art of it was about the people; some of it about the
sacred government they had inherited from their forefathers; still
another concerned the high character and achievements of the inhabitants
within the State lines; the name of Abraham Lincoln was mentioned, and,
with even greater reverence and fervour, the Republican party which had
ennobled and enriched the people--and incidentally elected the governor.
There was a noble financial policy, a curtailment of expense. The
forests should be protected, roads should be built, and, above all,
corporations should be held to a strict accounting.

Needless to say, the speech gave great satisfaction to all, and many old
friends left the hall exclaiming that they didn't believe Asa had it in
him. As a matter of fact (known only to the initiated), Asa didn't have
it in him until last night, before he squeezed through the crack in the
folding doors from room number six to room Number Seven. The inspiration
came to him then, when he was ennobled by the Governor-general, who
represents the Empire. Perpetual Governor-general, who quickens into
life puppet governors of his own choosing Asa has agreed, for the honour
of the title of governor of his State, to act the part, open the fairs,
lend his magnificent voice to those phrases which it rounds so well.
It is fortunate, when we smoke a fine cigar from Havana, that we cannot
look into the factory. The sight would disturb us. It was well for the
applauding, deep-breathing audience in the state-house that first of
January that they did not have a glimpse in room Number Seven the
night before, under the sheets that contained the list of the Speaker's
committees; it was well that they could not go back to Ripton into the
offices on the square, earlier in December, where Mr. Hamilton Tooting
was writing the noble part of that inaugural from memoranda given him
by the Honourable Hilary Vane. Yes, the versatile Mr. Tooting, and none
other, doomed forever to hide the light of his genius under a bushel!
The financial part was written by the Governor-general himself--the
Honourable Hilary Vane. And when it was all finished and revised, it was
put into a long envelope which bore this printed address: Augustus P.
Flint, Pres't United Northeastern Railroads, New York. And came back
with certain annotations on the margin, which were duly incorporated
into it. This is the private history (which must never be told) of the
document which on January firs