The reader learns from many characters that A.D. Blood was the several-time mayor of Spoon River and he favored conservatives and the status quo. Mr. Blood himself tells the reader that his life's work was good, as he closed the saloons and stopped the playing at cards, and led crusades against sin in general. Ironically, Blood tells the reader, Dora, the milliner's daughter, and Ruben Pantier make love on top of his grave!