Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1888 — His Mistake. [ARTICLE]

His Mistake.

Just after Meyerbeer died, a very poor composer of music—poor in dollars and poor in talent —wrote a dirge which he called “Meyerbeer’s Funeral March.” He took the score to Rossini. “Will you please look this over,” said he, “and tell me if you find any mistake?” Rossini exam ned the musical manuscript very thoroughly. At last he handed it back. “I see only one error,” said the great man of Stabat Mater; “you should have died and permitted Meyerbeer to write your funeral march. ”

Secret voting was practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The word ballot comes from the French ballotte (a little ball). The first record of the use of a ballot-box is that of 1526, when such was employed in the election of Aidermen of London.