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Poem
May 4, 1878
Richland Beacon
Rayville, Richland County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
Satirical poem depicting a lazy, insincere political candidate who flatters voters with greetings and handshakes, while urging workers to judge him by his record and honesty rather than appearances.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE CANDIDATE.
"Father, who travels the road so late?"
"Hush, my child, 'tis the candidate;
Fit example of human woe—
Early he comes and late he goes,
He greets the woman with courtly grace
He kisses the baby's dirty face.
He calls to the fence the farmer at work.
He bores the merchant, he bores the clerk,
The blacksmith, while his anvil rings,
He greets, and this is the song he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
"Husband, who is that man at the gate?"
"Hush, my love, 'tis the candidate"
"Husband, why can't he work like you?
Has he nothing at home to do?"
"My dear, whenever a man is down,
No cash at home, no credit in town,
Too stupid to preach and too proud to beg.
Too timid to rob and too lazy to dig.
Then over his horse his leg he flings
And to the dear people this song he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
Brothers, who labor early and late,
Ask these things of the candidate
What's his record? How does he stand
At home—no matter about his hand.
Be it hard or soft, so it be not prone
To close over money not his own.
Has he in view no thieving plan?
Is he honest and capable?—he is our man.
Cheer such an one till the welkin rings,
Join in the chorus when thus he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
"Father, who travels the road so late?"
"Hush, my child, 'tis the candidate;
Fit example of human woe—
Early he comes and late he goes,
He greets the woman with courtly grace
He kisses the baby's dirty face.
He calls to the fence the farmer at work.
He bores the merchant, he bores the clerk,
The blacksmith, while his anvil rings,
He greets, and this is the song he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
"Husband, who is that man at the gate?"
"Hush, my love, 'tis the candidate"
"Husband, why can't he work like you?
Has he nothing at home to do?"
"My dear, whenever a man is down,
No cash at home, no credit in town,
Too stupid to preach and too proud to beg.
Too timid to rob and too lazy to dig.
Then over his horse his leg he flings
And to the dear people this song he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
Brothers, who labor early and late,
Ask these things of the candidate
What's his record? How does he stand
At home—no matter about his hand.
Be it hard or soft, so it be not prone
To close over money not his own.
Has he in view no thieving plan?
Is he honest and capable?—he is our man.
Cheer such an one till the welkin rings,
Join in the chorus when thus he sings:
"Howdy, howdy, howdy do?
How is your wife, and how are you?
Ah! it fits my fist as no other can,
The horny hand of the working man."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
Song
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Candidate
Politics
Satire
Working Man
Election
Honesty
Poem Details
Title
The Candidate.
Key Lines
"Howdy, Howdy, Howdy Do?
How Is Your Wife, And How Are You?
Ah! It Fits My Fist As No Other Can,
The Horny Hand Of The Working Man."
Too Stupid To Preach And Too Proud To Beg.
Too Timid To Rob And Too Lazy To Dig.
Then Over His Horse His Leg He Flings
And To The Dear People This Song He Sings:
Brothers, Who Labor Early And Late,
Ask These Things Of The Candidate
What's His Record? How Does He Stand
At Home—No Matter About His Hand.