Evening star., 1898-04-16
A Political Stroke.

H ~s.s FdtueT WllQ 0ectlOu q tne cOuD-
try; one which had never been distinguish
ed for Its productions, agricultural or intel
lectual One OF Its people. the hard-work-
ing. good-natured. but unambitious sort,
was explaining the political situation.
'Ye see," he was saying. "mebbe it's re-
pubiicans one lection an democrats the
next. But don't sees it makes much DIFF
ference in the taxes"
BY the way, you elected Zeb Todd to the
legislature" said the man who was engag-
sd In surveying land, and incidentally in
making few picturesque acquaintances.
Yes" was the answer, with gleeful ami
nation. That's once In our lives that us
felix's got the best O. them politicians"
lis Zeb Il reformer?'
Il dunno's he is. He's got his share o.
bad habits, I s'pose. but hs never goes
aroun' talkin' very much bout swcarin'
Of"
What party did he represent?"
Jest hisself We run i'm on his own ac-
count Zeb amt got no politics to speak of.
That's one reason he's 80 popular aroun'
here
But he hadn't any experience that would
fit him for the placer
''oh, yes he had; Ye see one time zeb
sold half his farm"
why didn't he sell all Of itr'
The feller wouldn't buy IL. So Zeb, he
reckoned he'd better take what luck he
could lay hold Of an sell nalf. He never
wan much OF farmer. nohow. But he
kin play the fiddle. an he's related BY
blood or marriage to two-thirds OF the
folks in this county. So you KIN guess that
everybody was pleased when Zeb got all
this money. They wasn't q soul as wasn't
glad to see the old man git q chance 10
enjoy his .elf. He thought over all the
things he'd nike to do by way Of takin'
q holiday, an by an by he said he reck-
oned he d 90 to town. He went to the the
ayter once or twice. but Zeb has q habit
o. gfttin' sleepy most any time. an he
said that when he gifts settled to a nap
be don't like no music 10 break In an dis
turb i'm. So he got in the way O tendin'
the meetin's Of the legisla ture. He took q
lot O. comfort out of it. an 1 reckon he had
enough chances to observe to make him
ore of the best-informed men on the gay
to run a Legislature in the whole state"
Has he accomplished anything yeti"
mo moren anybody else"
But you were saying that MS election
caused disappointment TO some OF the old
politicians"
"Oh yes We circumvented 'em good.
Zeb wrote home two or three times COM
plainin' that whenever there was anythfn'
real interestin' goin on they wouldn't give
him a seat, an onoet or twice they
wouldn't even let i'm in. 1t was down.
right meanness. as plain as day. cause Zeb
he wouldn't interrupt ner git in nobodys
way. So when we heard of ii we got to-
gether an passed the word around. 1t
wasn't scarcely no time before we'd 'lected
i'm a member OF the blame oil legislature.
an now he kin walk right in an take O
seat an make hisself to home. no matter
what's goin on
4
Exciting Moments.
Upon the steps OF the Capitol stood Q
statesman.
He brushed his silk hat with his coat
IA hag
the palm OF his hand and felt his necktie
to see il 1t was on straight. A look Of dis
may was gradually superseded by the ex-
preston OF benignant calm which his COM
stituents were accustomed to see in his
campaign portraits. He was about to de-
scend the steps when a colleague called to
him. He was approaching with the nervous
tread Of a man who would like to run II II
were not undignifed.
Have you been inside?" inquired the
second conner.
Certainly was the answer. IT was at
my accustomed post OF duty. I would not
allow II to be hinted that 1 was not In o
position to say Here" when the roll was
called"
How long after roll call did you lastf
that is to say, are you just leaving the
building"
Yes, found that my country could
spare me long enough to allow me to attend