As it shone on distant Bingen—fair Bingen on the Rhine!
Hon. Mrs. Norton.
St. Louis by the Creek.
During the Presidential Campaign of 1884 in the United States of America a great deal of jealousy and strife existed between different cities on the question as to where the nominating conventions should be held. After the Convention for the Republican party had been located at Chicago, the struggle became still more fierce as to where the Democratic Convention should assemble. It was Chicago against the field, but St. Louis a long way ahead of all other competitors. Both cities had committees working in Washington to support their interests, but finally the location was awarded to Chicago, whereupon the St. Louis people were in great wrath and indignation, and the St. Louis newspapers were very bitter in their remarks upon the contest.
Chicago, content with its victory, could afford to laugh at St. Louis, and the following parody appeared in the “Chicago Tribune”—
A Democratic Statesman stood in the bright saloon
There was lack of laundried linen—to all Democrats a boon—
But a comrade stood beside him as the whiskey ebbed away
And bent with pitying glances to hear what he might say.
The bedrock Statesman faltered, as he put the tumbler down