
          407.

were in excellent condition, yesterday's rain having been just sufficient 
to lay all dust firmly.  On my way out I stopped a
moment at the blacksmith's (Mr. Stallings).  We surveyed briefly
the political outlook.  Mr. S. seemed to think and wished that Bryan
would be elected.  I told him I thought McKinley would be.  Mr. S's
idea of Parliament is that "he" was a certain man in England
who had the right to say if there should be war or not.  He was
very much opposed to Mr. McKinley.  "Had he a right to act as he did
in the China affair without calling a special session of Congress?"
"Seems to me he hasn't."  "He is getting just like in England, one-man
power."  "In England they can only fight when Parliament, when 
he says so, and that's how McKinley is."  He felt sure that if
McKinley were reelected the country would go to pieces.  He seemed
to have nothing to do, neither he nor his son; yet when I asked
him if he were busy, he said "Yes, we are just overrun with
work."  I left Mr. S. and hastened on to the pond. The first
thing I noticed on reaching the pond was a pretty turtle <s>some</s> a short distance
from the water.  Its back was black with two prominent light colored
bands across the middle of the back. The lower shell was white, but
the under side of the upper shell was prettily mottled with red and black.
        