The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-12-23
An Hour of Glory.
OBADIAH sNAGTooTH's STRANGE ENPERI-
ENCE IN POLITICS.

ENCE IN POLITICS.
If there is anything in the world that
irritatcs Inc more than another, it is the
tumult. confusion. and personal annoy
ance consequent upon election time.
Unfortunately for me, one of my
neighbors. the grocery man at the cor
ner. is = candidate for some small office.
Asa matter OF course, he is opposed by
the nominee of the antagonistic party.
who also lives close by. and. the conse-
nuence is that, what with mass meetings.
preceded by drums and flies, ami rival
serenades bv atrOcious street bands.
scarcely a day or night passes without
car-piercings and brazen Iellowlngs
enough to brighten all Manhattan from
her proprlctN.
The effect Of these nproarious demon
STATIONS upon naturally nervous tenn
permanent, which confess mine to he,
leave to the Imagination. The Climax.
however. was reached the day before
Yesterday. when the numerous friends
and admirers of the opposing candi.
dates. with bands, banners. improved
platforms. and iron-throated. open-air
spouters. took up their separate stations
in the immediate vicinity.
/ happened to have dinner party on
that day consisting of three intimate
friends and one new acquaintance. an
Enghshman. whom I was especially
anxious to impress with Il favorable Idea
of our manners and customs.
Conceive, if You can, the purgatory
I endured from the commencement to
the conclusion Of the no-way-to-b be-
averted charivari that raced. and roared,
battered, besieged, and rent
t.Great Natures universal tympanuin.
In vain did my friends alternately
apologize and try 10 make Jokes about
the hideous din in vain did my British
guest cndeavor to treat the frightful row
rs n matter of but little importance. l
corlld sec behind the mask of lil'as-
sumed ease that he was not prepared Tor
such tumult.
As Il matter Of course, our surround
ings led rs involuniarily into discussing
comparative forms of government, dur.
inc which our Saxon friend enlightened
us upon the subject of property. quailii-
cation. the two Houses of Parliament.
the Court. the imposing aristocracv.
and all thc rose-colorcl accessories that
radiate from England's brighter SIDE.
Every now and then some unsaVoIy
allusion to either candidate, enumerated
with unusual energy, would reach oar
ears: little. piquant episodes OF 1alni'v
history. stripped Of all decent clothing
would be given by the yelling crowd.
Then It'd blush for fly countrNmen.
and inwardlv ponder what "A sharp goad
political ambition must he, to drive
reputable men into such muddy bitches
II was during one of these intellect
Gus moments that my most intimate
friend inquired why |. who Che ilattered
me bv saving had considerable local
influence. and some aptitude for puhlr
1uties. did not enter into the political
arena myself?
.What !" said !, in disgust. DO
vou think that any rccompcnse would
nav me to undergo the fortunes OF tins
evening in my own proper person To
1;stan to heaven knows what accusation.
rolad M from the slime of malevolence.
on1 hurled against newly. you must
no nm IDIOT to suppose | could knowing
II place myself III such position
7 spoke warmly, for ] felt so. and
could not help IT. The evening now
ever. wanel ut last; my guests departed.
and began to breathe more freely
stretching myself upon lounge, / gave
my mind up to meditation. for the up.
roar was hushed. the noisy crowd had
melted away into the nearest groSSef-
los and ouiet once more rested upon the
recently distracted ncighborhood.
Alasi how changeable and contradic-
tory are the impulses and intentions o, on
men: no one knows at what instant 'ne
whole routine of his existence may De
affected 10y sudden caprice or Il
chance word spoken without reflection
and at that moment myself felt the IN
auence Of what appeared to me to he an
inspiration bringing with it tram OF