the common sense
rather than to the passions of my audiences. Here were the statistics!
(drawn, by the way, from the Republican Campaign book). Unscrupulous
demagogues--Democratic, of course--had sought to twist and evade them.
Let this terrible record of lack of employment and misery be compared
with the prosperity under Republican rule.

"One of the most effective speakers in this campaign for the restoration
of Prosperity," said the Rossiter Banner, "is Mr. Hugh Paret, of
the firm of Watling, Fowndes and Ripon. Mr. Paret's speech at the
Opera-House last evening made a most favourable impression. Mr. Paret
deals with facts. And his thoughtful analysis of the situation into
which the Democratic party has brought this country should convince any
sane-minded voter that the time has come for a change."

I began to keep a scrap-book, though I locked it up in the drawer of
my desk. In it are to be found many clippings of a similarly gratifying
tenor....

Mecklin and I were well contrasted. In this way, incidentally, I made
many valuable acquaintances among the "solid" men of the state, the
local capitalists and manufacturers, with whom my manner of dealing with
public questions was in particular favour. These were practical men;
they rather patronized the Hon. Joseph, thus estimating, to a nicety, a
mans value; or solidity, or specific gravity, it might better be said,
since our universe was one of checks and balances. The Hon. Joseph and
his like, skyrocketing through the air, were somehow necessary in the
scheme of things, but not to be taken too seriously. Me they did take
seriously, these provincial lords, inviting me to their houses and
opening their hearts. Thus, when we came to Elkington, Mr. Mecklin
reposed in the Commercial House, on the noisy main street. Fortunately
for him, the clanging of trolley cars never interfered with his
slumbers. I slept in a wide chamber in the mansion of Mr. Ezra Hutchins.
There were many Hutchinses in Elkington,--brothers and cousins and
uncles and great-uncles,--and all were connected with the woollen
mills. But there is always one supreme Hutchins, and Ezra was he: tall,
self-contained, elderly, but well preserved through frugal living,
essentially American and typical of his class, when he entered the lobby
of the Commercial House that afternoon the babel of political discussion
was suddenly hushed; politicians, traveling salesmen and the members of
the local committee made a la