Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1883 — Assumption. [ARTICLE]

Assumption.

“One man,” said an Irishman,ventilating his Democratic notions, “is'as good as another and a great deal better.” Pat had the root of the matter in him, though he did give a one-sided strain -to the fundamental principle of the Republic—“ All men are created free and equal.” He would have found an appreciative sympathizer in the poet Bryant, who was such a sturdy Democrat in principle that he would never accept for himself any other standard of voting than that which his Maker would apply. Mr. Bryant often received in his house titled personages from abr< >ad, who came to pay their respects to the distinguished poet. But on these occasions no difference of manner showed that he was impressed by the social rank of his guests. Mr. Bigelow, who was associated with the poet in the editorial management of the Evening Post, tells an anecdote which illustrates the sturdy Democracy of the man. He says; “I was once his guest at Rolyn with a of some distinction, who at the close of the first repast after our arrival, presumed upon the privilege accorded to persons of his rank at home to rise first and dismiss the table. “Mr. Bryant joined me on our way to the parlor, and, with an expression of undisguised astonishment, asked me, “Did you see that?” I replied that I did, and, with a view of extenuating that gentleman’s offence as much as I could, said that he evidently thought he was exercising only one of the recognized prerogatives of his order. “ ‘Well,” he saifl, ‘he will have no opportunity of repeating it here,’ and he was as good as his word, for during the remainder of our sojourn, no one was left in doubt whose prerogative it was in that house to dismiss the table.”