Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-11-11

lookout for the Messrs. Oat, and also fol
some other democratic brother who hse
strayed off to Warrington in the morning
without voting and had not as yet returned
In their excitement they must have taxed
me for him, for they pounced upon all three
of us and hustled us through the throDg and
into rickety looking, ante bsllum hacb
drawn by two Confederate cavalry horses
and decorated with American flags stamped
broadly with the word Hume" did moi
want to go to the First ward I wanted te
go to the negro ward But my enthusiastic
fellow voters gave me no chance to protest
or explain. We three tardy Alexandrians
were buudied into the quaint old trap to-
gether, hundred bands slammed the door
hundred voices yelled Drive like -
and away we flew, or something ike it,
while Mr.. Oar, sr., kept ureing on the
driver and MIR. Oat, jr got out their tickets
The driver offered Us all doz4n tickets
apiece, and assured us most confidently that
he would get u, 10 the First ward polling
place in time if he bad to kill his horses II
was o long way. The streets were rough
with cobbls stoDes the carriage springs we're
weary, and we turned corners every minute.
Bot the driver leshed his horses With the
whip, and the Messrs. Oat lashed the driver
With words, while I, sitting on The front seat,
kept them all informed about the setting OF
the sun. I tell you l was having al ths ex
element had hoped for. II seemed an
hour, but, of course, 1t was not ten minutes,
till We dashed around corner where We
could see the town clock already lighted for
the evening pointing Dangerously nesr the
4:57 at which the sun would disappear and
ali our voting propects with it But we
dashed around another corner and we're
safe. For there, right ahead, only Il block
or two away, was little crowd oD the side.
walk cheering us on, aud That's the
place." said the Messrs. Oat. We'll make
it. Well make it," Aud we did. while the
crowd cheered us to the echo, for 1t was q
white and, therefore, snti.Mahone crowd,
and knew the Messrs. Oat and how they
would vote.
Two minutes" they shouted as opened
the door and let the Messrs. Ost out, and
they rushed rapidly through the opening
the crowd made and handed in the ballots
which they had been clutching SO desper-
ately all the way from the station, and then
fell back with great sigh Of relief, while
the crowd cheered again. The crowd was
not vote must confess that I WIS, TOO,
in the crowd in front ofthe little Two story
house, through tho lowrr front widow of
which the ballots were cast, while the chal.
lengers end watchers called: "Minute and
q half" Zone minute" "Half minute"
till the last Hume" hack came rafting
empty down the etreet sharply outlined
against the settirg sun. At last the sun set.
the window shutters closed. "Hooray,"
yelled all the voters, and it was all over.
Officer, officer" said q feminine voice from
the second story as we ell stood canvassipg
the result. well, ma'am?n said the two
officers, who were as excited as the rest of
us. "1su't the election over?" "Yes
ma'am." well then, why don't you send
these loafers away 2" We took The hint
and left without being formally sent.
went, like others, to the GAZETTE Office,
further up the street, 10 get a copy of my
favorito iournal--when I'm in Alexandria.
The sun Has down, he sky was gray, save
where the fret moonbeams sbivered over
the hills of Maryland across the Potomac,
yet felt all the Joy of noontime, for had
quafed deep from the fountains of enthu-
siasm. This is The result of reading the
GAzETTE)
Standing on the steps of the GAZETTE
Office, smiling with delight at having helped
to beat Malone with the votes of the Oats,
made my congratulations 10 Senator Bar:
bour, who happened .aali,rg to get his GA
zE1 rs EEs f0n 'nfs way to the State committee
headquarters, particularly hearty. He was
as quiet, might say as Gemure, as ever
the only man in Virginia, apparently, who
was not excited over the victory he had
wrought. The moment Of triumph is the
testing time of greatness. Tried by this
criterion the silver haired Senator shines
out true metal.
The simplicity of the scene made 1t drs.
matte. The modest newspaper Office, the
modest newspaper men, the modest Ser ator,
the plain, old fashioned street of quaint lit
tie buildings, all under the soft light OF
mingled rays from the departed sun and the
coming moon. But the Senator, as the sim.
plest figure of ell, was the most impressive.
He is rich man, an able mar, a powerful
mamie stood that minute at the height of
his fame-yet his manner was as modest as
his clothes, and that is saying everything.
Not tall, but well built, symmetrical, though
round d-shouldered, with large. well rounded
head covered thickly with silvery curling
hair, q close silvery mustache, somewhat
darker eyebrows, and spectacles, his face is
80 fresh and unwripkled that in spite OF his
gray hairs you wonder whether be has seen
either many years or many cares.
1t is his strong and quiet spirit which has
carried him through. both without perne-
nent injury. He is still capable of throwing
Malone as often as a Malone seeks to
wrestle with him, and without straining
himself, either. II be were an orator Bar.
bour would soon take his place among the
fret of Senators, although he but entered the
Senate in March. As it is, be is secure in
his place among the first of party managers
Butt must hurry to catch the halfpast five
boat, which, slow as It is, will beat the 705
train, aud 90, snatching my GAZETTE, just
handed me damp from the laboring press, l
say farewell and hasten down to the wharf
Up in the stuffy cabin. lighted by two old
oil lamps, heated by one old tavern stove,
and gloomy and chilly at that. half a dozen
darkeys are talking 1t ell other, BETTER