The Portland daily press., 1875-03-09
Town Meetin'.

March, and not by way of fine writing. The
little building probably painted red, has snow
heaped up to the caves. 1t stands at the
crossroads and from north, south, east and
west come the loaded sleighs emerging brisk
ly from the heaps Of snow and soon putting
Gordon of black on the white ground around
the municipal barn. Within gather the SOW
ereigus-irom three to five hundred OF them
leach clothed in the imperial purple of
American citizenship. What grave ceremo-
niesl What display Of the outward and visi-
BILE forms OF municipal authority, at other
times mercfully obscured and lost to sight In
the hustle of every day life. Behold now the
clerk, that learLed scrivener, how meekly he
bears his faculties and how clear he Is In his
great office! And the moderator-if he had
Cushing's Manual by heart, could he hold the
reins with a firmer, gentler hand? And the
selectmen-the sovereigns' sovereigns-note
we'll their tragic calmness in this hour of their
trial. Their printed report is now In the
hands of the voters, and woe to the doomed
triumvirs if their accounts are not approved.
Unhappy day for them il they have too often
charged the lawful $1.50 per diem for their
services, or if they have too generously met
that unpopular claim for damages on account
of defective highway! Every item in the
account is closely scanned, from the postage
and stationery to Polly Blanks support out
town so small, obscure or well-to-do, but it
had at least one woman pauper Of great age
by name of Polly. 1t is well worth the while
of social philosophers to investigate the hid
den causes which associate extreme longevity
and tendency to become public charge
with the name OF Polly
II the stern and critical voter finally suffer
the seleetmen to go on their official way un-
challenged, and honor them with his support
for another term, he turns the full current
of fierce and searching inquisition upon the
School Committee. He hastens to see what
kind Of a report they have given Birdofredum
Sawin in district No. 10. 1t is bad! The
report of Hosea Biglow in No. 8 is good
He is second cousin to the chairman. Then
arises murmur from the floor. Deep NUT
terings of pent-up wrath and repressed cries
for vengeance agitate the throng. The mod
orator has a great struggle 10 preserve his
own calmness and the very constables trem-
BILE. Down with the old committee! War to
bills! 1t is ruin! Fifty dollars each on an
average, and it is known that the school on
the Ridge was not visited at the beginning
nor that in the Spooner district at its close.
Besides new geography was introduced and
the second member Of the board took the
best school in town for himself. There is a
great storm. Rapid writer's have more than
they can do to supply the demand for bal
lots. The friends of the ''old committee
rally. "Hosy" Biglow's father makes in
not what most to admire,-the glowing rhet-
oric or the perspicuity Of statement. The
tide is turned and e,Qpposition tremble till
"Square" Brown, rich In his long experience
in town business, rises and restores the fight.
The excitement redoubles. The thrifty soul
who retals mild cider from barrel In the
corner drives roaring trade, for war and
thirst rule the hour. Ballot after ballot is
taken without decisive result. Ten to one
the old committee will be defeated. An un-
favorable report or the introduction of new
text book, however meritorious either action
may be, is never forgiven. A man may out
live and forget the sentence of court, or the
adverse award of a board of referees, or Of q
legislative committee. But the printed yer
dict of a town school committee is decree o.
fate, ,and many are the bright hopes and glow
ing prospects doomed to everlasting eclipse
thereby. So the whirlwind sweeps away the
old board, and the committee itself goes
down in the general crash and supervisor
rises effulgent on the ruins. Next year anoth
er resolution and the committee resumes it'
sway.
After the storm, q calm. Anger gives
place to mirth. Fence-viewers and coDsta
bles in great numbers receive with blushe:
their coveted honors. Even the obsolete
offices OF tythingman and hog-reeve are re-
vived and conferred in derision on disap
pointed aspirants for the place of collector
or treasurer. And he who Is newly married
must expect to have all the world advised o
| the fact by his nomination and unanimous
| election to the sinecure place Of pound
keeper, amid the wild acclamations o
his neighbors. Founder keeper" indeed
That ruinouz pile of rocks and logs, dis
mantled more and more each year, with
brambles, golden rod, wild asters and
sumac striving for the mastery In the en-
closure, has great need of keeper; but as
for itself, it Will surely never again keep an!
living thing that would depart. 1t has .
spectral look, like haunt of the Druids-;
miniature Stonebenge.
| So passes the day In town meetin'. W.
esteem it light thing, and laugh carelessl!
at its grave deliberations and petty quarres
| Not so would the men of climes less happy
where the right peacefully to assemble ant
regulate their own local affairs, is, If OBJ
tanned at all, bought at the price OF years O
| bitter strife, or with the blood and treasure
| of successive generations. This quaint ant
homey town meetin' is indeed the nurser
of statesmen. Here men have Learned
through their experience in local legislation
and in practical organization to build states
Long live the town meetin'! Late may it de
scend to the tomb!
1