Washington Telegraph in Washington, Indiana

Cartoonish Political Banter and Smokers Debate

A fragmented 19th century excerpt depicts brisk political jests and social quips. A disputant rebukes a gentlemanly rival, a girl chides a lover about smoking, and a statesman’s animated gestures prompt laughter as colleagues suspect mockery. The piece closes with a rural tale of a convention adjourned sine die and a landlord’s plea for Democratic loyalty.