And now we are come to the infinitely difficult task of relating in a whirlwind manner the story of a whirlwind campaign—­a campaign that was to make the oldest resident sit up and take notice.  In the space of four short weeks a miracle had begun to show itself.  First, there was the Kingston meeting, with the candidate, his thumb in his watch-pocket, seated in an open carriage beside Mr. Hamilton Tooting,—­a carriage draped with a sheet on which was painted “Down with Railroad Ring Rule.”

The carriage was preceded by the Kingston Brass Band, producing throbbing martial melodies, and followed (we are not going to believe the State Tribune any longer) by a jostling’ and cheering crowd.  The band halts before the G.A.R.  Hall; the candidate alights, with a bow of acknowledgment, and goes to the private office until the musicians are seated in front of the platform, when he enters to renewed cheering and the tune of “See, the Conquering Hero Comes!”

An honest historian must admit that there were two accounts of this meeting.  Both agree that Mr. Crewe introduced himself, and poured a withering sarcasm on the heads of Kingston’s prominent citizens.  One account, which the ill-natured declared to be in Mr. Tooting’s style, and which appeared (in slightly larger type than that of the other columns) in the Kingston and local papers, stated that the hall was crowded to suffocation, and that the candidate was “accorded an ovation which lasted for fully five minutes.”

Mr. Crewe’s speech was printed—­in this slightly larger type.  Woe to the Honourable Adam B. Hunt, who had gone to New York to see whether he could be governor!  Why didn’t he come out on the platform?  Because he couldn’t.  “Safe” candidates couldn’t talk.  His subservient and fawning reports on accidents while chairman of the Railroad Commission were ruthlessly quoted (amid cheers and laughter).  What kind of railroad service was Kingston getting compared to what it should have?  Compared, indeed, to what it had twenty years ago?  An informal reception was held afterwards.

More meetings followed, at the rate of four a week, in county after county.  At the end of fifteen days a selectman (whose name will go down in history) voluntarily mounted the platform and introduced the Honourable Humphrey Crewe to the audience; not, to be sure, as the saviour of the State; and from that day onward Mr. Crewe did not lack for a sponsor.  On the other hand, the sponsors became more pronounced, and at Harwich (a free-thinking district) a whole board of selectmen and five prominent citizens sat gravely beside the candidate in the town hall.

(1) Paul Pardriff, Ripton.  Sent post free, on application, to voters and others.

MR. CREWE’S CAREER

By Winston Churchill
book 3.

CHAPTER XXI

ST. GILES OF THE BLAMELESS LIFE