The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-11-09

profit -
Intelligence dignifies and ennoblei
alike the labor of the farmer, the me
chanic, the manufacturer and the pro
fessional man, and science lends
charm to the compost heap or the barn
yard well stocked with manure.
where the Political Hitch II Made
q. w. Curtis In Harper's Magazine.
Honestrs saw with Joy the notice o.
an approaching primary meeting, and
when the evening arrived he hastened
10 the hall with the consciousness that
he was discharging great public duty
He reached the hall and was heartily
welcomed by the observant managers,
whom, II he had had Titbottom's spec
tacles at hand, he would have seen to
be foxes-at least. They were very
glad to Honestus and men like him en-
gaging in politics. They saw in tbs
fact the augury OF better day. II was
peculiar pleasure to cooperate with
him, and they trusted that this was
but the beginning OF good habit on
his part. Honestus could not help
thinking how easy it was TO exaggerate
ane to suppose men to be q great deal
worse than they are, and wondered
that he had never before taken the
trouble-or rather fulfilled the duty
Of attending the primary meeting.
The proceedings began, and he was
exceedingly interested. Officers were
appointed, and il was evident from
their speeches that nothing but hon.
esty aud economy was to be sought,
and only men OF tho most spotless
characters nominated. But IL was
necessary to have committee upon
nominations; and to his surprise and
qualification, Honestus heard his own
name mentioned as one of the commit
tee, and almost blushed as he was ap-
pointed its chairman. The committee
was requested to Withdraw and to re-
port the names OF candidates as soon
as possible. Honestus and his col
leagues therefore retired TO dim pas
sage way-where, as he subsequently
remarked, he should have been rather
alarmed to meet either of them at
night or alone-and business again. -
Various names were mentioned, Of
which, unfortunately, Honestus had
never heard one; and, at length, one
OF the most positive Of the committee
said, emphatically, that, upon the
whole, Jones was the very man for the
place. There was general murmsr
OF assent and satisfaction. Honestus
heard on every side that il was 'just
the thing" that Jones was "a boy"
and that he was "always there's" he
also "square," and fright up to line;"
and by common consent Jones
seemed to be the Heaven appointed
candidate.
Rather disturbed al his total igno-
rance of the conspicuous public char
acter, Honestus turned to his neighbor
and said, guardediy, with the air OF a
man who was musing upon Jones quail
ifications, ''Oh, Jones-Jones ?"
"Yes," said his neighbor-Jones."
Certainly" replied Honestus, seer
tainly. But who-is-Jones ?"
His neighbor looked at him for a mo-
ment, and repeated the question in n
tone of incredulity-"Who is Jones ?"
as IL he had said, Who is George
Washington?
"Yes; 1 don't know that know
him."
Don't know Jones?"
"No."
"well, If you did know him, you'd
know that he's just the man we want;
bang up, made for il.
ooh, is he ?"
"Well," said the member who had
first announced that Jones was the very
man for the place, II suppose they'll
all be waiting. / nominate Jones as
tie candidate"
The chairman said yes, but that, unit
fortunately for himself, he did no.
know Mr.. Jones.
"Well, you don't know anything
against him, do you?" asked the other.
Certainly not"
"Well, we all know him, and he is
the very man. We ought to hurry.
Honestus put the question, and
Jones was unanimously named as the
candidate TO be reported TO the meet
ing by the chairman. The meeting was
already stamping and clapping and
calling for the committee, and the en-
ergetic mover OF Mr.. Jones said that il
was necessary to go in fright away. -
The committee made for the hall, and
the chairman followed. He knew
nothing of Jones, uor OF the people
who had named him, and he knew no.
body else whom he could propose for
place. Honestus felt very much as a
leaf might feel upon the fall at Niaga-
RI, and in the next moment the chair
man of the meeting was asking him il
the committee was ready 10 report
The chairman OF the committee bowed.
The chairman OF the meeting said tha-
the report would now be made. Hon.
estus stated tha he was instructed to
report the name OF Jones. The meet
ing roared. There was some thump-
ing by the chairman, aud Honestus
heard only the name Of Jones, "by ac-
clamation," and a whirlwind of calls
upon "Jones Jones 70 Speech 70
speech !" The next. moment Jones,
with large diamond pin, was upon
the platform thanking and promising,
and the meeting was stormily cheering
and adjourning sine die. Honestus
walked quietly homo. perceiving that
the result Of his practical effort TO dis
charge the primary duties of n citizen
was that Jones, one Of the most dis
reputable and dishonest public sharks,
had been nominated by committee
of which he was chairman, and that
tine whole weight OF the name OF Hon
estus was thrown upon the side OF
rascality with q diamond pin. Aud he
reflected that in politics, as else
where, it is necessary to begin as early
in preparation for action as the ras-
Gals.