Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-03
HMAJOR HARTSRORN'SS
CATASTROPHE
BY PHI LIPS CARLETON
~ - II"
Copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. Co.,

Ri Copyright, 1904 by Daily Story Pub COY
I T WAS in 1898 that Mai. Hartshorn
L decided to enter politics. 1t must be
said for the major that not ambition
alone moved him to forsake his easy.
, comfortable existence for the strenuous
ness of a political ampaign-although
1t must be confes sed that a visit to the
state capital had suggested the idea to
mis- mind that he woCld not be averse to
spending a term OF two in the legisla-
, ture in the dignified position of state
| senator. This thought. however, had
not found expression. and had been cher
ished secretly until he met his old army
friend. Col. BanhShead. who was just
completing his frs, term in the United
States senate and was planning for a re-
election. The senator ~ 40 o. .sreat per
plexity regarding the district in which
the major lived. and after greetings and
an old army : DRY or two. poured forth
Ais troubles.
"Im afraid Of this man Burke who is
the only fellow out tor the state senator
ship in this strict. SAID he. lie is
I. friendly enoash on the sasi2ce. but the
crowd he tram - al, not my friends
and there's TO ~owing who he VIII vote
for when ny ~--t'er comes up. Ard the
worst OF IL IS thpt nobody else in the dis
trict seems to- want the nomination.
don't think Burke is very strong man
sno if coulo had the right sort OF a can
, Gidste believe we could srin him out
By Jove. major. why don't you set out
for it yourself? You would be just the
fellow"
"pshawt" returned the major. in ap-
parent discue'. hut secretly pleased.
'What would Co in a political cam
paign. | don't know anytime about
politics and I'm 100 olda dos to be taught
new tricks. Besides. why should
leave my ouiet comfort and get mixed
up in a lot OF hard work? My work is
over. am enjoylns the fruits of my
labor"
''It wouldn' hurt YOU a hit" replied
the senator. 'You need something to
stir You up. Tho honor and dignity of
the office would rot displease You and
you could place your imprint on the
making of history. sir. Besides. you
would be doing an old Comrade and
friend a great service I could depend
on YOU. So far as not knowing politics
is concerned, you would be stronger just
for that reason. You stand high in the
community and you are widely known.
Your motives could not be assailed.
You would make an ideal candidate.
; The major listened. hesitated. and was
iost It is one On the most pathetic chap
ters in political history-this plunge Of
Mai Hartshorn from the peaceful life Of
ad'@nified and well-to-do gen tleman into
tho troubled waters of political strife.
TIVE boys" were quick to see the posi-
hiliues Of the situation, and the majors
bank account became the objective point
OF the primary campaign New candi-
dates sprang up in all parts of the dis
trict and new complications ensued from
day to day calling for further expendi-
ture Of money and new anXieties To
the details OF political work the major
was an utter stranger re was depend
ent wholly upon the workers" and Of
course he became "tbe worked
His peaceful home was unset and his
regular hours destroyed Instead of the
weN-groomed round faced, dignified
gentleman who appeared al breakfast
Unrufled and sedate at exactly eight
o'clock and took his morning walk at
exactly 9:45, after perusine the morn
inc papers partOok of lunch at the club
ut 1890 exactly and arrived home in
ample time for q six O'Clock dinner. after
playing eXactly nine games Of whist, he
became an irritable and disheveled old
man, appearing at breakfast with great
circles about his eyes and wrinkles in
his face, probably unshaven and care
lessly dressed. His days were spent in
rushing over the district holding con-
ferenCes with strange persons who used
strange idioms IN shaking hands with
lot Of riff re- he would have sworn
he could not be induced to sneak to be-
fore the campaisn began. His nights
we're taken up in Srexpected conferences
with his camp1 en- managers who came
to the house a al sorts of hours to tell
nim OF new cit-1 iCnc and new, demands
on he0s go -c-Eetbcok. His daugb-
ter Helen, ~Acl he had formerly
spent most o. lis EVENINGS. saw little Of
klm e%csFt.cS - -.-sty meais.
The demand on his purse became so
pazsas ssz->