverse sides in
THE FIERCE-MOUTHED FRAY,
which one might suppose, II he listened to 1t, was
to determine the fate OF half dozen nations at
once.
Sweet Auburn. loveliest village of the plain,
never saw more earnest controversy under her
wide-spreading yew trees, where the pedantic ped
agogue ruled by his eloquence. Nowadays the
schoolmaster remains as modesty as any one in the
background, and the moneyed men hold the golden
It was a sunny Saturday late in the afternoon,
when went to the village and approached the
''store." l was stared at by all the Inhabitants.
with one OF the bystanders. Seated In the middle
of q circle OF bronzed faces OF old and rough-man-
prognosticator and sage Of these parts" The
whole circle were listening intently while he was
reading aloud in the distinctest tones
SUMMERS SPEECH,
delivered month ago, In opposition to the adj
ministration. Running comments upon ITS most
striking points issued from the lips Of both the
reader and his listeners, and cutting remarks were
"sandwiched in" by the beligerents in argument
verged into twilight the crowd OF loungers was
greatly increased and the debates ragged more hotly
Mr.. Edwin Wilbur knows perfectly the temper
and prejudices OF this section. He was one OF
the strongest republicans for good many years
prior to tue liberal movement Only week or two
ago he changed his allegiance; and when was
talking with stout, old-lashoned democrat to-day
ne remarked in regard to him that he could
give no good reasons for the change
II is stated, however that he was snnbbed by the
Kepupllcan committee Of the county, and in con-
sequence became indignant. They ceased while
ago to give him notification OF their meetings,
probably upon learning that he was waverhg In
his political opinions.
CUSTOM HOUSE wIRE-pULIrNG
He claims that the affairs OF the republican marty
In this county are sought to be controlled entirely
by the ONCE holders, supplied with money from the
Custom House Department He said to me that he
knew that the regular nominations were made by
officials from the New York Custom House IIis
tone is not bitter, but he seems rather piqued The
ladh nra