XVIII
 

THE  BURDEN  OF THE  MANY
 

T
 

HE mass-meeting held in the old Thalia
Theatre under the auspices of the Tus-
carora Club was in full swing. The audi¬
ence, packing the house to its very top, saw the cus¬
tomary platform arrangement on the roomy stage.
In the centre was the speaker's table, covered with
an American flag and topped with the usual pitcher
and glass. Flanking it on either side, several local
celebrities and the battery of orators were disposing
themselves. Back of the front row and as far as
the very wall of the stage the less important leaders
and captains were permitted to show their constit¬
uents that they "belonged right in with the big
guns."

The resolutions were read, moved, and passed;
the chairman made his opening address, ending it
by introducing the first speaker; and the last rally
of the clans, who on the morrow would struggle
as of yore .for the supremacy of their party, was
started.

A rousing welcome greeted every old war-horse
of the party rising to give voice to oft-repeated
sentiments.   But when a dark, serious young man,

286