The advocate., 1894-05-23

of this is that it has not become ''re-
spectacle" You may be very vigor-
GUS republican or democrat and still
be a favorite of "our best society" but
dare become Populist, and society"
will speedily show you the door. Is
there no hint in this for those who
work? Pharisees and SaduceeS alike
were welcome in the best society Of
Jerusalem; but the followers of that
troublesome fellow from Nazareth-did
not the influential Nicodemus have to
steal an interview at nightP Were
Patrick Henry and Jefferson social
faVorites with the American tories :?
Would Wendell Phillips or Garrison
have been an honored guest at a south
ern planters board? Society reflects
the particular form of wealth or privi-
lege prevailing at the time; and he
whom it wei tomes cannot be a true
friend Of the outcast and oppressed.
In this propaganda Kate and Lena
aid their husbands by articles contrib
uted to the reform press; and Kate has
undertaken of late more ambitious
task. She is engaged in attempting to
interest farmers wives and daughters
in the project, and often lectures from
the same platform with her husband.
"Can Kate make speechP" some
reader may ask. Yes. She discovered
her gift by accident, for she had never
before attempted to speak in public.
X
In the latter part of September, 1892,
a monster picnic was held by the Peo-
ple'S party of the county in OVerton's
grove. Sam Cotterell was chairman,
and had made a "ringing" speech.
Mason had spoken, and had been fol-
lowed by Unitarian minister whose
congregation of bank and railroad off,
cials had recently rendered him his
resignation. Finally, the Peoples party
candidate for governor made an effec-
tive address, and this ended the regular
program. But it was not very late, and
someone started a fcall'' for "Colonel
MasOn"-Slick having given Overton
this military title among his neighborS
and OVertOn was prevailed upon to
speak. On the platform sat Kate, Mrs.
Mason, the ex-asylum attendant, Mrs.
Cotterell and Lena; the latter still
wearing black, for her father, having
heard of her escape and her marriage
to John, had expired in st. Louis of |
apoplexy, leaving his daughter an es-
tate not quite sufficient to pay his
debts. Slick Blackburn, having tied
his team to tree, sat comfortably in
Overton's carriage not far from the
platform, and applauded vigorously
when "de cunnel'' rose to speak.
No one who has ever lived in COM
munity like Golden will ask how it
came about that OVerton's Sing Sing
record had become known to some
Golden people of certain class. Had
not Overton "interfered" with the
sheriff by saving Sam Cotterel from
eviction, and thus preventing the re.
ceipt Of official fees? Had not DR..
Darlington tried to "get away with"
the sheriff by applying for that injunc-
tion? And had not Overton's ''inter-
ference" destroyed the sheriff's oppor-
tunity of ''getting even" with the Doc
tor? Trifing matters, you think True,
but quite important enough to give Off
cial malice a motive for contemplate {
work. So somebody about the sheriff's !
Office had discovered in some manner =
that Overton was an ex-conVict who {
had spent many years in Sing Sing; and g
this delightful information had been {
''passed around till most of the con-
temptible political population which '
lOafed at the sheriff's office and in the I
court room, waiting to be appointed I
appraisers, or to be taken along as 8
guards when prisoners were to be con- S
Veyed to the penitentiary, or to be !
called as talesmen to fill up jury lit S
being a principle of honor with them a
N that case to always convict the ac-
,used and thus help out the county at S
,Orneyl, knew of the blot on OvertOn's s