Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24
By Anna Hinrichsen

toddlings and listen to your pretty prattle You
are the youngest infant that has ever come to the
Legislature. You're nice little tad. though your
prattlings unusually babyish."
Sir, this is monstrous indignity-"
The Governor chuckled. Don't interrupt!
Youngster, I've had my eye on you ever since you
came here. Why have you formed no friendships
among your fellow Legislators? Why is it that
when men gather in groups in the House corridors
and the hotel lobbies to chat, to laugh, to grow
acquainted with another you Join them?
Why do you, day after day. hurry from the Assem-
bly, Hall to your room and remain there instead
of mingling with your fellow members and learning
the many phases of legislative life?"
my fellow Legislators fast set. l find
congenial friends among them.
Have you tried?"
Il know human nature your Excellency.'
The Governor sighed YEARLY. Horton, you
were born and raised in little country town. You
read law in the Office of prosy OLE deacon You
have perhaps managed few justice of the peace
men? And what will you know until you break
your shell of egotism? l should like to see you do
wish to pass our kingdom on to good hands, You
know nothing of this bill and because certain promi-
nent and practical politicians are behind it you
conclude that there is evil somewhere.
Il there is your Excellency, and my
convictions cannot be changed
And from what premises do you draw your
illusions? You have taken this stand in
gard to every measure favored by the party ma
chine. ! should like to be shown your line OF
thought
when a number of professional politicians unite
to force legislation there must be selfish probably
dlscredltable reason
THE Governor sat looking past the man, out of
l. the window at the snow covered lawn. A statue
of the first Governor of the State stood beneath his
window. Half dozen young Legislators were
gathered about it, adjoining the early statesman
with crown and an ice scepter. Unseeing,
the Governor stared past them.
my lad. he said finally Il shall tell you why
desire the political retirement of James Brayde l
tell you this not that may influence your VOTE but
that may teach you something of the nature of
men. want to help you to a better understanding
of the political life that to you kaleido
scope of dishonesty, duplicity, and self seeking.
Ten years ago was engaged to be married to
the sweetest girl the angels spared out of
Heaven: You young men think you know what
love and loves But the first love of
middle aged is something beyond your ken.
ing struggle for success after have turned life
inside out and have learned its dark places and its
glorious ones To who has had the best and
tn worst of life, pure souled tender is the
dearest treasure this earth holds she is the reaza
ton of all the dreams he has dreamed and all
the ideals he has cherished. And God help him
when he loses her!
"A few weeks before my wedding day learned
that my sweetheart loved my nephew. He was thirty
and was nearly fifty. But she had tried to be true
to her VOWS to me and had sent him away. l called
him back and gave her to him. In short time they
were married.
Immediately after his marriage I secured his
nomination for Congress and his election. 1t
the worst thing could have done for him and for
ward, honest young lawyer. AS politician he be-
came CRATER boodler a political thief He is one