Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-23
A BARBARA FRITCHIE
The Enthusiastic PostmistresS of a
Bucks County Village
RAISED A FLAG FOR PATTIS0N,
And Has Been Removed From Her Posi-
tion in Consequence.
AN ECHO OF THE RECENT CAMPAIGN

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.1
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 22.-Mrs. Will
lam Page, of Bensalem, Bucks county, who
has been postmistress of her township since
President Arthur's administration, has
fairly earned the title of the Barbara
FritchIe, of Pennsylvania. She had flag
raising in honor of the election OF Governor
Pattison, and she has been removed from
her official position as an offensive partisan.
She is out of office, but she is proud and
happy in the strength of her convictions
and in her loyalty to her party.
Mrs. Page is buxom woman of about 40
years. She lives at Bensalem with her hus-
band and only daughter Lily, and for years
she had triumphantly held up Democratic
principles in nest Of Republicans Her
little general shop is situated at the junction
of four roads, about four miles from Bristol,
and it is in the midst of colony of six
houses.
Not a Tough Locality.
The spot Is called lizard Corners by
the farmers from the fact that at one time
saloon decorated one OF the corners and the
neighborhood was considered tough, but
only in a bucolic or purely Arcadian sense.
The saloon abominaton, however, has long
been abolished, and now only residences
adorn the pleasant little spot nesting
snugly in Bucks county valley.
Mrs. Page is the only Democrat in the
"Hard Corners" and although it is Ar
cadia the ladies rule The roost and dominate
the political opinions of their lords and
masters. The neighbors of Mrs. Page are
Mrs. Boyer, Mrs. Dyer Mrs. Dunton, Mrs.
Bunton, and Mrs. Lara, all of them red
hot Republicans But Mrs. Page has for
many years held up her party and her
Office against the combined forces with great
success.
The last campaign, however, provoked
very bitter feelings, and matters became
very exciting as election day came near.
Bensalem township generally goes Demo-
cratic by a majority of ten votes, but on this
occasion herculean efforts were made to in
crease the majority.
One Solitary Kicker Found.
After long search recalcitrant Repub.
lican was found at Hard Corners For
the sake of his domestic happiness his name
is not printed. But he was carefully
watched, and on election day ne went to the
polls with Republican ticket fourishing
in his hand, but Democrat: ticket up his
sleeve. He surreptitiously voted the latter,
and the result was a Pattison majority OF IL.
Mrs. Page was delighted, and she declared
her intention of giving a hag-raising in
honor of the victory. AT the cost Of S14 a
splendid flag was obtained, with all the new
States starred thereon, and it was run up
the fagpole with cheers and gun firing and
general rejoicing.
Speeches were made by Messrs Headmar,
Al.
postoffice, and the proceedings closed with
red fire and cider. The Republican neigh
bors looked on in suilen silence, but they
meant mischief. That same evening q eau
Gus meeting was held by Mrs. Boyer, Mrs.
Dyer and Mrs. Buuton, description of the
iniquitous proceedings was drawn up and
representations made to the proper authori-
ties
Have a New Postmaster Now.
The consequence was that an official an
nouncement was mad. last Thursday that
William H. Dyer had been appointed fourth
class postmaster to Bensalem, Pa. Mr..
Dyer is gentlem ID and a Republican and
the husband OF one of the caucus ladies.
Ex-Postmistress Pag> takes her discharge
very philosophically. She saws that she
does nos care for the postofice, but it be-
longs by rights to the Democrats. The in
come is only from letters that go out and is
only worth S25 year. When Mr. Oliver
j. Boyd, an agent for Barnum, who resides
nearby, is at home the'receipts are doubled,
but he is now away in Mexico and may not
be back for years, so that the Republicans
will not get much ou: of the office.
In any case, however, she declares that
she will 'hang her banner on the outer
walls" Of her little store in honor of Gov
ernor Pattlson as often as she pleases, and
she is not afraid if she is surrounded by 40
disgruntled Republican women instead of
five.