everything old is new again

"A presidential election was coming in the fall and it looked as though the Democrats were due to win. If they did, Mr. Whitehead, being a good Republican, was sure the country would be ruined." Laura Ingalls Wilder, First Four Years

That was 1888*. I guess some people's attitudes never change.


*In reality, although the Democratic presidential candidate (Grover Cleveland) won the popular vote, the Republican candidate (Benjamin Harrison) won the electoral college and the election. So Mr. Whitehead was a bit premature in his assessment of the country's future. He sold all his sheep because he was sure the new administration would end the tariff and his flock would be worth nothing. Laura and Almanzo (and Laura's cousin Peter) bought the entire flock for $200, made 150% on their investment in the first year by selling the wool and eventually sold the entire flock for $500 which provided them with a tidy nest egg. Doesn't say much for Mr. Whitehead's judgement....or powers of prediction. There's probably a lesson to be learned there.....just sayin'.