HINTS TO CANDIDATES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2358, 20 August 1887, Page 2

HINTS TO CANDIDATES.

A correspondent sends us the following clipping from “The (Queenslander,” and heads it “An Appropriate Story : “Sandy Cameron came to Victoria in the early days of the colony, and went straight away on to a sheep station, where he was engaged as a shepherd. Naturally enough he was interested in the ungainly marsupial, who could jump so high and run so fast in spite of his peculiar inode of progression. He had heard what wonderful wrestlers they were, and as he rather fancied himself in that line he thought he could easily overcome such an awkward customer. “ The boys” liked the idea, and encouraged it; there was an old man kangaroo, they said, who had been too many for every dog and nun who had tackled him. and he went by the name of “ the old identity his haunt was near the station. One evening as Sandy’s flock drew up to the yards, his dog ran after a kangaroo, who pulled up at the first tree, and turning his back to it he faced the enemy ; here was Sandy’s opjmrtunity, for it was “the old identity” himself. He approached the kangaroo with confidence, but the old man was equally ready for the fray, and came forward for the tussle. Before Sandy had'got a good grip he was on the ground, and a pair of sinewy legs were scraping at his body and ripping the clothes from his limbs. The boys, fortunately, were at hand, and Sandy was rescnedlfrmn a terrible fate, but his clothes hung in strips from his bleeding body. His master was a popular man. but he enjoyed the fun as well as anyone; only he advised Sandy never to tackle’ “the old identity.” Nears passed away, and Sandy’s master consented to contest the election in the district with a veteran political! who had fallen into disfavour. The battle was a hot one, and the old member was returned ; but the defeated candidate was most sore because he was made to assume the character of all that was bad ; his opponents had not spared him, and every little defect was magnified into a great sin. He returned home full of mortification, for his character was a thing of shreds and tatteis, and his heart bled with grief. All the old hands condoled with him except Sandy Cameron, whose face wore an expression of contentment; when his master asked for an explanation he reminded him of the kangaroo light and his own advice. “ I have seen something of politics in the old country," said Sandy : “ you are a new chum at them ; but when you want another run never tackle an <.M identity. ’ Sandy had his revenge ; but to bow many would the advice be equally good Never tackle an old identity.