The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens: CHAPTER XIII SOME ACCOUNT OF EATANSWILL; OF THE STATE OF PARTIES THEREIN; AND OF THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT FOR THAT ANCIENT, LOYAL, AND PATRIOTIC BOROUGH
...With these words Mr. Pickwick descended to the parlour, where he found breakfast laid, and the family already assembled. The meal was hastily despatched; each of the gentlemen`s hats was decorated with an enormous blue favour, made up by the fair hands of Mrs. Pott herself; and as Mr. Winkle had undertaken to escort that lady to a house-top, in the immediate vicinity of the hustings, Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Pott repaired alone to the Town Arms, from the back window of which, one of Mr. Slumkey`s committee was addressing six small boys and one girl, whom he dignified, at every second sentence, with the imposing title of `Men of Eatanswill,` whereat the six small boys aforesaid cheered prodigiously.
The stable-yard exhibited unequivocal symptoms of the glory and strength of the Eatanswill Blues. There was a regular army of blue flags, some with one handle, and some with two, exhibiting appropriate devices, in golden characters four feet high, and stout in proportion. There was a grand band of trumpets, bassoons, and drums, marshalled four abreast, and earning their money, if ever men did, especially the drum-beaters, who were very muscular. There were bodies of constables with blue staves, twenty committee-men with blue scarfs, and a mob of voters with blue cockades. There were electors on horseback and electors afoot. There was an open carriage-and-four, for the Honourable Samuel Slumkey; and there were four carriage-andpair, for his friends and supporters; and the flags were rustling, and the band was playing, and the constables were swearing, and the twenty committee-men were squabbling, and the mob were shouting, and the horses were backing, and the post-boys perspiring; and everybody, and everything, then and there assembled, was for the special use, behoof, honour, and renown, of the Honourable Samuel Slumkey, of Slumkey Hall, one of the candidates for the representation of the borough of Eatanswill, in the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom. Loud and long were the cheers, and mighty was the rustling of one of the blue flags, with `Liberty of the Press` inscribed thereon, when the sandy head of Mr. Pott was discerned in one of the windows, by the mob beneath; and tremendous was the enthusiasm when the Honourable Samuel Slumkey himself, in top-boots, and a blue neckerchief, advanced and seized the hand of the said Pott, and melodramatically testified by gestures to the crowd, his ineffaceable obligations to the Eatanswill GAZETTE.
`Is everything ready?` said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey to Mr. Perker.
`Everything, my dear Sir,` was the little man`s reply.
`Nothing has been omitted, I hope?` said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey.
`Nothing has been left undone, my dear sir--nothing whatever. There are twenty washed men at the street door for you to shake hands with; and six children in arms that you`re to pat on the head, and inquire the age of; be particular about the children, my dear sir--it has always a great effect, that sort of thing.`
`I`ll take care,` said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey.
`And, perhaps, my dear Sir,` said the cautious little man, `perhaps if you could--I don`t mean to say it`s indispensable-but if you could manage to kiss one of `em, it would produce a very great impression on the crowd.`
`Wouldn`t it have as good an effect if the proposer or seconder did that?` said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey.
`Why, I am afraid it wouldn`t,` replied the agent; `if it were done by yourself, my dear Sir, I think it would make you very popular.`
`Very well,` said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey, with a resigned air, `then it must be done. That`s all.`
`Arrange the procession,` cried the twenty committee-men.
Amidst the cheers of the assembled throng, the band, and the constables, and the committee-men, and the voters, and the horsemen, and the carriages, took their places--each of the twohorse vehicles being closely packed with as many gentlemen as could manage to stand upright in it; and that assigned to Mr. Perker, containing Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, Mr. Snodgrass, and about half a dozen of the committee besides.
There was a moment of awful suspense as the procession waited for the Honourable Samuel Slumkey to step into his carriage. Suddenly the crowd set up a great cheering.
`He has come out,` said little Mr. Perker, greatly excited; the more so as their position did not enable them to see what was going forward.
Another cheer, much louder.
`He has shaken hands with the men,` cried the little agent.
Another cheer, far more vehement.
`He has patted the babies on the head,` said Mr. Perker, trembling with anxiety.
A roar of applause that rent the air.
`He has kissed one of `em!` exclaimed the delighted little man.
A second roar.
`He has kissed another,` gasped the excited manager.
A third roar.
`He`s kissing `em all!` screamed the enthusiastic little gentleman, and hailed by the deafening shouts of the multitude, the procession moved on...
