The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-29


q i V-'.'e 80 ,bere was any natural IN
a,i,atton tou,ard politics in my nature
-. Let ~ an Nor was the tchueh-
80, 40 40 hereditary influence, Tor IL mas
,o,.or ba.r known that any one Oh my
ancestors was President, or even a Gun
ator. At 800, natural
1T all came about in the most hatu IA,
way In the world. was nom. w 80
-bristnas vacation. enjoying the pilel
,cenite from school. room and teXt-nooks.
so,,o bachelor relatives were commenting
ON the report that our County superlh-
tsndent OF Schools was about 10 ic@lbh
.vvbv don't you try Tor the nominal
ton ncxt SUMNER one of them said 10
me. with gentle insinuation'
WHY. indced?' / repeated not eaten
inc the fun significance OF ms "oius.
If the superintendent resigns 'hen ne
will certainly not care 10 be candidate
Cor n second term. In that case you
vil stand as good chance as any one.
I2osidos il IS the only office woman
can hold in the county. and some think
she OUGHT to have II, when she Is quail
fled
ut certainly sounds very reasonable
and very nice l said thoughlully
enough. II II still SOUNDS as reasonable
and as nice when l como nome III inc
spring I win try
~ was one morning in juno that I
woke up with the full conviction that If
ever I was going 70 be superintendent.
something must be done. ! walked down
to the breakfast table and made my am
nounccmcut. but / had no idea just what
1 v,as TO do ae vet r did not rush off 90
some university n order TO take post
graduate course in political economy
politicians are not I'm the habit or doing
tnat. ] simply had the buggy-horse shod
anew. and my mother and / drove 10 n
ncichboring town TO consult with an old
family friend whose head had turned
gray with political experience.
ct think 30 win be easy for YOU he
said. with a misleading confidence. Mr.
Long is "a friend Of mine ana / know he
won't care much about running for Sec
ond term Let me say right here that
Long does as wen FOR superintendent
name as any other. especially when 1t
isn't long He won't anyhow when he
hears a lady wants the oiice.'
'But business is business ] reminded
him. and tho times are too hard 10 en-
| courage glllantry TO such an extent
but my political adviser was n tho
opinion stu that Mr.. Long would not
run.
You viii have TO travel All over the
county 10 get acquainted with all the
prominent people. so that they VIII work
for you You will have 10 shake hands
with every one and kiss all the babies
he added.
II had Expects that it would be noces-
sary to study local geography when the
horse was newly shod. but 1 confess that
the thought Of the babies that might
have 90 be kissed was something appal-
ling lie told me about the primaries
and how important it was that men IA
vCrahle 10 my interests should be sent
20 tho county convention. After that
IVORY man ! met politically told me about
Che primaries.
Before the political BAH had rolled
very much further I determined TO find
cut from Mr.. Long himself If he really
intended running q second time. \ COM
mon friend went with me to his Office
and talked of pleasant impersonal things
until / mustered courage TO ask the app
parcnty simple question:
Mr.. Long. viii You be candidate
Tor recollection? I have heard that you
would not
"T have decided TO run again. he re-
Flied.
TT came over me then how very in-
terostine this game Of politics was and
/ remembered that many Of my friends
had advised me 10 run any way. Before
I knew &c. / was saying:
II think 7 VIII run. too. Mr.. Long n
Nou have no objections From that mo-
ment Mr.. Long although he was noted
for his kindness of heart. became the
most formidable OF pcrsOnages IN my
eyes.
There SIS no Better way ia the world
10 study human nature than 20 go into
politics. nor Is fiere any better way TO
study the topography Of ones county.
10 is both lntcre ting and curious 10 hear
man who IS carvlssng for some cOun-
~ Office sounding his friends 10 find
out IL they viii pledge him their support.
There is just $50 much form and ccre-
mony 10 be performed each time the
stately march OF politics must not Doe
FASTENED bon g degree.
"Be it. said 90 my lasting disorcdit that
I never could learn 90 take the longest
road leading 10 % subject when / saw a
short cut At first ! was sure 10 feel
myself either a--ressively feminine or
ridiculously youthful when asking for a
public office. il AN depended on the pcr-
sen with whom I was talking. I'm time
1 grew 10 feel that my political aspi-
ratiOns were not abnormal 40 an and
found them ms easy 20 subject for discus
sion as the weather.
we rode am over the county. some
member " the family always being ready
% accompany me. Sometimes "a party
OF friends would take the opportunity 90
go along for picnic drive. ] learned
10 know all who had political hopes and
nearly every one 0f political prominence
in my party
81 was passing candy store. when
Thought / recognized in 20 group OF men
some one who mi ht be of service. one
whom ! bad known whom Dee was boy
] stepped into the candy store and asked
the proprietor if chat was not Mr.. --.
pointing without. lIe said il was and
called him in. I was not mistaken. Tho
gentleman was of my party faith ana
would help me. l7ut IL was candy
store and Doe thousht Of the traditional
young woman. Tlc day was sultry Did
] care for some soda watcr2 In politics
the candidate always treats. ] reminded
him, ana that was the only time treating
was mentioned i'm nay campaign.
II had been very anxious 10 meet n
gentleman of some note in county affairs.
when ! met him one day ON the road
lie began 10 instruct me the first thing
j have had "a good deal of experience
ana / think I can give you some advice
do not be too partisan; be good 10 both
PARTIES
Yes / said. mookly Isdo not want
10 ice too partisan either, but only one
party can give me the nomination. II
/ get that then 1 shall expect friends of
both parties to turn in and elect me.
But before the convention IL viii help me
20 see only those of my party
lie repeated ii again and again, that
/ must have al parties working for me.
lie simply would not understand the pri-
mary uriuofula of oriop-gfDkiug thar vour