The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-21
vANDERSON'S VOTE.
!. Boys Experience as q Country
Politician.

II had been q hot political campaign
ali over the state brass bands were
playing, cannon were firing, illumina-
tions were glaring and four hundred
aud twenty-sevcn stump speakers were
delivering every night fouf hundred
and twenty seven addresses. The har,
angnes were at once ringing, electri
flying masterpieces Of eloquence, - te
quote the reporters who agreed with
their sentiment and Tissues of driv.
cling mendacity, TO quote the re
porters who did not agree The -four
hundred and twenty seven mass meet
ings were each "a grand outponring Of
an aroused PEOPLE" or "a small. spir.
itlcss gathering 81 dishcartcncd dcIna.
gogdcs" quoting as before.
in almost every town rival comra-
mics OF Jones Guards, Smith Ran.
gers" and Thompson contincntals,'
arraged is uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that dipped with
oil, scufIlcd through dust, splashed
through mud, and besEattered them
selves with kerosene.
They raised Hngs, sercnaded eanai.
guished statesmen from nowhere in
particular to everywhere IN general,
and back again.
Then the newspapers How they
mailed lies exposed conspiracies, .
tore off masks" and held up 10 pub
lie execration," proving ''irrcfutabiy'
that their own side had, and would
have, all the yirtnc and victory, and
the other all the vice and vanquisb-
menti
Onr llage 81 New Nicopolis had
every requisite for D. lively canvass
two halls, two newspapers, two bands
and two aspirants for every office,
Moreover the town was so evenly Ill
vider politically that no candidate
could reasonably expect majority Of
more than three or four votes
AS the struggle drew near its end.
men became So excited and enthnsias-
tic that business was almost at a
standstill. No one thought or dreamed
Of anything but politics. The men
spent more time at the tavcrns than
In their shops. and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their nnvils. The women were divided
Anto two classes those who quarrcled
every time they met, and those who
wouldn't speak to each other at all.
OF course we boys initiated our eld-
ers We attended every meeting,
marched in every procession, and got
up meetings and professions Of our
own IN our patriotic ardor. We en-
gagged In ceaseless discussions which
were none the less hot and into!erant,
because, as a general thing, neither Of
the disputants had the slightest idea Of
what he was talking about
Going out on the streets alone was
like taking a little promenade on
Hounslow Heath in the old days Of
highwaymen; and on the evenings Of
opposition mass meetings my return
from the post Office was often in imita-
tion Of the British retreat from Con-
cord.
Now election day was here, We We're
assured that victory was in tile air,
and about to perch upon our banner.
Victory seemed to he regarded as a
bird of some kind, but whether it
would turn out an eagle or crow
eagle for the winners, crow for I he
losers mo one could tell.
Hmy participation in the campaign
had hitherto been merely Sympathetic,
was happy in knowing that youth,
like old age, had on this day Its honor
and its toll. Though could not vote
myself. ! could bring Indifferent or dis
abled citizens to the polls with my own
pet colt and buggy.
The FIRST ballot put into the box at
Town liall was thrown by old Jenny
Grant, the lame cobbler, whom | had
dragged out OF his stall at seven
o'clock in the morning, that he might
do his whole duty as a free American
and to keep Fred Crandall from, get
ting at him first. Fred was active for
the hostile camp and il his slow paee ed
family horse could not make as many
trips as my Knox three-ycar-old, vet he
brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided with
a two7sented beach wagon, while nv
buggy had room for but one passenger
Ere was boy Of the most irritat-
Ing audacity and enterprise, and he
y
knowing nearly every voter by sight and
each mans political opinions by heart.
Consequently he lost no time in asking
Tor information where to go or whom
to bring, while required a great deal
OF direction and advice.
All day long the contest went on.
until. late in the afternoon, there was
scarcely a man in the whole town Of
New Nicopolis who had4 not voted; but
as ballots became fewer the anxiety in
creased, for the check books showed
almost an equality between the partie
Even my father began to grow
nervous, and the politicians rushed
about like lunatics. One Of them sud
denly ran up to me.
Here, Charleyr' exclaimed he.
Drive out on the north road as fast Is
ron can go, and bring in yanderson-
= the red house next beyond the
bridge"
whirled my horse around without
waiting for more. The rest Of what
ever the politician had to say was lost
IN the rafting Of the wheels as dashed
down the road at twelve miles an hour;
but the colt had gone too far and too
last that day to keep up such a gait.
an1 soon reluctantly allowed him to
take an easy jog trot-
Fred crandall suddenly dashed by
With = fresh steed, which I.4recognized
as DIR. Parker's new roadster. Things
must be At desperate pass indeed ii
tue doctor was willing to commit his