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Show An ISTBI t. igent exchange says: An observer, ob-server, not subject to any storm aud stress, would say that we are taring the country as effectiinlly as at any period in the history of tin- republic, and having a good deal more fun about it than formerly. In the old das, a national i (invention was a great and far-away affair In the rural districts, a man wno attended a national convention wa- as mm h an object of reverential interest as he who had made the tour of Europe. Now, everybody who cares to go can do so, and thousands make the trip. It is a rousing, rollicking, roaring national excursion and pje Mac. Gaily decorated special traina go flying throngh the land, and thousands thou-sands get up early in the morning to see them pass. A 11 the political excursionists begin to spend money when they start and keep it up till they return. re-turn. The dealers in a hundred different campaign specialties are enriched and consequently con-sequently rejoiced; flags, flambeaux, banners, ban-ners, badges, iiats, walking sticks, fans come into existence and are sold for the campaign only. The ptrtapitSM increased, it lias been said that Americans are an overworked over-worked peojdc ; have too few holiday;-, aud that, like their relatives, the English, they take their lew pleasures seriously. This is no 'longer true; we now have a carnival that lasts four or tive months and a carnival that is all Mardi (iras, when the nation indulges in-dulges in its quadrennial political ianihoree. We preach about the duties of the campaign; but there is no end of fun, withal. |