Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-19
clRCUs-rlcKsTs FOR THE CROWD.
Mr.. VIse's Reward Pass for Himself and
Clean sweep OF the Precinct.
lSt. Louis Globe Democrat

When the circus was here last week and
the house found itself without quorum
George ID. Wise, of Virginia. told good
cloek-room story. Mr.. Wise, In his
youth. was page in the United
States Senate. Senator German was
a page at the same time, and two other
smart boys who were pages at that period
were afterward elected to Congress; But
Mr.. Wise's story did not relate to his ex;
perience as a Senate page. Ii was founded
on fact. The scene was Hanover Court
house. in Mr. Wise's district. and the time
was the last campaign. Mr. Wise and one
of the Democratic nominees for elector-
at-large were announced to speak on the
issues Of the day" at Hanover.
when we got to town." said Dir. Wise,
1--WE discovered that circus had spread
its canvas for that very afternoon. The
crowd was large, but had my doubts as
to how the speech-nlaking would go IN OPP
position to the circus. The meeting was
set for o'clock IN the afternoon. and
knew that the circus-people would begin
TO do business at about the same time.
There didn't seem 20 be anything TO do
bat to go ahead with our appointment.
We had the meeting called 10 order,
and | told the elector that cour-
tesy demanded that be. being candi-
date on the State ticket, should make the
first speech. He was inclined TO waive
that and have me begin, but | insisted. L
knew that the circus CRISIS was coming,
and preferred to have him face 1t. 80
the elector was introduced and started on.
All was ominously quiet around the circus
teat. The crowd gathered TO hear the
speaking and the elector began to warm
up to the occasion. He had spoken per-
haps fifteen minutes when suddenly the
band struck up. the ticke,-seller took his
place, and the canvas door was thrown
open. The crowd turned a. one man
and started for the show. In two min
utes there wasn't any body around the
platform, and | was the only person be-
sides the elector upon the platform. The
elector stopped and looked at me. It's
no use talking against clrcus.' said i, and
we got down and followed the crowd,
which was gathering around the ticket
seller. brought out some money from
Richmond, to extend Inequalities to my
hearers when l finished the speech ex-
pected to make. hunted up one of my
best friends in the crowd, and, handing
him some money, sad:
Here, you buy tickets TO the circus
with this and give them To the right per-
sons with my compliments
THE next minute my friend was shout
ing at the top of his voice: Ladies and
gentlemen. the non. ucOIRo ~. WISE HAS
authorized me TO see that every one of you
has ticket TO the show. with his compli-
ments.'
with that the crowd shouted and
crowded up. / saw my money 60 into the
hands OF the ticket-seller and L saw the
crowd pass into the circus at my expense.
OF course there was no stopping after that.
II took the last quarter out of my pocket
before the job was finished. and there
stood. with my crowd inside and alone
on the outside. The circus manager came
over to me. and with grin compli-
mented me on my electioneering tactics.
the show, and told him the condition of
my pockets. Pass right in, Ir. WISE he
said. and in l wunt.
When the returns came from Hanover
Courthouse after the election found l had
swept the precinct Clean"