John Barleycorn by Jack London Fiction Classics

<p><strong>It all came to me one election day. </strong>It was on a warm California afternoon and I had ridden down into the Valley of the Moon from the ranch to the little village to vote Yes and No to a host of proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of California. Because of the warmth of the day I had had several drinks before casting my ballot and divers drinks after casting it. Then I had ridden up through the vine-clad hills and rolling pastures of the ranch and arrived at the farmhouse in time for another drink and supper.</p><p>How did you vote on the suffrage amendment? Charmian asked.</p><p>I voted for it.</p><p>She uttered an exclamation of surprise. For be it known in my younger days despite my ardent democracy I had been opposed to woman suffrage. In my later and more tolerant years I had been unenthusiastic in my acceptance of it as an inevitable social phenomenon.</p><p>Now just why did you vote for it? Charmian asked.</p>