New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-21

Bank Company, in which the prosperity Of
Liscomb is 30 entirely involved. We know
| that you have not rs yet any experience Of
| public life, but We believe that you can. if
| you will help us in this matter, and worth
| lily represent the constituency which we
| now offer you. 1t will be necessary for you
to read up the stAtistics of the county, to
take more interest in sGme vital reforms.
such as the new road over West Mountain
| and the brick pavement around the town
| pump. We shall also expect large adj
vances in money to prepare the public
mind, through q free and independent
| press. for the reception OF a new and unex-
| pected candidate like yourself, but"
| ''Mr. Pren1iss," said Mr.. Briefly, aDgrily.
"who has given you to suppose that will
| take Officer Who has given you a right to
address me in this wayi Reading up stats
tics, bribiug the newspapers, laying open
| nv house TO the world, my character to the
| Investigation of every barrOOm loafer who
suppOses or chooses to say that because a
| man wears q clean shirt ne ia therefore q
villain in disguise! VINO has given you any
right, Mr.. Prentiss,. to use such patronizing
| language to me2'
The gentlemen were all astonished at Mr..
Brierly's wrath. They knew that Mr. Prem
tiss was an old busy body, always putin g
the cart before the horse, always making
terrible bIuEders, always treading on every
mans fayorite and most sensitive toe; but
| they had no idea that'any American citizen
| would be So indignant at the announcement
that 10 had been chosen as probable
years. ago, be it mentioned: let us say
| twenty or thirty.
Judge Grizzly came forward knowing all
| the time that he should have been the first
| speaker; but, as Mr.. Prentiss was mayor of
Liscomb, of course he was ex officio, the
Grand Panjandrum Of the occasion.
"Mr. Briefly" said the good Judge, "ws
| have come perhaps rather impressed by the
thought that We were Offering you an hon.
| orable and respectable compliment, but also
| deeply impressed with the idea that it
would be q great favor to Us if you would
| accept. We are aware that public citation
in this country offers nothing to men of your
wealth and taste. There can be no
object Of personal qualification out
side of ench home IS this that YOU
lind in Washington, hut we have come
to offer to you this position boring to
appeal, to your sense of duty. We have
come, hoping that you will help us in a
dilemma We want . man of wealth. who
can afford to take the position; we want a
man OF probity and honor, who will hold it
against bribery and corruption, and against
the insidious advances of old party ties old
party friendships, and above all, agai1st the
plea of old party claims. We have thought
to find such one in y0u-in fact. l.r. Bri-
erly, We want gentleman to represent Lis
comb, a man who shall go to Washington
untrammeled and independent. It was
once our good fortune, Mr. Briefly, to be
represented at Washington by such men as
you are, and we want that good time to
come again."
Mr.. Briefly could not but be move 1 bv
the old judges courtesy and tact, but he
was determined not to leave his retirement.
He, however, promised to take the matter
At tea. Mrs. Briefly asked him what
brought these gentlemen out to Charling.
wood from Liscomb.
"Oh, they came to invite me to run for
Congress in Perkins place."
II hope you accepted" said Mrs Briefly.
mo, indeed, did not; declined" said
Mr.. Briefly.
Now, Mrs. Brierly belonged to the Dol
phin family, one of the few fortunate fami-
lies in our country who have always been
in politics, and always successful. To her
public station meant what it should mean
au extended career Of usefulness, a very
agreeable amount of respect, much eocial
position and not too much publicity. Her
grandfather and father had been public
men, and she was woman herself much
interested in polite, and with great insight
lutO Dcu dUu tbOiI HO'lVcS. L OODlo QaO
always said that Mrs. Briefly was ambi-
tious; that she wanted place, power and
influence. Mr.. Briefly had gwen her
everything else, now it was in his power to
give her all these She determined that he
should accept; so, Of course, Mr.. Briefly
reconsidered his objections, and accepted.
Mr.. Briefly was mortal, and be had
married very clever woman. Sac
dill NOT badger him or worry lin,
!, 1atA I,Ar hnn
his arm, and began to talk about his .tal- |
ents-how she had always felt that they |
were not sufficiently known and estimated; |
how mnch she should like to have Duke see |
his father in public life; how gladly she |
would give Edith few Washington win
ters; how che had felt for % long time that !
gentlemen were retiring too much from !
politics, and they, the fortunate inhabi- |
tants OF CharlngwOOd, were leading too |
quiet lite; how she thought Mr.. Briefly |
was getting q little rusty, and forgetting |
his old faculty for composition and his well |
kaown kuack at an after dinner speech. |
Who knew, said this arch conspirator, but |
that he had great talent for parliamentary
debate?
"Well, Marian" said the husband, "you
wish me to accept. see. Do yon know
TO your qni-t happiness and mine; you are
becoming the property of Mr. Prentiss and I
the public; the papers will discnss our
domestic relations, our looks. and our tai
,uts; all the opposition papers will be paid
20 abuse rue. and my wife and daughter will
De talked about as freely as if they were
candidates, too; voters viii invade Chsriing-
wood at all hours of the day and night;
1Our geraniums will be trampled down, and |
nv pears will be stolen. We shall leave all
,nr comforts here. and hire very inconve-
,ient house in Washington. Such is polt.
cal success"
"Weil, George, let rs invoke disorder.
% you know that,l felt a little ashamed at
be unnecessary grief we all felt at the
.eath of Crumpy9 thought how absurtiy
ye were getting into groove; how we
we're narrowing ourselves down into petty
|oiails, into Journeys from the blue bed to
Re brown and neglecting to keep pace
With the age we live in. am afraid we
ave gotten very selfish, dear George. We
re not doing our duty or helping along our
ess fortunate brother as we might" (Ah !!
vas Mrs. Briefly striking that note, too
t began to ring loudly through Mr.. Brierly's
rganizat.ou) Then, l do not believe we
hall be much attacked. My father and
no,her, and my grandfather and mother,
wed all their lives in q public station.
hey did not suffer much"
~ know they did not, my dear; but times |
ave changed. They lived in the days of q
till lingering aristocracy, and Of decent
ress. We live in the days Of dangerous
nd ever increasing license, and of a ram
ant republicapism which mistakes vulgar
ccept the position, if you wish it. will
end an affirmative answer. Do not forget
hat have warned you of the wrath TO
ONE"
1t will be seen that Mrs. Briefly was
,ada Of sterner stuff than her husband; but
he was not at all pleased when she read in
he opposition paper the. following para
|