The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16
CHAPTER ".
LII. Eru-nr NLrrTLNE.

y
sembIed voters of the district. There was
q great question peading-one that had
been agitated and bitterly debated for
months past The school building must
be extensively repaired-that was the rea-
son why there were no sessions held now.
It was fifty years old, and when built was
more than sufficient for the needs of the
young settlement; indeed, Il was consld-
cred a most imposing ediiice az that
time; but fifty years had brought changes
and increased wealth and more popula-
ton, and now the question was whether
10 repair the old or build q new one. In
TACT, it was proposed by one party 10 build
a model school and academy, with the
higher branches OF learning taught, rank
ing in its upper department with the high
schools OF the cities, which should be free
TO children of the district. The discussion
had waxed hot. Tonight it was to be &C.
cided, and both sides had come out IN
force: the room was full of men and boys
and one female-the widow Budget.
She sat behind her spectacles upon the
platform; bold. aggressive, defiant. She
couldn't vote, but she could talk.
1t was also evident that there was a
spirit of fun rampant. The young voters,
always ready Tor anything not desperately
wicked that was exciting or amusing, and
the country IS full Of such people, were
ont in fuIl force. 4 chairman was bal
loted for, bur on counting up there were
found TO be more votes cast than there
were men, women and children in the dis
trict. A second ballot was taken with
more care and, to their great perpleXlty,
the tellers found that Gen. Il. S. Grant
had received the highest numOer OF votes
cast for chairman OF the meeting. TX
Assemblyman Eli Iompkins relieved the
embarrassment by saying that IS Gen.
Grant was not present, and not a
resident of the district, he was not
eligible 10 the office. Meanwhile
staid citizens had been coming
In and on ia third ballot Squire Warren
was declared elected chairman; though he
barely defeated JoTam Jones. awelI known,
balf-Imbecile character belonging 10 the
village. The result was encouraging 10
the academy party. Inc ahtl-academy
people had voted with the fr0lcsOme
young fellows, but how the young fellows
themselves would vote when It came 70
the real question which was to come up
nobody could gay.
of our ancestors having fought, suffered,
bled-died-ior certain ideas, certain prin-
cipIes One Of the foremost Of those
ideas was the free public school; the
school where the poor mans. the rich
men's-any mans - sons were equally
equipped with weapons Of knowledge, and
went into the battle of lie 70 rise or fall,
rs each ones industries u hbits and talents
merited.
Herein lay the CHIEF cause OF Americas
wonderful progress, and he said: "lf any
man didn't ike these ideas he couldn't
change the principles on which this gov
eminent was founded. but nothing re-
strained him HE could seek another
home IN England, Russia, or China. We
would try and survive the loss" IL was a
good, safe speech Tor a chairman OF such a
meeting to make he didn't touch upOn
the advanced free school and he received
cheers. After the rest OF the prelimina-
ries HAD been gone through, and few re-
ports from the school officials disposed Of.
the chair asked for the further pleasure of
The meeting.
Capt. Lane jumped to his feet at once.
He hadn't heard the report OF the libra
rian. He would ike 10 hear 1t.
This was unexpected. The librarian 8
work Tor years had been done in the most
perfunctory manner. No one could re-
member when the librarian had made a
report Scholars and anyone else who
wished 10, helped themselves to books and
brought them back when they pleased,
md the result was that but few were left
nj a once fairly good library. The ques-
ton. especially fEOm Capt. Lane, was an
awkward one.
The chair answered that it had no report
from the librarian.
The captain had paid out his good
money toward this library, and he wanted
the report of the Librarian.
The chair wished to know who the
librarian was. The records were looked
over. DR.. Heron held that Office, but the
gentleman was not present. Capt. Lane
6ercely repeated his request.
The captain was anti-academy, and ii
was seen that he was rather under the in
6uence Of liquor, q not-unheard-of thing
for him, but apt TO make him noisy and
demonstrative.
The char was sorry to 6isappoint the
captain. but until the doctor arrived any
way the report could not possibly be pro-
duced.
before perceedin' to other business, as
voter an a taxpayer of this deestrick,
said the captain. sonOrouslv, Il insist upon
the report OF the librarian"
The chair regretted it, but until the
Librarian came the good sense of the cap
tain ought 70 show him how impossible il
was to satisfy the request.
III ainst here, sir" shouted the votel
and Taxpayer, pounding the desk in from
Of him. Ito be told that hain't got sense
Nuther am / here to be brOW-beat anC
gagged" said he with a swOop OF his arm
'As a law-abidin' citizen of this here grea
an free country; az man that has paiC
taxes Tor books for this here deestrick, ,
and he stepped into the aisle and swun.
both arms tremendously-'I maintain M
constitutional rights an ] insist on thl
report OF the Librarian" As he neared tn,
climax he rose high up on bis toes, and a
he finished came down on both heels witt
great firmness.
The boys received the captains remark
with the greatest Of enthusiasm and ap
plause.
Squire Warren's gray eyes began {,
glitter He wanted no scene with th'
captain, but oil. this was fooishness an,
he was beginning TO get mad. when JUS
at this point large dog pitched into TIT
captains valuable shepherd and the
rushed biting, scratching snarling. growl
ing and yelling under the seats and dowI
the aisle, and fighting for a long time be
fore they could be separated. The meet
ing was in a terrible hubbub and uproa
as long "a this lasted, and when quiet wa
restored the captain had gone out to taxi