The San Francisco call., 1897-10-03
The Majors Stories.

New York seems to be having a job
getting suitable man for Mayor" said
Major BlaZem to me the other day as we
entered the Occidental Hotel together.
81 wonder" he continued, as We sat
down, "Dr. O'Donnell don't make trip
back East anc try to secure nomina-
tlon."
Ibid you ever ru for office yourself,
maior7" inquired careIessly, as handed
him a Cabagio de Habana Mr.. Sutro had
just presented me with.
Let me think" he said, as he stroked
his goatee refectively. MY career has
been such varied one and 1 have seen SO
much, said so much and accomplished so
much, that it is almost impossible for me
to remember triflng incidents on the spur
of the moment"
He puffed at the Cabagio de Habana
for few seconds and then deposited it
peacefully in the cuspidor.
Let me smoke" he said, as he sent
bellboy for two more cigars.
! When they arrived he was apparently
still deep in thought, for although he took
one out of the tumbler he permitted me to
pay for them, and con tinued stroking his
goatee.
When his cigar was fairly going he be-
gan to talk.
Yes" he said, "I do remem Der run
ming for office once. 1t was years ago,
and was out in one of those South Amer
lean republics, the Argentine, think. l
was an especial favorite with the people
there, the ladies especially, and one day
deputation waited on me asking me to
run ior Governor of the province of Tucu-
man.
"The honor conferred upon me was a
tremendous one. for in spite of my uni
versally recognized honesty, 1 was citi.
zen of the United States. and barely into
my thirties.
Il did not like to appear desirous of thc
position, so 1 asked for time to consider
the matter, walked to my library, lit a
cigar, went back and-accepted
That night sir. never got wink of
sleep. The people from miles around be-
! gan to come to :own so as to shake hands
with me. In fact they came in such num-
bers, and my pardonable excitement was
so great, that three days and nights
passed away without my even being
aware of it or leaving my post at the
threshold OF my house.
Hunger then caused me to coIIanse
but my vigorous constitution heIped me
tn pull through in time to make an active
campaign in my own behalf Ny oppo-
nents were not in it with me.
| when the day of election came the
citizens almost massacred one another at
the polls in their hurry to vote for me-
The troops were ordered out, but thew ba.
came SO excited that they mingled with
the mob and encouraged them to cast their
ballots for me. The gaucho. from rho
plains were delirious with Joy. and rode
their horses over the shoulders of the mao.
pie, standing thousands deep around NV
| house, ana it was sunset before any one
thought of going home.
There were 81, 765 men in the town 90
Tucuman on the morning of The election
and 81, ,764 voted for me. The other man
sir. was myself.
when was proclaimed Governor the
bells rang out and the President down in
Buenos Ayres ordered general PRAYERS for
my health. Unfortunately. our f,v;I
war broke out about that time and was
recalled TO serve In the Confederate army
So L never served the public after al,
But l was elected all right, and. by the
virgins of Virginia, it was the warme,t
election ever held in the world. sir.''
but major" l incautiously inter.
rupted, II thought that the Argentine
Governors were elected by the President
and not by public vote.'
"Ihen You thought wrong. sir.n ba
shouted. as one or two listeners began To
litter. You are too young, sir, to know
about things that happened before vonr
BIRTH"
Then, muttering to himself. he hobbled
toward the elevator, and l was left to mon
my forehead. II