New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-24
By Anna Hinrichsen

tOddIings and listen to your pretty prattle. You
Legislature. You're a nice little tad, though your
prattngs unusually babyish."
Sir, this is a 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 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 one another, you never join them?
Why do you, day after day, hurry from the Assem-
bly, Hall to your own room and remain there instead
of mingng with Your fellow members and learning
the many phases of legislative Ife2"
My fellow Legislators a fast set. | find no
Congenial friends among them.
Have you tried?"
e 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 old deacon. You
have perhaps managed a few justice of the peace
cases. What do you know of life the ways of
men? And what will you know until YOU break
your shell of egOtism? L should like TO see YOU do
well. You young men our political heirs and we
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 am sure there IS, your EXcellenCy, and my
convictions cannot be changed
And from what premises do YOU draw Your con-
clusiOns? You have taken this stand in re-
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
a discreditable reason"
THE Governor sat looking past the man. out of
the window at the covered lawn y statue
OF the FIRST Governor OF the State stood beneath his
window. Half a dozen young Legislators were
gathered about it. adjoining the early statesman
with a snow crown and an Ice sCepter. UnSecing
the Governor stared past them.
My lad, he said finally ." shall tell YOU why /
desire the political retirement of James Brayde |
tell you this not that NAV influence your vote but
that L may teach YOU something of the nature of
men. want TO help YOU 70 a better understanding
of the political life that now seems to YOU kaledO-
scope OF dishonesty, duplicitv and self seeking.
Ten years ago | was engaged 10 be married to
the sweetest girl the angels spared out of
Heaven. You Young think YOU know what
love and loves sorrow mean. But the first love of a
middle aged man IS something beyond Your ken.
IL comes after youths dslluSiOn after the soul NV
ing struggle tor success after we have turned life
inside out and have learned It's dark places and It's
glorious ones. To man who has had the best and
the worst of life pure Souled tender woman is the
ton Of all the dreams ne has ever dreamed and all
the ideals ne has cherished. And God help him
when he loses herr
n few weeks before nv wedding dav | learned
that my sweetheart loved my nephew He was thirty
and was nearly fifty. But She had tried 10 be true
To her vows 10 me and had sent him away | called
HIM back and gave her TO him. In a short time they
were married.
Immediately after his marriage | secured his
nomination for Congress and his election Ii was
the worst thing could have done for him and for
her. As a private citizen ne had been a straghtfor-
ward, honest young LAWYER As a politician ne be
came CRATER, bOOdlcr. political thief lie IS one