The record-union., 1892-11-12
Els FAIR NOMINEE.
written for the REcoRD-Ux1oN by Len.l


We're blue" when orders went forth from
the Republican headquarters for the cam
didates to be up and doing, doing their
/ best for the grand old party" and in
this year of grace it was Clarence Sted-
man who wanted to be elected Senator
Young and fine-looking, with "a heart
for any fate," he was now making the
canvass OF the counties he wished to rep
resent; and he not only ''dreamt he
dwelt in marble halls of the State Capt.
tol, but was privileged person helping
to concoct the laws Tor the great and
/ glorious country" He was trying now TO
make these dreams come true, and fully
realizing the easy task of building castles
in the air and the difficulty in putting
foundations under these castles.
/ y lawyer by profession, well and favor
ably known, stanch in his principles,
he was, in every particular, worthy of
the party and its support.
4 modest top-buggy, drawn by big,
gray horse. was his outfit. No little
demijohn of the ardent was stored away
under the seat, but wooden case of
! fnely-tiavored Colorado Maduros showed
that ne was not averse to the weed that
soothed and did not inebriate; also was
aware of the fact that a good cigar was
mans preliminary to a conversation as
much as an 'ahein" was preliminary to
a lecture or a speech.
! The morning was cool when he started,
! but before noon it grew warmer; the yell
| low leaves of the maple and the oaks were
| lying through the air like flights of but
! terilles, and every now and then a rust
/ ling, followed by a thud on the hard
7 nnp h
| We're falling and were unusually
very numerous. Dead leaves formed
many squares of brown carpet that
deadened all the footballs of his horse.
| Quail rustled through the pine needles,
or arose with a whIr of many wings,
| startling the woodland echoes.
! AS Clarence drove steadily on and up,
| his Journey was typical of life true and
earnest, with "onward and upward" for a
motto. The stars were now appearing in
the deep, blue sky, and he saw Mars
rising in all his glory. The crimson hue
| seemed brighter with a foreground of
dark pines framing its brilliancy. On
| the mountain tops afar the stars seemed
| like bright tapers burning on the tall,
pine trees that stretched their limbs to-
ward the evening sky.
Those tall pines, the first to catch the
| morning deWs. the last to hold the burn
! ing embers of sunset, and when the stars
/ come out they invite them to rest IN their
| plumed crests, cradled by the wandering
! breeZes Of night in the Sierras.
Clarence was feeling rather weary, and
gladly thinking his first stopping place
| by the way was near, when a shrill voice
startled him. He looked around quickly,
! but no one was in sight. He drew rein
as again the voice came. Then he saw
] before him, on the stump of an old sugar
pine, small figure.
Can you talk, Nolapuk?" was the
question that greeted him.
| NO" said Clarence, surprised but too
polite to show it when out canvassing for
votes.
That's a pity said the voice. And
| Clarence rubbed his eyes to make sure
| he was awake for what he saw was
triangle, with a head on the apex,
little legs in each corner, and an ex-
tremely bright pair of eyes in the head.
! "Where did you come from, and what
is your name?" asked Clarence.
''Oh, Pm from Mars" returned the lit
tie man genially. You've heard of the
man from Mars, | presume? l came
down on volantepede; broke the 1lange
of the propeller and sent it back by cleo
tricity to get repaired, so l thought I'd
walk around a while and interview you
earth worms. Out late, amt you? How
can you see to travel without a perma-
nent moon, might ask? If 1 had not
!
| dark" And he touched a vest button
as he spoke. and light soft, yet lumi-
nous. lighted up the woodland road.
I'VE would like to see more of your
planet" said Clarence politely. ''Those
canals you have up there are fine, L m
! told. Do you navigate them, or use
them simply for irrigation?'
Canals! That's a joke" laughed the
little man. ''They are not canals, they
are electric belts. Mars uses them when
| he wants to revolve faster, especially
when some long-tailed comet, redhot,
| comes too near and seres up all our sum-
mer crops. We found our north pole:
had no use for it, though, so we Just
gouged it out and put the electric belts
through the hole, see?'
"All our astronomers saw them," said
| Clarence. 'Even at our big Lick they
| looked like canals"
you can't see all at one big Lick yet,"
returned the little man. on want size
more polish, clear heads ana clearer
weather. But you never told me who
| you were, or your name, and your busi-
ness" continued he, land Pm waiting to
| know"
My name is Stedman, and Pm can
vassing," said Clarence.
"When you meet do you treat and then
expect alcoholic promises to hold good?"
asked the man from Mars.
Clarence colored, as he said, stitfiy:
mo, L don't carry a jug, but it's the
custom of the country to treat, and Gus
tom must be obeyed, don't you think
sop
"Pooh," said the little man, swapping
| his fingers. Alcoholic promises are as
volatile as alcohol when the influence
wears off-the promises wear away also
| Mars is man and master of his fate
1 Knowing you are the right man in the
right place your constituents would elect
You without quenching their thirst at
! your expense"
"'Tis sweet to win, no matter how, ones
! laurels," quoted Clarence.
81 differ with YOU" said his compan-
! ion. Il like more principle"
"Well, can l count on your support?"
SAID Clarence smiling.
NO" said the little man. 81 don't
| like your methods of conducting cleo
| tions, for it makes me ashamed to think
| when dealing with their own country's
interest. No freedom in it. It's caging
your eagle"
BEST plan known" said Clarence. ''It
| is safety to voters, ignorant or otherwise,
and it's fair"
''The worlds fair, suppose" grinned
| the little man.
Clarence fiicked an imaginary fly off
his horse, then changed the conversation
| 10y asking, "What were you MARSHES
doing behind the moon last month ?'
Thought you Lick men could see
through anything" he replied. Then he
said, well, we were looking for a key to
| the lock of one of those canals you saw"
| Clarence laughed. You have two
moons, too, how do you use them? Is
not that one too many?"
mo, we run one each way, like your
overland trains," said he.
Have you parts of speech, and do you
all talk English ?'' asked Clarence feel