Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-03
VANDERSON'S VOTE.
A Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.


and twenty-seven stump speakers were
delivering every night four hundred
and twenty-seven addresses. The har-
argues were at once ringing, electro
flying masterpieces Of eloquence, TO
quote the reporters who agreed with
their sentiment-and Tissues Of driv-
cling mendacity. quote the re-
porters who did not agree. The four
hundred and twenty-seven mass meet
ings were each ga grand outpouring of
an aroused people," or "a small, spir-
itless gathering of disheartened dema-
gogues'-quoting as before.
In almost every town rival compa-
MES of Jones Guards" Smith Ran
gers" and Thompson Continentals,"
arrayed in uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that dripped with
oil, scufaed through dust, splashed
through mud, and despatched them
selves with kerosene.
They raised flags, serenaded 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 execration," proving ''irrefutably"
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
the other all the vice and vanquish-
ment!
Our village of New Nicopolis had
every requisite for a lively canvass
two halls, two newspapers, two bands
and two aspirants 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 enthusiast
tic that business was almost at a
standstill. No one thought or dreamed
of anything but politics. The men
spent more time at the taverns than
in their shops, and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their anvils. The women were divided
into two claSses-those who quarreled
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 intolerant,
because, as 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-
ton of the British retreat from Con-
cord.
Now election day was here. We were
assured that victory was in the air.
and about to perch upon our banner.
Victory seemed to be regarded as a
bird of some kind, but whether 1t
would turn out an eagle or crow
eagle for the winners, crow for the
losers-no one could tell.
If my 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 pc lis with my own
pet colt and buggy.
The first ballot put into the box al
| Town hall was thrown by old Jenny
| Grant, the lame cobbler. whom I had
dragged out of his stall at sever
o'clock in the morning, that he might
do his whole duty as free American
and to keep Fred Crandall from get
ting at him first. Fred was active fol
the hostile camp, and if his slow-pacec
1 forni1y hnrSn could not TI1alxa n
trips as my Knox three-year-old, yet he
| brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided will
| a two-seated beach wagon, while my
| buggy had room for but one passenger
Fred was boy Of the most irritat
Ing audacity and enterprise, and h
possessed, moreover, the advantage o.
knowing nearly every voter by sight ant
each mans political opinions by heart
Consequently he lost no time in asking
for information where to go or whom
to bring, while required great dea
of direction and advice.
All day long the contest went on
until, late in the afternoon, there wa
scarcely q man In the whole town O
New Nicopolis who had not voted; bu
as ballots became fewer the anxiety in
| creased, for the check books Showe&
almost an equality between the part les
Even my father began to grow
nervous, and the politicians rushet
about like lunatics. One of them sud
denly ran up to me.
Here, Charleyr exclaimed he
Drive out on the north road as fast a
you can go. and bring in Vanderson-
J at the red house next beyond thu
bridge"
whirled my horse around withou
waiting for more, The rest of what
ever the politician had to say was los
in the rafting of the wheels as dasheC
down the road at twelve miles an hour
but the colt had gone too far and to-
fast that day to keep up such a gait
and l soon reluctantly allowed him t.
take an easy jog trot.
Fred Crandall suddenly dashed b.
with fresh steed, which l recognizes
as DIR. Parker's new roadster. Thing
must be at a desperate pass indeed
the doctor was willing to commit hi
best horse to such a hard-driving Jeh
as Fred!