Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-03-23
a TRVE STORY.
BY C. W. Hartley.

THE outgoing postmaster retired
in disgrace. but that fact did not
seem &C. deter the hosts OF young and
old who asked their congressman 20
recommend them TO the president
for appointment. In fact. in less
than week the whole town seemed
TO be afflicted with a sort II mad
nesS-an unapPeased hungeriug for
o.ficc bordering on frenzy.
The first move Of the boudsmen was
20 install one OF their number acting
postmaster until the vacancy could be
filed. He was rotund. rosy-cheeked
farmer with a slight inclination toward
politics be had not learns ed the de-
livery boxes until he became saturated
with consuming desire 10 remain
There was something fascinating bout
IL; something Infectious. he contract
ed dangerously severe case Of desiring
Office At the very outset.
IN the meantime down the raVines
aud lanes came troOping. hguratively
speaking. a large portion Of Pu.sating.
Anxiously throObing Pamurkey to line
up in front Of the post ofhce building
and gaze wiStfully at the structure
The acting postmaster did not live
within 16 miles OF the post office IN
der consideration, but distance in his
case seemed 10 lend enchantment TO the
view. Between handling the mails and
rustling for signatures IN his petition,
with an occasional dash into the coun-
try Ia keep his wife informed as 10 his
progress, he was sept pretty busy.
The q. A. X. element had a candidate; /;
the Germans centered on a man; the
Spanish-American soldiers thought
they ought TO be recognized; the Irish
wanted TO know what was the matter
with them; the young politicians want
ed 10 have something TO say in the mat
ter, and the ladies, bless their inuocen
souls, thought they knew something
about handling reluctant congressman
and mail matters.
Although mails went out OF Pamun.
key on fast flying trains, they were
not swift enough for applicants. The
aid OF the electric current, as sulSserveo
by the Western Union Telegraph com
Pany, was invoked for greater speed
The second day after the vacancy was
announced the desk Of the congress
man for that district was piled high
with telegraphic applications, which
were followeS IN the next mail by more
lengthy messages at lighter tolls.
The congressman moved slowly in
the matter, as his denomination and
election was close at hand. He die
not desire to make a mistake just al
that critical jnneture.
The Nicaragua canal was a mere
triile TO handle in comparison to ths
Pamunkey post Office. de could fear
lessly vote 10 refuse to seat fellow
meinber Of congress with a piuralit,
of wives, but the good people of Pa
munkey presented \ problem difiicul-
of solution.
About the time he had his mint
made up In favor of one candidate
along would come n voluminous bunel
of papers In support Of another candi
date, which sent him 10 sea again
One candidate was denounced as al
outsider. another had never done any
thing for the party. third was
very recent convert 70 the party prin
-cipies the congressman represented
and therefore needed proving, and -
on. Each candidate had his friend
and each had his enemies. and tn
enemies seemed more ready TO speal
and more persistent than the friends
At one time the congressman ha'
reached such dire state OF distres
that he had about made up his min
60 have his private secretary writ
the names OF all the candidates O
aslips Of paper. place them N 9 hsl