The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-22

Seventeen hundred letters-I never
could"
You can easily hire secretaries. In
half an hour we will set off on this
Indispensable journey"
For Is days the only man one seemed
to meet on the roads, the steam boats,
the cars, was the unhappy Verdavin,
the candidate in spite of himself In
the pelting rain, in the broiling sun,
everywhere went he. Every morning
his wife drew up the programme for his
days journey; every night he had to
bring home to her good and sufficient
evidence that he had been at each place
he claimed to have visited.
Grand outcome - the bronchitis.
three mild sunstrokes. an incurable
rheumatism, and a confirmed gastric
disease, contracted through drinking
prosperity to France with SAG electors
daily.
"Emmie," he at last gasped, like one
about to faint, II feel that my
strength"
Tomorrow" she said, relentlessly,
''you will canvass the At parishes on
this list"
And on all sides nothing was heard
but EXPLANATIONS Of What an ambi-
tions chap that Verdavin is! Who ever
saw anyone like him?"
"Amedee," she said, next day, your
address has not been circulated widely
enough. l have had a hundred thou
sand extra copies struck off and dis
tributed"
But, dear, printing comes ruinously
expensive. This morning only 1 have
paid one bill of sixteen thous-"
you must also manage to have your
name mentioned in connection with
generous deeds. l have ordered six or
gans for as many churches in as many
close parishes"
Six o-r-g-a-n-s!"
eyes, and - fire engines for villages
that are unprotected from the ravages
of the destroying element and where
there is large floating vote. Imagine
how gratified the poor people will be-"
But, Emmie, l cannot make ducks
and drakes-I mean church organs and
parish fire engines-of my fortune!"
"And do you count it for nothing,
then, the glory of being a statesman?
Besides, once in politics, you are sure
of getting your money back an hun
dred-fold."
What a fine fellow that Verdavin
isl" said the outside world in awe
struck amazement ana admiration;
''he'H spend every franc he has before
he'll let himself be beaten!"
One pleasant 1ro.ning-it was just a
week before the election-madame
aroused at early dawn NJ. Verdavin,
who was still sleeping soundly, not hav-
ing, indeed, returned from an exhaust
ing journey to the back districts .Etil
two n. m.
'Amedee," she cried, Grouse yourself;
the honor of our name has been vilely
thrust under foot and trodden in the
dust, and you must avenge it." And
she handed the unhappy man newspa
per in which he read the following:
1T is about time to have done with the
tyapesing round our streets and high
ways. This Verdavin, fellow of the baser
sort. seeks-but seeks in vain--to conceal
his demagogic instincts. He demands Lib
erty. We all know what that word means
with him: behind it he prepares an am
buscade for property, the family, religion.
This Verdavin, dealer in notes and haunter
Of low taverns, is nothing more nor less
than scalawag who has not even thu
courage of his incendiary opinions"
But this is not ALL" said his wife,
and handed him another journal, in
which he read:
Let the mask be torn off Our inteIli-
gent voters will not let themselves be i'm
posed upon by a Tartuffe of the cutters.
Veroavin, double-ender politician and a
perfect nullity, pretends to array himself
on the side of the cause of order 1t is
under such a guise that the friends OF des-
pot!sm usually do their hellish work This
ooious being, whom we will not further
poIute our type by naming, has evidently
been hired to complicate the situation by
his candidacy. Let the electors rise in
their might and sweep from the field this
vain idiot"
Next morning Verdavin received a
sword thrust in the left arm from the
Iegitimist editor, and the day after
'SNN N'iS ~ AAdtSil III lhC IlSul
from the radical editor.
At last the day of the election ar
rived. Verdavip had conducted his can
vass with unsparing energy; his com
plicated disorders had given him
corpse-like appearance; he had spent
three-quarters of his fortune; he car,
ried both of his arms in sings.
But at night the project made the
official declaration:
"Elected-Verdavin, 23,672 votes"
1t was week later when he entered
the chamber of deputies. His wife,
radiant and rejoicing, was il one of the
galleries. He had chosen a seat in the
center-Order in Liberty, as it were.
He arrived in the middle of a debate.
Precisely at that instant vote had
been taken, and, as he reached the CEN
ter of the hall, he heard the president
declaring that, inasmuch as it was lit
orally honeycombed with fraudulent
practices, the assembly thereby inval-
idated the election of NJ. Verdayin.
M. Verdavin tainted.
Nine. Verdavin has brought an action