CONFESSIONS OF A MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 209, 28 February 1873, Page 3

CONFESSIONS OF A MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR.

" Some years ago I was a happy man, I kept a general shop; and the general shop very comfortably kept me. When I had put up my shutters for the night I revelled in domestic happiness of ' home, sweet home.' My wife was happy and content, and no ambitious dreams of greatness disturbed my serenity. I sold my pots and pans in peace and profit, was happy .in my little _;way, and found existence sweet, until one fatal day a requisition was sent to me to become a candidate for the Council. I felt flattered. I consulted my wife. She urged me to stand, it was all I wanted to give me a status. The title of Mr. Councillor was an introduction to any society, and who knew but what I might become a mayor, and herself a mayoress, I was to think of that. Besides , I had talent. Look how I. had spoken , at tea-figlits and temperance entertainments —almost as good as a minister. I consented, and was returned. From that moment my history commenced. One clique of councillors made a tool of me, another a, butt of me. The town clerk pulled me like a puppet, and the press made public my ignorance, which I might have kept concealed bad I not by blind infatuation emerged from that obscurity which so well became me. The Municipal Act to me was a wilderness of words in which I became bewildered and lost, and the way I construed its clauses provoked the jeers and jibes of my opponents. I was not slow in resenting. 11 would have been sarcastic had I bad

the wit; having it not, I showed my temper, and any man possessing one of ordinary warmth won't be long in a municipal council without his little points cropping* iout. I got personal in my remarks. The retorts I evoked generally soothed me, and in place of getting the honour and respect I anticipated, I got nothing but contumely and derision. My wife was harder on me than my opponents. What was I thinking about to let men like those ridicule me? I had even grown smaller in her eyes. I must redeem myself at any cost. Determined thus, next night I went to the council. There was a debate about cutting a gutter. Alderman Jones said I wanted to improve my property at the expense of the corporation. I replied Jones's great-grandmother wasnot lawfully married. He retorted that he never was a shopboy and robbed his employer's till of half-a-crown. Hemoved that the. words of the mendacious miscreant be taken down. I shook my fist in his face. The council broke up.. I was stuck for damages in both actions - -for slander and assault. My customers deserted me. My wife upbraided. The public derided me, and the bank squashed me. My unchristian resignation followed,, and the sands of my (public) life are run. put."