The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-11-22
"THE WOMEN DID IT."

The following was written for the Frost
burg Mining Journal, and was published
last Saturday:
man;
There was plenty of us fashioned on the same
peculia plan;
And I've lived in Allegany more than five and
twenty years
CROWN no richer as it certainly appears.
seldom read the newspapers: l worked too hard
for that:
And never knew why got lean while other men
got fat;
1 didn't fool with politics; had too much TO do;
But always voted as shot," and as they told me
The day before election, jest imagine my distress,
When 1 ketched my wife readin'-now whatever
would you guess?-
free trade publication and, to make it worse, she
said
She'd read it regular each night before she went 10
bed.
And, do you know that wife of mine jest faced me
up and down
That miners work for consumers that live at in
town;
l always try TO get around these warm domestic
spats,
But when l praised Protection she langhed ana
answered "Rats.'
bristed up; it kinded all the sentiments of strife
To think this free trade stuff should be corruptin
ofmy wife;
quit her then and there before her argument was
through,
As every good Protcctionist makes it a rule to do.
That night we had meeting and our little McC
there;
We gave him John Browns Body when he went
to take the chair;
wore my old blue uniform 10 spite the Democrats,
But all the time wondered what my Mary meant
by Rats"
Our Congressman was eloquent; he made stirrin
speech;
l could almost see the battles smoke and near the
bullets screech,
And when he babe us "vote as we had shot at
Malvern Hill,
We rose with one accord and cried with one ac-
claim, I'VE will"
We sang the good old war songs, we ate mess of
beans,
And we passed the evenin' pleasantly reealin'
bloody scenes;
And took the straight out tcketS ana we plillcu
'em on our hats.
| But all the time wondered what my Mary meant
by Rats"
But as time went on noticed that Mary wore a
smile,
Which seemed to me as indicatin' storms ahead, or
bile
To head her off said: You'll call me early,
mother, dear,
For tomorrerll be the liveliest day free trade vii
have this year"
Next mornin' jest at sun-up as l woke and rubbed
my eyes,
A wonderin what she meat by Rats | saw to my
surprise
My clothes and hat and boots arranged in order on
! the floor,
And bearin' each n card I'd swear never saw be-
fore.
My flannel shirt displayed this sign, Taxed % pei
cent?
Ny trousers Taxed lOO'-so this was what Rats
meant;
My vest said Taxed 1OO," and my shoes Taxed %,
And my coat and hat 200" with Protection Makes
us Thrive"
l went 10 fill the basin and noticed as came
Taxed 40 per cent-Great Scott! the towel said the
same!
The soap was marked at "2O; as dr'pped it on the
I saw scutle-|nli oil COIL eiiaikeu iarin-ho
msfe.'
passed into the kitchen and it gives me pain to
state
That my wife had on Il wooden dress stamped
| "only IS"
And in shooting out chicken hen she made n little
dive
Which showed pair of stockings with card
marked "35."
The baby in his little bed was lynn fast asleep;
/ always held the little chap most uncommon
cheap
But when saw them cards on pillow, crib and
sheet,
I felt lump rise in my throat; I knew that I was
beat.
No matter where went I struck them pesky little
signs;
The stove the plates, the knives, the forks, the
window sash and blinds,
The scissors, needles, thread all bore that terrible
per cent.
Begosh, I didn't dare TO ask what card was on the
rent.
That was the soberest meal ate in all my life;
And as left the table in remarkin' TO my wife
That was goin to the polls, she helped me with my
| coat,
And said, 81 reckon, John, needn't tell you how 10
vote"
I walked down to my votin' place; it looked like
every yard
| Was full of minn implements which bore little
card
Aud seemed TO say from pick TO spade, from
sledger down to axe,
Good mornin' John, and don't forget the tariff is
tax"
! voted straight-O yes, no doubt of that; voted
| straight
But not exactly in the way expected of my state;
And showed the boys the little cards provided by
my wife,
That night our Congressman took formal leave OF
public life.
was one of them fool miners duriu' five and twenty
years, =
But I've learned little common sense, us doubtless
now appears;
forget to state
That we voted in Allegany, and we voted darned
near straight ELLENGowAN.
Business Locals.
| REAL ESTATE VS.. STOCKS.
Wall street dealings are very uncertain,
Virginia Real Estate is certain. For partcu-
lars address James S. Simmons & Co., Roam.
IL