Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-24
Written for The EVENING STAR
MIR CLIPSHAM'S CALENDAR.
By EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
copyrighted 1867

The two other dinners on the calendar that
week Were at the joint anniversary of the Chau-
tauquan Circles, as has been said, and at the
anniversary of the trustees of a fund left for
the education of that sub-tribe of Oiibwas,
whom the first settlers had found fishing ON the
point which makes Tamworth harbor. These
Ojibwas had long since gone where other Glib
was, fear, are going. But the fund remained,
Is funds will, to curse the descendants of the
trustees. And the only way which had been
devised to up the annual interest was to
have the trustees dine together with such OF
their friends as wished to meet them, after they
had chosen themselves again into office at their
annual meeting. At the Chsutauquan dinner,
accordingly, CIipsham went, rather carefully,
into discussion of the movements of Ameri-
can emigration, and the forces which have
contributed to making up American civil
hzatiOn- This was on Friday, and all through
the week, Clipsham had never forgotten the
day OF the week. although that mischevous
Gertrude had thrown him out in the use he
made OF the several days as they came. Mean
while his cold grew no better. His deafness
grew upon him, and he sent for the doctor. The
doctor told him that he must stay at home.
Clpsham said he could well do that, that for
once there was no evening engagement, and he
looked up the serial called "My Friend, the
Boss" which he was reading. which was full OF
illusions to his Tamworth friends. Little did
he think. as he discussed the side bone of the
nice turkey his sister Prue had provided, that
the trustees dinner was cooling at that mo-
ment, while they waited for his arrival at the
Hotel Jefferson. The truth was that they were
entitled to that excuse which he wrote in the
beginning of the week to Gen. Plunkett, and
which Plunkett still had, unread, in the little
handkerchief pocket of his dress uniform.
But all the staying at home over Sunday, and
all the glycerine aud whiskey, and all the cher
~ pectoral which could be administered, did
Clpsham no good, and on Monday morning he
asked the doctor If a change of air would not
help him. The doctor said of course IL would.
II was clear IL could not harm him, for he was
past much harming. He was deaf as a post, his
nose and throat and all the passages to them
were infiamed and red with the Inflammation,
his eyes were dropping with watering, and he
said he stupid as an owl. The doctor
gave his permission for journey to Colorado
Clipsham looked on the calendar, and with his
pencil marked Off all the dinner parties, and
wrote letters of excuse for the next three weeks.
But there was one engagement he could not
manage so easily, for here his conscience
pricked him.
II was the city election. Clipsham knew in
his heart of hearts, that he had not done his
duty in this affair. He had not gone TO one
meeting where his friend Gordon had sum-
moned him, to obtain q competent nOn-parti-
san school committee. He was afraid there was
a job at the almS-house, and he had not looked
into that. He distrusted the reigning Mayor
yet he had not lifted a finger to dethrone him
Now if he went to Colorado he should be away
on the election day, and should not even give
one vote against the rascals-and one in favor
OF the honest men.
But CIipsham did so wish to go to Colorado!
He had promised his cousin Lucy that he
would visit her there-and she wrote such a
pretty letter.
Clipsham compromised with himself He
would go to Colorado because he wanted to:
and his cold was SO bad But he saw ON the
calendar that on Monday night there was
meeting of the Friends OF Good Government at
the Mechanics Hall. He knew who called
this meeting, and that il was in the right in
terest. John Fisher and all the rest of the right
zfer f.E.11
meeting That would show which side he was
on He would not start on the noon train. He
$3.50. And his presence there would IN prac-
tice, show his colors as well as if he staid in
1amworth nine whole days, sneezing and
ughing. to vote at the end of them.
Indeed, he might be in his coffin if he staid
and man cannot vote when he is in his coffin
50 when Monday came, Clipsham sent his
self an hour before the train started and went
down 10 the Town Hall. The truth was that
the next night. But Gertrude had changed ali
that, and Citpsham, 10 his surprise, found that
the large hall was not lighted. However, the
smaller hall was. An assiduous gentleman
whom he did not know, who had been drinking
more than was good for him, asked him in and
tHpsham, regrettlng that the friends of order
made so poor show, entered. As has been said
he was not used TO primary meetings and he
went in Once in, it was like ali other meetinos
though not very large. There were 200 men
there, of whom he did not recognize three
The President was a man who once tried to sell
hum horse. The mayor was making a speech
and Clipsnam supposed from this that that off,
Ger had been frightened and was trying to ..get
good, as the children say. But whether he
knew them or not, they knew him. Three or
four showily dressed men met him and led him
to the front seat, and expressed their pleasure
at his presence In a moment after, the MAYORS
motion was carried, and committee was sent
out-nominated from a list which had been
prepared i'll his office that afternoon-to sug-
gesI ticket for Aldermen.
Then II was that another man, who had been
also drinking rather more than was good for
IN i'm said hiatt
the presence OF a gentleman whom they had
often heard in public, and who was known to
be Interested IN all public affairs, and that he
hoped Mr.. Chpsham would address them on the
great issues before them, and all the people
shouted: 'Clipsham. ClIpshamr' Why he was
there the leaders wondered, but, in their own
low way, they supposed that he had quarreled
with John Fisher and his set, and had come
over To them To see what they would give him
The truth was, as the reader sees that he had
come To a meeting which was one day earlier
;han the meeting he meant to come to.
ClipSham himself did not hear the man who
Jpoke, and did not know what they were shout
ing at But when another man came to lead
1im TO tine platform he knew what that meant
and me stepped up and sailed in. And "a capital
speech he made. 1t was that speech which put
him into what people call public life. For NV
part think ne had been in very public life No.
lore He was pleased at being called upon so
early; he was pleased that he was recognized a.
IN some sort "A leader, and he said 10 himseIf oS
he mounted the steps, that this was wi,ar he
had cOme for, and that ii they wanted him 10
lead he had better lead. He did not quite know
a no
was the Mayor at his side If he had epented
OF the dirty JOB he mad been in CliDsham
thought he would let him Off and he did Rnt
he did not let oil any body else in that meeting
He exposed, from cellar TO cupoia the dis
graceful jobs about building the new school
house opposite Prue Wintergreen's house and
the unkInd audience hOwled with delight as
they saw Alderman Bob Lyon aud ConnciI-
man Bill StuggS held up under Clips aarn's piri-
less TIutcuie- one OF these gentlemen had led
him TO his stand, and the other was secretarv
OF the meeting But Clipsham did not know
them from Adam. Clipsham could see that
the assembly was "a low-lived set and mad
enough was he with Fisher and the rest who
had signed the call and then staid comfortably
at home 80, alter 0issecting every nasty ion
which his hearers had been engaged In TOR
nve years, 10 the bottom. he closed win a
really eloquent Remuneration of the iudiner-
ence OF the educated men and the holders of
property III Shne management OF the affairs of
The ely Ills own conscience pricked him as
has been said. and he spoke all the better tor
that. Inc Closing passage, where he describes
the ricn manufacturer VINO could not sign his
maine, IL public school had not taught him
and could not squeeze on payroll III a public.
school had not taught him, yet who, when he is
rich and prosperous, VIII not go to a meeting
which cares TOR the school, ana does not know
. schoo!master when he meets him in the
streets, has gone into the spelling books. And
II you Will go TO the graduation exercises OF the
Law mia academy you Will hear ii spoken.
Well! that fine fellow held that angry assem-
they dad not even remember that they could
PeIt him 10 death with their private gin bottles
ana other pocket pistols" When he had
LiilSuei his speech did wait tn hear .