(4) Which do you prefer, gooseberries, raspberries, or strawberries?

(5) Will you advocate a tax of twopence per pot on all jam not manufactured in the Bunkham district?

Both Candidates had sent written replies.  But it was generally felt that on the answers to the fourth question, the vote of the meeting would depend.  Bunkham is a district in which raspberries and gooseberries are almost exclusively grown.  Now it is well-known that Mr. PLEDGER, the Liberal Candidate, has an almost passionate affection for strawberry-jam, and much interest was shown as to whether he would be true to his favourite food, or renounce it in order to capture votes.  I am glad to say that the honourable gentleman refused to palter with his convictions.  In a manly and straightforward answer, he declined to be a party to “a system of espionage which had invaded the breakfast table, and might go far to make even luncheon intolerable.”

“From my youth up,” he continued, “I have never wavered in the conviction, that of all known preserves, strawberry-jam is both the best, and the most sustaining.  I should disgrace myself if I were now, at the eleventh hour, to declare a preference which I do not honestly feel for gooseberry or raspberry.”

This, of course, settled the matter.  Mr. TUFFAN declared emphatically against the obnoxious strawberry; and the result was that the Association, by an enormous majority, decided to support him.  The Liberals were at first much discouraged, but they have now taken heart again.  One of their Canvassers, it seems, has succeeded in making himself a persona grata to a lady who occupies the position of under-housemaid in the establishment of the TUFFANS.  Through her he obtained an empty pot of strawberry-jam, lately consumed by the TUFFAN family.  This has been fixed upon a long pole, with a placard underneath it, to the following effect:—­

TAKEN FROM TUFFAN’S TABLE!

VOTE FOR PLEDGER, AND HONEST CONVICTIONS!

And the device is now being carried all over the Town by the Junior
Liberal Association.

The polling takes place to-morrow.  Both sides are confident, but, on the whole, after reviewing all the circumstances of the case as impartially as possible, taking into account everything that tells for or against both parties, and not forgetting the effect produced by the public secession of Mr. HONEYDEW, the tobacconist, and Ex-President of the Liberal 500, I am disposed to believe in the victory of Mr. PLEDGER; that is to say, unless Mr. TUFFAN should manage to secure a sufficient number of votes to defeat his opponent.

Yours &c., THE MAN IN THE MOON.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH’S ELECTION ADDRESS.