The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE POLITICIAN VISIT.


The politician sat in his armchair late
one night in early spring, wearied with
work. Now. OF course. every one under
stands that when the politician works he
uses only the muscles OF his tongue aud
Of his right hand STILL even these. de-
spite their systematic exercises, do somo-
times succumb to fatigue
An important caucus had been held IN
his rooms that night, TO outline the work
OF the closing weeks OF tho municipal
campaign, for the day OF th c''alon drew
nigh apace and the politician uclding 10
the urgent solicitation OF many friends,
OF course-had consented 10 be a candidate
for public hOnors. Ably and eloduCnUy
had h talked that night, repeating mis-
protestations Of personal disinterested-'
ness, aud assuring them that his sole
care was for good administration. En-
thusing on the grandeur and beauty o,
patriotsm--that roble virtue which
prompts man to sacrifice private inter-
est 10 public good--he had succeeded In
temporarily convincing even himself of the
immaculateness OF his motives
Now that he was AT last alone he loaned
back with closed eyes IN his chair and
mused in mild surprise OVER his discovery
of so much magnauimity In himself, until
presently he heard "A step. aud looking up,
heheld a stranger standing near. who had
entered the room without any preliminary
knock
Although the stranger had snowy hair
and a flowing white beard, his eyes were
remarkably shrewd with that piercing
keenness which hetokens one used to
looking at the heart Of things. Coming
towards the politician, he slipped OF
I iii L.
across his shoulder, and extending his
hand. said Let me analyze your patriot
/ Ism" Highly pleased. the politician
straightway conceived hiR patriotism 90 be
a physical quantity. and putting his hand
in has bosom. drew IL forth With dim
Guilty and presented u 10 the eccentric
stranger for Inspection never doubling
that its size and genuipencss would smazr
him. Opening his case, the stranger took
out series Of minute scales and elaborate
chemical Instruments placing tho mass
OF concrete patriotism upon his largest
scales and weighing II carefully, he NUT
tered, "One hundred pounds" The poli-
tician expressed his qualification. but with
an impatient gesture for silence the old
! chemist broke the large mass into atoms
which he placed in his cruclbe and then
kndled an intense Are under Il, When the
atoms were thoroughly fused he took of
/ the crucible. set II aside 70 cool, and then
lutnei out the soma lump upon the hearth,
This lump showed curious strata or layers.
which readily separated ap the touch OF
the chemists hammer and were each test
cd ana weighed with scientific accuracy
the stranger making notes as he proceed
cd with the work. His increasing stern
ness made queer chills creep down the
spine OF the politician. who began to re-
gard the experiment as very uncanny
When the chemist had completed his In
vestigation he gathered up his instru-
ments. handed the written result to the
now thoroughly frightened politician, and
With a warning smile, vanished as quickly
as he had come.
Recovering from his aatonishment, the
politician opened the paper and read rs
follows: Ananlysis of the patriotism OF
the politician candidate for offce:
Personal ambition .....,..........40 parts
Love OF praise ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. parts
Pride OF party ...,...,.,....,,,... parts
Pride OF talent ...,.,..,......,..., / part
Love OF authority ........,.,...... parts
Hope OF gain ,.......,..,...,.....b 90 paris
Hatred OF opponent ..,...-.,..... ! part
lOlhi .ss-..st''s. ss.'a ss.s.ss.-'ss.i up
Accusing from his stupefaction, the poll