The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-04

yANDERS0N's VOTE.
A Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.


playing, cannon were firing, illnmina
tions were glaring and four hundre
and twenty-seven stump speakers wcr
delivering every night four yhundre
and twenty-seven addresses The han
angucs were at once ringing, elcctri
flying masterpieces Of eloquenee, "--t
quote the reporters who agreed wit
their sentiment--and Tissues of driv
cling mendacity, quote the re
porters who did not agree. The fou
hundred and twenty seven mass meet
ings were each "a grand outpouring d
an aroused people, or "a small, spir
itlcss gathering Of dishcartencd dema
gogucs" quoting as before
In almost every town rival compa-
mics OF Jones Guards. Smith Ran.
gers and "Thompson Continentals, z
nrrayed in uniforms that did not flt,
and carrying torches that dripped with
oil, scnflied through dust, splashcd
through mud, and bespattered them
selves with kerosene.
They raised flags, sercnaded candi-
dates and escorted all sorts OF distin-
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 TO pub
lie exeeration," proving ''irrefutably"
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
the other all the vice and vanquisb-
mentl
Our village Of New Nicopolis had
every requisite for lively canvass
two halls, two newspapers, two bands
and two uspirants for every Office.
Moreover the town was so evenly di-
vided politically that no candidate
could reasonably expect a majority Of
more than three or four votes.
AS the struggle drew near its end,
men. became so excited and enthusiasts
tie that business was almost at a
standstiIl. No one thought or dreamed
Of anything but politics. The men
spent more time at the taverns thar
in their shops and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their anvils. The women were divideG
iAto two classes those who quarreleC
every time they met, and those wht
wouldn't speak to each other at all.
OF course we boys initiated our cid
ers. We attended every meeting
marched in every procession, and go
up meetings and professions Of ON
own in our patriotic ardor. We en-
gagged in ceaseless discussions whicl
were none the less hot and intolerant
because. as q general thing, neither q
the disputants had the slightest idea Q
what he was talking about
Going out on the streets alone wa
like taking little promenade d
IIounslow Heath in the old days o
highwaymen; and on the evenings o
opposition mass meetings my retur
from the post Office was often in iInita
ton Of the British retreat from Con
cord.
Now election day was here. We wer
assured that victory was in the air
and about to perch upon our banner
Victory seemed to be regarded as
bird of some kind, but whether
would turn out an eagle or crow
eagle for the winners, crow for tn
losers--no one could tell
II my participation in the campaigl
had hitherto been merely sympathetic
was happy in knowing that youth
like old age, had on this day its homo
and its toll Though l could not vot
Y. myself, ! could bring Indifferent Or di.
4 abled citizens to the polls with my ow
pet colt and buggy,
The first ballot put into the box q
Town Hall was thrown by old Jemm
\ Grant, the lame cobbler, whom | ha
dragged out Of his stall at seve
o'clock in the morning, that he migf
do his whole duty asa free America
and to keep Fred Crandall from re
ting at him first Fred was active Il
the hostile camp and If his slow-pace
family horse could not make as man
trips as my Knox -year-old, yet b
brought three times as much freigh
when he did come, being provided wit
a two-seated beach wagon, while M
buggy had room for but one passenge
Fred was boy Of the most irrita
ing audacity and enterprise, and h
possessed, moreover, the advantage {
knowing nearly every voter by sight an
each mans political opinions BY hear
Consequently he lost no time in askin
for information where to 70 or who
TO bring, while required a great, de,
of direction and advice.
All day long the contest went Of
Nnntil, late in the afternoon, there wi
scarcely q man in the whole town
New Nicopolis who had not voted; bl
as ballots became fewer the anxiety i
creased, for the check books shove
almost an equality between, the part lie
Even my father began to gro
nervous. and the politicians rushs
about like lunatics One OF them su
denly ran up to me.
Here, Charieyp, exclaimed II
Drive out Oh the north road as fast
you can 60, and bring in Vanderson
at the red house next beyond Il
bridge
whirled my horse around withoi
waiting for more The rest Of wha
ever the politician had 70 say MAS ID
in the rafting Of theSwheels as i dashs
down tine road at twelve miles an hou
but the colt had gone too far and II
fast that day to keep up such 4 gai
AMI soon reluctantly allowed him
take an easy jog trot.
Fred crandall suddenly dashed |
with a fresh steed, which j recogniz,
as pr Parker's new roadster. Thin
must be at desperate pass indeed
the doctor was willing to commit i
best horse 70 such hard-ariving Jel
as Fred!
Fretting was Of no use. though. 4,