The National tribune., 1888-06-28
you've decided to go

cago greeted me with enthusiasm. Not less
than 100, with the loudest voices / ever heard,
gathered around me and disputed for the honor
of taking me to the hotel, until a policeman
came up and dubbed them off.
The clerk at the hotel expressed great pleas
ure at seeing me- and wished that could have
come earlier, so that he could have given me a
better room. The back closet to which he as
signed me only cost $40 day. He would have
been pleased to assign me one at $25.
My reception at the headquarters of the
various candidates filled my bosom with pride.
The gentlemen at each of them shook me
warmly by the hand inquired after my health
and that Of my family and how | was getting
on with my business Then they took the OPP
portunity of a lull in the conversation to elo-
guently explain the superior availability of
their man, and to urge that use my unques-
tionably great influence in his behalf. l tried
to disclaim having any such influence
You are entirely too modest Maj Aus
tin" said one of these gentlemen, with an en-
gaging smile, as he pinned the badge of his can
didate so as to completely conceal the one
had been wearing. You are one of the kind
of men that llike-one of ripe, calm Judgment
but who does not know his own worth and in
fuence, and constantly undertakes himself
| hope to see you around here frequently
Make yourself entirely at home now"
Itisstrauge that | got the idea that my coming
was of unusual Importance to the Convention,
that my presence was a sweet boon, and that
former Conventions would have gotten along
much more satisfactorily if had done my duty
and lent them the light of my countenance and
intellect. l approached myself that l had not
been more publicspirited and sacrificed my bust
ness a little, in order to attend to my polti-
cal duties. Naturally 1 expected to be well
coined to the Convention with open arms and
given chief seat in the synagOg.
My first awakening from this pleasant dream
came through an inquiry of u man to whom
had recently been introduced
I" Have you got your ticket yet" he asked.
40, no." l answered carelessly " l haven't
bothered about em yet; I'll get in easy enough !;
I've plenty of friends"
Friends be dashed" he answered disdain-
fully; "you may have more friends than there
are straws in load Of hay, but unless you've
got one in Just the right place you'll never see
the inside of that hall. Why, it's ticketed just
like a theater on big night, with every seat
numbered, and more'n hundred thousand peo-
pie crazy to get EN-"
| thought he was excited and exaggerated,
but | went directly to the room of our Rep
resentative. / found him in the center of an
excited gathering of at least 200 constitu-
ents many of whom were making furtive
grabs for him to get him where they could say
something in private. He was in his shirt
sleeves; his red face leaked perspiration like a
-,
and generally he had the appearance of a man
who had encountered an emergency with big
e, and which oVertopped him like an eight
story house.
"Its no use, gentlemen" he said huskily
Pve only the three tickets allowed each dele
gate, and one of 'em l mast use myself. That
only leaves two for 200 of you. Why, if they
were divided up they wouldn't let in a toe-nail
apiece of all of you. You're all my friends, |
know. III of YOU are nv good friends: Won
have worked hard for me in the primaries, at
the Convention and the polls, and I'd give q
quarter section of as good land as lies out of
doors if / could get you all into the Conven-
ton, but just can't do it, and that's all there
is of it. I'll give you the two tickets, and you
can settle among you who's to have 'em. Pm
clean give out-here they are"
What shall we do with 'em? How'll we
divide 'em 2" called ont several eager men
reaching for the handsomely tickets
"Pll tell ye; let's play seyen-up or eucheI
for 'em," said young man with white hat.