8 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



years it gives the Republicans a little healthful 

 exercise and compels the distribution of surplus 

 funds from Wall Street, and other purlieus of the 

 predatory rich, among the honest toilers who con- 

 trol the '^labor vote," "the colored vote," and 

 other controllable votes. But, to the practical 

 man who likes to get results, its quadri-ennial 

 gatherings, its nominations, and its 'Viewing with 

 alarm," and other resoluting, seem so futile, like 

 the empty motions of a child that only pokes its 

 finger in its own eye. But Providence has other 

 ends than appear to finite vision. All things have 

 their use, say the wise men, and here you are. 



As we all know, the past few years have wrought 

 a great change in many communities, chiefly those 

 democratic. "The South is going dry." Mint 

 beds are drying up. Stills no longer still. But 

 such profound changes are not made hastily. 

 Between each of the great revolutions of nature 

 are immediate types partaking of the last and the 

 next. Such is the South. It is in the ptero- 

 dactyl stage. It is partly dry and partly wet. 

 Exit the bar, enter the bottle. This is largely 



