Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-03
Joshua Bakers Downfall.
AN~~~N~N
BY Charles J. Adams.


The election of women to the school
isOard. In the little Massachusetts hill
z55wn where lie lived he had ruled with
= rod OF iron, since the unlucky day
when he was sent to represent his
district in the legislature. That was
8is Introduction into public life, and it
reated within him an Unsuitable APP
petite for office.
He had been first selectman and
chairman Of the school board for more
years than we younger people could
remember, and in both capacities rode
ll0ughshod over his companions in of
1ice. There was Il magnetic power
about the man, or he would not have
sSecn reelected year after year. He
sas an efficient and faithful public
-~arvant, but association with him in
zhe administration of town affairs was
an unpleasant task, which few craved.
The novelty of placing women OH the
school board strongly appealed TO the
a,enpIe of the town-we win call it
Ridgeville. The first year the plan
was adopted, Mrs. Abel Ayres and
Miss Samantha Dock became Joshua
Fsaker's partners in office. The former
possessed Il fine education and great
-ulture, but was totally lacking in
fighting ability This deficiency was
more than made mp, however, by Miss
Samantha, who had a very determined
mind Of her own. and enjoyed nothing
letter than a tilt with her neighbors.
when The result of the election was
slnowns everybody realized that war
gas inevitable, and its beginning was
awaited with keen expectancy. It
eame even sooner than was appre
pended.
Joshua Baker frowned and hemmed
snd hawed when he read, one morn
lng a week later, note he had just
AIKEN from the postofIice
Dear Sir" it began. I'VE the UNI
dersigned, beg leave to inform you
ahat there viii be a meeting of the
s-chO0l board tomorrow evening, in the
sseiectmen's room, for organization and
slle transaction of routine business"
.tnd it was signed by Mrs. Abel Ayres
and Miss Samantha Dock. 1t was
written in Miss Samantha's nervous
isSnd, and every letter breathed de
lance.
The pOstofiicc was filled with idlers.
-soshnas face betrayed his yeXation,
sElld in response to u query as to the
cause Of it, he read the note aloud. in
Il
sheless, attempted no concealment of
mis- disgust That was his first mis-
axe.
wall, I'll be bowed" calculated
Siias Wiggans, the village blacksmith.
Pretty headstrong, amt they? Takin'
Fhe relns right into their own hands,"
''InGeed they are. sir. But they will
ind they can gain no advantage over
me by such a course. l shall not at
end their meeting
.Ye'd hest not stay away ventured
Mr.. Virgins, OTTER a short pause.
They'd be electing one of themselves
-hairman, and nobody knows what
other nonsense. Pears to me ye'd
ought to be there, for the safety of the
Rublic, IL for no other reason"
This was Il new thought to Joshua.
Sic bemmed and frowned hore violent
9y than before.
II believe you are right, Mr.. Wig
eSins," he said, at last. '.Yes, you are
certainly right. My obligations to the
public cannot be laid aside / viii at
send the meeting and" raising his
voice. ''my good friends, / invite You
an to be present
That was Joshua's second blunder.
- was customary in those days for the
meetings of the school board TO be
upen TO the public. but the privilege
was seldom taken advantage Of on
Ehis occasion however, the Selectmen's
ya0m was crowded Mrs Abel aud
Miss Samantha were at first surprised,
siHen vexed. whom they understood that
Joshua had especially invited the
erowd to witness their defeat Saman-
has black eyes snapped dangerously.
I'VE may rs well begin NJ once" she
said, as Joshua. the last Of the three,
entered the room We'll ballot for
chairman first"
The committocwomeu aud the lone
committeeman seated themselves at
Inc Dong table ana prepared their bal
lots. Samantha counted them. calmly
sking this responsibility upon herself
There was enc vote for each of the
shfee members. loShua's face was 4
study. He had never seriously doubt
"a that he would be elected ut once, as
he had been for So many years. The
Two women exchanged significant
SIances.
The Eesult WAS not changed by the
seeoAd ballot nor by the third. Final
~, when. after the ninth ballot. Miss
Samantha announced that still there
was no election. she held up her hand
20 stny Joshua, who was already pre-
,aFing his next vote
One moment Mr.. Baker. S5fe said.
--rimly. 81 guess this has gone about
Tar enough We may as we'll under
stand eaeh other right new Neither
Mrs. Ayres nor want To be chairman.
We've been voting each for the other
rtr1A 1fCtA%. dAsNt W tstu htCi X UP
spell longer if need be. That shows
shat yen have been voting for your.
self"
Yes, madam exclaimed the now
Euzious, Joshua. Il have been voting
for myself. and l shall eoutiue to dC
"a. because believe that | am the only
member ef the board capable of per
Forming the duties of chairman as the.
should be PERFORMED.
That's all right. interrupted Sa
snantha. We don't blame you n mite
and as we don't want the office, we ar,
E5liing TO elect you on the next ballot
only you must agre 10 some things
ssrst. We know how you have carries
On. how got have refused to put I,
vote motions yeu didn't like and bull
siozed generally the ether members o