Connecticut western news., 1882-04-05
''TOWN MEETIN, DAY.v

the roots. y. Tribune.
 'TOWN MEETIN' DAY.v
 A Down East Election Day Fully Described.
 [From the Portland Transoript.l
 Town meeting day in the country has peculiar and indescribable flavor en.
 tlrely distinct from that of the day fo, eleoting officers in the oity..
 For a few weeks before the crest event, the merits and demerits of the men who have held office within the memory of the oldest inhabitant and those of the would-be candidates are duly "cussed" and. discussed in the corner grocery, amidst 8 dense cloud of tobacco smoke and the ever present odor of salt fish and kerosene, Pre- v1ous to the day of election a caucus is held by each political party for the nomination of candidates, or, if party feeling happens to be low, all unite in one general caucus.
 At last the important Monday dawns. usually raw and damp, with quantities of mud and "slosh in the roads. All are out of bed betimes, for the sschores" must be done, and the wash water brought in good season in order that the male portion of the family may get an early start to town meeting. Bv nine o'clock the children begin running to the windows proclaiming the names of the passers-by, if they happen to know them, and wondering for whom they will vote.
 First go the boys, who. always eaoar to earn cent, have been provided by mother with gingerbread, cookies. turn. overs, etc., which they hope to sell to those who do not go home to dinner and to that class of individuals who must ever be munching something.
 Alter the young merchants pass. come those who live the greatest distance from the "town house," the place where the meeting is generally held, and who are obliged to walk. Ere long the teams appear in profusion, with three on a seat, and the boys sitting in the back part of the wagon with feet hanoino down, or, If sleighing has not vet dis. appeared, standing upon the runners of the sleigh, holding upon the sides with both hands. They wouldn't miss the fun for anything, and, in fact. one would imagine by their airs of import. ance that they are absolutely necessary to the successful result of the meetino They come home jubilant or depressed. as the case may be with their fathers with pockets stuffed full of votes. and many story to tell of what they have seen, heard and done.
 Occasionally woman may be seen to pass with husband or brother. Is she going to town meetingp No (thouoh r could name town in this State where the women did attend one year, attract ed by the promise of Considerable ex. oitement), she is going to spend the day with cousin Susan, sister Jane or son John who lives near the town. house.
 But the genuine, smart Yankee woman doesn't leave her washing to % a-visiting. Not she {! Sine has been looking forward to this day as one when the 'emenfolks" will be out of the way and she can get her washing out, floors washed, and numberless " odd jobs " done without the interruption of gettinp dinner for no woman who does not habltually live alone goes through the ceremony of getting dinner for herself) and of wiping up wet and muddy tracks upon the floor.
 But another class of women have an- tlclpated this day with dread, for, poor things they are not "smart." and so they depend upon the strong arms of husband and son to lift the pails of wa. ter, hang out the clothes, and empty the tubs. They might put by their washing until another time, but every day brings its work, and they are be. hind all through the week if the wash ing IS not done Monday.
 But 1t is time to call the meeting to order. The first business on hand is to choose moderator, which is sometimes oone at once with no controversy; at other times, however, every one seems to have got out of bed "wrong foot foremost" and considerable portion of the forenoon is spent before the deed IS accomplished. Then comes the elect | ing of selectmen, town agent, clerks. treasurer, school committee, ct a. If political feeling runs high, the vote may be tie, and several ballotings pro. duce no effect. Now the men become excited. One of the most zealous will take bis team and ride two or three miles to bring to the polls some old man who has been sick and feeble all winter In vain his wife protests "'Twill be the ieath of him." excitement gives the weak limbs strength, and he dons over- coat and muffier with trembling hands. saying "I guess I better go, wife. for t may be the last time I shall vote.''
 To offset his vote the other side brings up young man who has his 'ote all ready to cast when some one. remembering that he was born about he time his daughter Eliza made her ppearance upon this sublunary sphere, hallenges his vote, saying that he is lot of age. More than likely he be- ongs to family so numerous that even is parents have forgotten the date of is birth, anyway hls father has, and here seems no way to decide it until ha old doctor. who has haan hnrao aE4a.