Year: 1871

apart from the advantage Of living in the pro-
gresslve and liberal community the wide world
over had only to enjoy the fun of constantly
curing elections And, after ALL in spite Of the loud
talking and menaCing language that barrOom poll
tcians and q few over.excitable young gentlemen
occasionally indulge in there Is less real danger OF
an actual outbreak among us than among any other
civilized people enjoying the privilege Of representa-
tive institutions Rarely, indeed have our civic
contests been stained with boOdshed whereas
In England. In France and In Hungary
sanguinary fights frequently disturb the
public peace and even endanger the stability OF
society on similar occasions. But, on the other
hand we certainly conrrve to get far more pleasing
excitement and laughter snd amusement out Of an
election than Englishmen or Frencnmen. Dickens
has admirably portrayed the humors Of an English
struggle for membership OF Parliament In his
account OF the election In the borough OF Eat
answ Dus 1t falls far short in interest to what Ia
even now passing around us, Il we bring but eyes
to see what lies before Us.


For example let MS take q run up town on any Of
the grand avenues. On almost every curbstone
the little paper posters,


'.GUTrER sNIPEs"
as they termed in the parlance OF the printing
office and the political club, stare at rs in appealing
black and white, ana implore us to vote for Jonn
| Smith or Henry Brown, or whoever may be the par
| ticular candidate OF the district. Side by side
and cheek by j0wl with them sprawl out the adver-
| tisements OF some fasarite uand OF chewing To-
bacco or variety OF morning D1tters. Across the
street at constant intervals stretch suspended ban
ners also bearing the same entreaty, varied with
blazoned designs OF the American nag and the
American eagle. and hideously complaisaDt por-
traits OF the wOuldbe recipient OF the popular sur
frage. 1t is sight 20 see one OF these


HUGE DEVICES


Of network and patnted cloth being reared mn abOut
month before election amid the cheers OF all the
smal-fry politicians m the neighborhood. Ere.
quently q couple Of immensely tall poles have to be
planted for the purpose at either side OF the street,
though sometimes couple OF owners or proprietors
of very firmly built houses are found willing to
allow the necessary ropes TO be attached to some
convenient projection Of their property. AS the
poles are hoisted into position admirng crowd OF
iders gather round and look on at the operations in
q state OF interested excitement, Deguiling the
time with remarks ABOUT


ELECTIONS IN GENERAL


and this election in particular.


"Where earth do they get the money from,
MiKea' says one, Ito put up their honorable
names across the street. Many hundred dollars
must 1t cost them to stand like that in the eyes OF
the people,"


For It may be laid down as q general principle
that politicians receive scant mercy the hands
even OF those who may afterwards sustain them in
power by their votes. This is q rather startling
fact. and bespeaks sadly the generalization OF
American politics, but it must be the tritest OF
commonplace observations to all who have been in
position to be cOgnlzant OF the facts. SO far
as candidates go. the verse OF Scripture which says
.that they that exat themselves shall be abased" Is
literally and absolutely confirmed. man who
allows himself to be run for oice or who runs him
SELF voluntarily consents to have him name dragged
THE VERBAL MIRE
Of q thousand evil tongues.


"And haven't they stole enough to advertise them
selves like q quacK medicine on every rock and
boarding In every State In the Unon," win be the
great deal OF curiosity, however, mncles in the
wachul gaze that the spectators cast at the banner
OF the battling candidates are for the 1rst time In
the season flung 10 the winds OF heaven Every
window in the ncIghborhood is filed with eager
faces and the letters In the name Of the standard
bearer Of the district are spelled out with anxious


$50 he is going to run again. says one. "He
ought TO De gorgcd with plnnder by tins time,
nuncrier sIill while he must certainly have dipped
his hand deep enough iii the puolic purse by tins
time" j
indeed Is an American street thus frightened up
with nuttering banners OF gsndy coors. Far as The
the standards OF the coming eventful but peaceful
contest. The weakest feature IN them, however,
didaies. how unnaturally urbane and mild and
good these hes fancy pictures appear Take for in
stance the aVOWeu lkene6S OF Tue man OF memory.
Judge bowling, just opposite tho Tombs. who
would recognize In that benevolent phiz the terror
OF evidoers and the scourge Of metropolitan
naena,S M one he rs:sed Sess from
q SUIT or best store clothes, purchased
on the other side OF the Atlantic. The coat sets
without wrinkle the ehirt Is spotessly clean, his
mustachc is waxed at the ends, his eyes stare out
splash Of mud nung by some enviousj henchman OF
Brennan upon


TBE TIP OF THE JUDGES NOSE


ne looks though cOud steD his frame
and march up the aisle OF q church amid the
different to the real Judge as cnIhroned ON the
Bench and surrounded by all the terrors OF the
law, he c0Oliy disp0ses OF Q burglars denial OF
guilt by q few crisp words:-


sYOung man, know you. You belong to Barney
Wilson's gang In the Eighth ward You were sent
to Sing sing on the l7th January, 1895, for cracking
d crlD up TO Harlem.o


Or again. take Boss Tweed's v!sage as It appeals to
the gaze OF q wondering public from handsome
netting Just opposite the old Bowery Theatre. We
look IN VAIN for the huge proboeis and contracted
head MAT nave been the favorite carcatures. In