The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-09-10
VERDAVEN'S
CANDIDACY
How the Representative of
His Wife Was Elected

Should you ever happen to visit the
department Of Trois-Etoiles, and men
ton the name of Monsieur Verdavin
1t is safe betting that your interlocu'
tor, no matter who he may be, will
exclaim:
"Verdavin! Well, of all the ambi
tious, intriguing men l ever met, Yer
DAWN was the worst!"
However, now that the voX populi
has pronounced upon my old friend
permit me to have the honor of intro
ducing to you the real Verdavin, that
you may compare him with Verdavir
| the legendary.
Born of honest, but poor, parents
/ Amedee-such was his name-had,
from his childhood up, one single care
to live quietly and cozily On the 80,
900 francs a year bequeathed to him
by his pa and ma. He had a CHEEKY
little town residence, love of coun
try house. In spring he made little
trip to Paris in summer he fished; In
autumn he shot; in winter there was
the club. Nothing could have been
| pleasanter.
| Nevertheless, Amedee perceived that
something still was lacking in his life
He wanted some one to keep his &C
| counts and oversee his expenditures
How was he to get rid OF this business
which threatened his idlenesS and
| placidity? He made up his mind tC
take a wife.
She whom he had chosen was &
young girl of candid trow, but full OF
resolution-a fact which had guided
| Verdavin in his selection. He had said
| to himself: "She will have will enough
| 10 see after all my business affairs
and l shall be saved any trouble in
such matters"
The moon that shone above-round
as the crown of his hat-had not yet
| filed her horn six times after their
| marriage, when, one fine morning, my
| lady summoned her husband, who
| fastened to her apartments, bearing
| which he was attaching new lengths
Of line and gut.
What is it, my darling?"
"Amedee, be SO good as to listen tc
me. During the six months of ouI
married life have been studying you:
character and scrutinizing your apti
tudes, for you know well that a man
of your age and position cannot rust
in inglorious idleness."
"Why, bless me, Emmie, l thought
my time was sufficiently occupied. Fol-
instance, just at this very moment,
was setting off for the brook, where
expected to get you mess of fish fol
dinner that"
"Amedee, be serious, I beg of you
| if you can. l have been canvassing
the whole subject thoroughly in my
mind, and have found the one pur
| suit"
But, my dear, when say that"
THAT one pursuit in which, now
,days, man can rise to power and
honor, is politics.
Politics! Heaven Re praised,
cGyer have gone in FIR politics; and
| heaven helping me. madame, l never
will"
IN tkrs . weeks there will be an
| election il this department. ] will
that is tc ay, you will, come forward
| as q cardi, ate"
But, dearest, you have not
thought"
Yes, dear, have thought it over in
its every aspect. Indeed: l have pre-
pared your address to the electors"
THE deuce you have!"
Don't swear, Amedee; swearing OF
| tends the scrupulous voters. Do yoi
| think it is very agreeable for a won
az to Send al her lifetime shut up il
this roxy cid hole, absolutely IN
dnown? The provinces do not make
| regulations. tut they elect deputies
u'hss would l not give to hear people
say, as passed: You see that pretty
| lie woman in brown? She's the wife
Of our representative
"Emnie, you are only jesting!"
|
to issue. to the electors" and she read
as follows:
| Tellow-Citi-ens: At q time when the
| Well-he'n~-aay. the very eXiStence-de-
! - ands tie harmonious union of all patri-
5tic men, feel it my duty to desire ar
| opportunity of combating on the parlia-
mentary field Of hQttle fer Abe rcgener-
alton of our beloved country What l de-
| o1 Jacf, -ie -,lov
n liberty with liberty in order,
There were Eca:ly 'hrea columns OF
his.
The next morning there BEGAN for
The unhappy Verdavin life the hor
Tors of which it would be difficult &c
retrace. He, tie friend of repose the
enemy OF emotion!
| Fer instance. ore day madame said
"Amcdee ! have drawn up list OF
the leading res dents of each parish
in the constituency. We will cal on
the rest prominent; you will write to
the c;hecs."
Seventeen hundred letters-I never
,ould."
"Ycu ca easily hire secretaries. In
half en- hour we viii set Of on this IN
;icrcrcable Journey"
Err i Gays the Only man one
seemed to meet on the roads, the
steamboats,, the cars, was the unhappy
Eertavin, the candidate in spite OF
.i.l,3e,f n the reltinG rain, in the
H~oiling sun. everywhere went he
Every morning his wife drew up the
program for his days journey; every
| - nhi lie hnd 70 bring homo to her