San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-11-17
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

Holiday.
Paris Correspondence of the Boston Trims.
criptl
French elections always occur upon
Sunday, for that day being always a
holiday voters can 60 to the polls with
out losing time from their work; and as
voting is ranked among such ceremo-
MES as weddings and funerals, the work
man goes to the urn dressed in his best,
and Sundays he is always well dressed.
The voting commences at 8 O'Clock in
the morning and is concluded at 6 at
night, and takes place generally in the
school-rooms of the different arrondisse-
ments. The voting in the school-build-
ing-it could not be called house-of
the Freres, behind the Church St. Fer
dinand, might be taken as characteristic
of the Partisan mode of exercising uni
versal suffrage. DIX !. ,,>.a
The entrance was easily recognized,
as several sergents de ville were walking
back and forth, and men with white
bands about their hats, on which were
printed the candidates. names, stood at
the gate distributing tickets. These
tickets were of the simplest character
possible, being pieces of white paper
about four inches square, with the can
didate's name printed in large letters
across the center. Nothing more, if we
except the fine type at the bottom Of the
slip with the printers name and ad-
dress. The school-roomis long kind
of shed raised few inches from the
ground, well lighted by many windows
and glazed doors, which gave it bleak
appearance, and showed the dreary
unornamented, unfinished building more
than was agreeable. The benches and
desks had been piled together at one
end, and some Of the benches turned
upside down on the tops of others made
convenient hat racks for the Secretaries
pro TEN. The few ornaments, a cruel
fix. and religious notices, had been
taken down for the occasion, and the
only object suggesting children's
school left was the wire screen about the
porcelain stove. Near the entrance
a table was placed where those who
had neglected to exchange their
last years card for new
one at the Mayors could at
the last moment procure blank, which,
if there was no positive objection, the
officer in charge filed up. This card is
absolutely necessary to the voter, for it
bears his name, address and age, besides
the stamp of the authorities. Across the
room planks had been placed upon sup
ports, forming long table. In the
center of this table was the ''urn," for it
is still called an "urn," although the re-
ceptable for ballots has changed its form
since the Greeks dropped oyster shells
into the earthen receivers. The Greeks
probably used that which came handiest,
and here their example is followed, for
the ballot-box is simply a white, I'M
painted pine box, rather large for a hat
box, but not too large for an old-fash-
toned bonnet. This was fastened with
paddock; in the top was hole large
enough to pass silver dollar, and this
box had the appearance of having seen
service. They say boxes used to be
made with false bottoms; and, for feal
the system should be revised, before
vote is put in the box it is unlocked, and
those present examine the interior
At this table also sit the asses
sors and all in authority. Police
men do not enter the voting-roon
unless called in case of disturbance
The President of the Election Commit
tee, or his representative, stands behind
the box; the voter approaches
and, hands his card across
the table. The President calls out
the number and the name from the card
one of the assessors finds the number and
the name in the voting list, and repeats it
aloud. The e!ector mods in recognition,
and the President cuts, with a pair of scis-
sors, the corner from the card; which
he returns to the elector, who then
hands kim a voting ticket, folded SO
that the name upon it is invisible, and
the President, in the presence OF
the voter, puts it into the urn
As no one can cast vote with
out first showing his card, the corner
being cut prevents any mistakes. The
crowd in the rooms were orderly
and quiet, falling into line as