Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-23
REvELS OF MAINE STATESMEN
With Crackers and Goldfish Galore
They Make Night OF 1t.

They Make a Night of 1t.
Lewiston Journal: "We want some
crackers and Goldfish"
This remark was addressed to the
night clerk of Hotel North, Augusta, at
/ O'clock this morning by a well known
Maine democratic statesman.
81 don't know as l can get 'em," said
the clerk obviously.
"We must have 'em!" replied the
statesman genially, but firmly "There's
a dozen of us up in Blanks room and we
want some crackers and Goldfish at
once"
''Perhaps I can find some crackers,
but doubt if / can get any Goldfish at
this time of night. The pantry's locked
up" said the clerk.
Sir" said the statesman with great
dignity, dig y es 1.-THE convention will insist on
'See here, Bill" the clerk shouted to
the porter, 'do you suppose you can find
some crackers and Goldfish for this gen.
tleman?"
"I'll see, sir"
The statesman walked away with a
complacent smile, and the porter hur-
ried into the hidden regions of the hos
telry.
About five minutes later an appetiZing
spectacle might have been seen in the
hotel office-the spectacle of the porter
walking hastily through the room,
The tray was heaped with nice round,
white crackers, and atop the snowy pile,
like dory on a foam-crested billow,
foated one-half of a nice, large, dried
Goldfish cut fairly in the middle.
1t was n feast for the gods; and the
Joyous shout which the gods sent up
when the porter entered could be heard
in the remote corners of the building.
1t was the only taste of the banquet that
republican pagan could get.
AS the Goldfish and crackers went
round the hearts of the banqueters eX-
panded. Their faces grew rosy and
speech came light and free from their
lips. Under the harmonizing influence
of the Goldfish past differences were for
gotten and old foes became friends.
The factiOn-rent democracy OF Maine
once more became united. Having
once partaken of this magical potion
| men who had abused each other
few short weeks ago were ready
to embrace and VOW eternal friendship.
And then the crackersl Such was
their inspiriting effect that the smart
of Mondays demoralizing defeat at the
polls was forgotten. Dull care was
driven away. The death kuell of that
| grim spectre, civil-service reform, was
heard ringing, The ghosts of past
disappointments were banished. In
| their place came a troop of glories.
| Visions of fat offices and plump per-
! quisits floated into the room. Joy
| brooded over the harmonious and
| jubilant democracy. Such was the
wonderful potency of the crackers and
| Goldfish.
Is it any wonder that echoes of mirth
| and thanksgiving occasionally came
down from the banqueting room?
| that now a loud shout of
| glee and then great noise
| of delight and anon a mighty
| paan of exultation were heard? that
| the revelry went on and on till the last
cracker had disappeared, till the Goldfish
was but shred and Il bone. and till all
| the inspiration which the magical tray
| brought in had been absorbed? And
the tray must have had certain of the
| qualities of the widows oil jug, and the
| goldfish must have been capable of re-
| generating itself in n most remarkable
| manner; for despite the avidity with
which they attacked the feast, it lasted
until the pointed" lamps of the
| stars burned out-till morning dawned
upon the reunited and exhilarated demo
| cracy.