Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-11-24
Clear btt Mysterious.

Clear bat Mysterious.
The election of Hon. James w. Os-
trander as chairman of theBoard,of Super
visors created perhaps the greatest excite
ment in political circles of any matter of
equal importance that ever transpired in
Jefferson county Why only think of it /;
the county had just cast her lot with the
strongest democratic counties in the state
taking her place as the sixth heaviest
democratic county, yielding a majority to
Hancock of nearly one thousand; elect
ing the entire democratic county ticket,
two of the three assemblymen and state
senator. Such another clean democratic
record she had not made in some years.
The County Board was democratic by a
slight majority and the Hon. w. w.
Woodman, the sage of Pennington and
the Nestor of democracy in his locality was
presented to the body as the democratic
candidate for the honorable position of
chairman. The republicans brought for
ward the name of James w. Ostrander
with fear and trembling, Notwithstanding
the satisfactory manner he had discharg-
ed the duties of chairman the previous
session, but with every assurance OF the
defeat of their favorite on account of the
boom that seemed to be with the demo-
cracy in these parts. But, 10 and behold,
Mr. Ostrander was elected on the second
or third ballot and CONSERVATION at once
seized the minds of the unterrified demo-
cratic members. With blanched cheek
and expanded nostrils they endeavored
to seek out the instruments of this treach-
cry, the perpetrators of this huge crime
against the noble democratic party of JEFF
ferson county which had only a few days
before covered itself with such glory.
Was ever intamy greater or those little
ballots put to such base uses before? Mr..
Woodman thought not. But his friends
left no stones unturned to ferret out the
traitors and the cry went forth 'let no
guilty man escape" The faithful among
the faithless were interchangeable in their
endeavors to bring the guilty ones to
judgment and laid awake nights thinking
how the boilers might be caught. The
ballots bearing the ominous name of
"Ostrander'' were gathered up and COM
mittee of experts sat in council on the
writing to see if the individuals who went
back on their candidate could not be dis
covered in this way. A number of these
scraps of paper found their way to this
city, for be it known that some reputed
democrats here were strongly suspected of
not being sound on the goose when the
craftsmanship question came up. 1t may
well be imagined how very nervous be-
came the democratic supporters of Mr..
not n 70 A. Il
ing the inspection Of their chirography
for fear they would be spotted and doom
ed to the fearful punishment that awaits
all democratic malefactors. But the
writing had become too cold to be identi-
fed and the inquisitors gave up their
task of discovery in despair as to who
the democrats were on the Jefferson
County Board that committed the unpar-
donable democratic sin. The matter still
remains as much of a mystery as "who
struck Billy Patterson.
st. Nicholas for December will be a
surprise to its young readers. Special eff
fort has been made to glorify the Christ
mas season, and $4,000 extra copies max,
ing an edition of 100000, are being pub
lished to meet the anticipated orders from
Santa Claus. The new decoration for
the cover will be wintry and spirited
Among the greatly varied and profusely
illustrated contents will be an operetta
for young people called "The Land Of
Nod" in which six little sleepy heads
visit the marvellous place and see many
wonders. The libretto is musical and vi.
vacious verse, and the music is by Mr.
Anthony Reiff and Mr.. w. F. Sherwin
Mr.. Frank r. Stockton will contribute
one of his droll and quaint fairy stories
and Mr.. Washington GLADDEN. describes
"a Christmas Dinner with the Man in
the Moon A new feature of St. Mich,
olas will be begun. 1t is Treasure Box
of Literature whose value and purpose:
are indicated by the first contents, which
will be reprints of Nathanial Hawthorne
fantasy David Swan and Thackeray':
poem, 'King Canute." Both are to b.
! illustrated.
The Edgerton Tobacco Reporter re
minds the citizens of that place that the,
may prepare for a case in the near futur
that will be brought against the city TO
ten thousand dollars damages, claimed t.
have been sustained some time ago b,
one Niles Davis, who walked off the en(
of the bridge at that place.