diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25322-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25322-8.txt | 2689 |
1 files changed, 2689 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25322-8.txt b/25322-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..678effc --- /dev/null +++ b/25322-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2689 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fables in Slang, by George Ade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fables in Slang + +Author: George Ade + +Illustrator: Clyde J. Newman + +Release Date: May 4, 2008 [EBook #25322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FABLES IN SLANG *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + +Fables _in_ Slang + + + + +Fables _in_ Slang + + + + +FABLES + +IN + +SLANG + +by GEORGE ADE + + + + +ILLUSTRATED by CLYDE J. + +NEWMAN + +PUBLISHED BY + +HERBERT S. STONE AND COMPANY CHICAGO & NEW YORK + +MDCCCCI + + +COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY +HERBERT S. STONE & CO. + +_The Author and the Publishers wish to acknowledge the courtesy of_ +VICTOR F. LAWSON, ESQ., _in permitting the reissue of these Fables in +book form, after their appearance in the columns of_ THE CHICAGO RECORD. + + +SIXTY-EIGHTH THOUSAND + + + + +Table _of_ Contents + + PAGE + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Visitor _Who_ Got _a_ Lot _for_ Three +Dollars 1 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Slim Girl _Who_ Tried to Keep a Date +that was Never Made 9 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ New York Person _Who_ Gave _the_ Stage +Fright _to_ Fostoria, Ohio 15 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Kid _Who_ Shifted _His_ Ideal 23 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Base Ball Fan _Who_ Took _the_ Only Known Cure 27 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Good Fairy _with the_ Lorgnette, _and +why_ She Got _It_ Good 33 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Unintentional Heroes _of_ Centreville 47 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Parents _Who_ Tinkered _with the_ Offspring 53 + +_The_ Fable _of_ How _He_ Never Touched George 59 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Preacher _Who_ Flew _His_ Kite, _but_ not +Because _He_ Wished _to_ Do _So_ 63 + +_The_ Fable _of_ Handsome Jethro, _Who was_ Simply Cut +Out _to_ be _a_ Merchant 75 + +_The_ Fable _of_ Paducah's Favorite Comedians _and the_ +Mildewed Stunt 83 + +_The_ Fable _of_ Flora _and_ Adolph _and a_ Home Gone Wrong 93 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Copper _and the_ Jovial Undergrads 105 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Professor _Who_ Wanted _to be_ Alone 111 + +_The_ Fable _of a_ Statesman _Who_ Couldn't Make Good 115 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Brash Drummer _and the_ Peach _Who_ +Learned _that_ There Were Others 123 + +_The_ Fable _of_ Sister Mae, _Who_ Did _as_ Well _as_ Could +Be Expected 135 + +_The_ Fable _of_ How _the_ Fool-Killer Backed Out _of a_ Contract 143 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Caddy _Who_ Hurt His Head while Thinking 147 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Martyr _Who_ Liked _the_ Job 151 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Bohemian _Who_ had Hard Luck 157 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Coming Champion _Who was_ Delayed 163 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Lawyer _Who_ Brought in _a_ Minority Report 177 + +_The_ Fable _of the Two_ Mandolin Players _and the_ Willing Performer 181 + +_The_ Fable _of the_ Man _Who_ Didn't Care _for_ Story-Books 195 + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ VISITOR _WHO_ GOT _A_ LOT _FOR_ THREE DOLLARS. + + +The Learned Phrenologist sat in his Office surrounded by his Whiskers. + +Now and then he put a Forefinger to his Brow and glanced at the Mirror +to make sure that he still resembled William Cullen Bryant. + +Near him, on a Table, was a Pallid Head made of Plaster-of-Paris and +stickily ornamented with small Labels. On the wall was a Chart showing +that the Orangoutang does not have Daniel Webster's facial angle. + +"Is the Graft played out?" asked the Learned Phrenologist, as he waited. +"Is Science up against it or What?" + +Then he heard the fall of Heavy Feet and resumed his Imitation. The Door +opened and there came into the Room a tall, rangy Person with a Head in +the shape of a Rocky Ford Cantaloupe. + +Aroused from his Meditation, the Learned Phrenologist looked up at the +Stranger as through a Glass, darkly, and pointed to a Red Plush Chair. + +The Easy Mark collapsed into the Boarding-House Chair and the Man with +more Whiskers than Darwin ever saw stood behind Him and ran his Fingers +over his Head, Tarantula-Wise. + +[Illustration: THE LEARNED PHRENOLOGIST] + +"Well, well!" said the Learned Phrenologist "Enough Benevolence here +to do a family of Eight. Courage? I guess yes! Dewey's got the same kind +of a Lump right over the Left Ear. Love of Home and Friends--like the +ridge behind a Bunker! Firmness--out of sight! Reverence--well, when it +comes to Reverence, you're certainly There with the Goods! +Conscientiousness, Hope, and Ideality--the Limit! And as for +Metaphysical Penetration--oh, Say, the Metaphysical Penetration, right +where you part the Hair--oh, Laura! Say, you've got Charles Eliot Norton +whipped to a Custard. I've got my Hand on it now. You can feel it +yourself, can't you?" + +"I can feel Something," replied the Human Being, with a rapt Smile. + +[Illustration: HUMAN BEING] + +"Wit, Compassion and Poetic Talent--right here where I've got my +Thumb--a Cinch! I think you'll run as high as 98 per cent on all the +Intellectual Faculties. In your Case we have a Rare Combination of +Executive Ability, or the Power to Command, and those Qualities of +Benevolence and Ideality which contribute to the fostering of Permanent +Religious Sentiment. I don't know what your present Occupation is, but +you ought to be President of a Theological Seminary. Kindly slip me +Three Dollars before you Pass Out." + +The Tall Man separated himself from Two Days' Pay and then went out on +the Street and pushed People off the Sidewalk, He thought so well of +Himself. + +Thereafter, as before, he drove a Truck, but he was always glad to know +that he could have been President of a Theological Seminary. + +Moral: _A good Jolly is worth Whatever you Pay for it._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ SLIM GIRL _WHO_ TRIED _TO_ KEEP _A_ DATE _THAT WAS_ +NEVER MADE + + +Once upon a Time there was a slim Girl with a Forehead which was Shiny +and Protuberant, like a Bartlett Pear. When asked to put Something in an +Autograph Album she invariably wrote the Following, in a tall, +dislocated Back-Hand: + + "Life is Real; life is Earnest, + And the Grave is not its Goal." + +That's the kind of a Girl she was. + +In her own Town she had the Name of being a Cold Proposition, but that +was because the Primitive Yokels of a One-Night Stand could not Attune +Themselves to the Views of one who was troubled with Ideals. Her Soul +Panted for the Higher Life. + +Alas, the Rube Town in which she Hung Forth was given over to Croquet, +Mush and Milk Sociables, a lodge of Elks and two married Preachers who +doctored for the Tonsilitis. So what could the Poor Girl do? + +In all the Country around there was not a Man who came up to her Plans +and Specifications for a Husband. Neither was there any Man who had any +time for Her. So she led a lonely Life, dreaming of the One--the Ideal. +He was a big and pensive Literary Man, wearing a Prince Albert coat, a +neat Derby Hat and godlike Whiskers. When He came he would enfold Her +in his Arms and whisper Emerson's Essays to her. + +[Illustration: COLD PROPOSITION] + +But the Party failed to show up. + +Often enough she put on her Chip Hat and her Black Lisle Gloves and +Sauntered down to look at the Gang sitting in front of the Occidental +Hotel, hoping that the Real Thing would be there. But she always saw the +same old line of Four-Flush Drummers from Chicago and St. Louis, smoking +Horrid Cigars and talking about the Percentages of the League Teams. + +She knew that these Gross Creatures were not prone to chase mere +Intellectual Splendor, so she made no effort to Flag them. + +[Illustration: FOUR-FLUSH DRUMMER] + +When she was Thirty-Four years of age and was able to recite "Lucile" +without looking at the Book she was Married to a Janitor of the name +of Ernest. He had been kicked in the Head by a Mule when young and +believed everything he read in the Sunday Papers. His pay was +Twenty-Three a month, which was high, if you knew Ernest. + +His Wife wore a red Mother Hubbard all during the Remainder of her Life. + +This is invariably a Sign of Blasted Hopes. + +MORAL: _Never Live in a Jay Town_. + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ NEW YORK PERSON _WHO_ GAVE _THE_ STAGE FRIGHT _TO_ +FOSTORIA, OHIO + + +A New York man went to visit a Cousin in the Far West. + +The name of the Town was Fostoria, Ohio. + +When he came into Town he had his Watch-Chain on the outside of his +Coat, and his Pink Spats were the first ever seen in Fostoria. + +"Have you a Manicure Parlor in this Beastly Hole?" asked the New York +Man, as they walked up from the Train. + +"What's that?" asked the Cousin, stepping on his own Feet. + +"Great Heavens!" exclaimed the New York Man, and was silent for several +Moments. + +At Dinner he called for Artichokes, and when told that there were none, +he said, "Oh, very well," in a Tone of Chastened Resignation. + +After Dinner he took the Family into the Parlor, and told the Members +how much they would Enjoy going to Weber and Fields'. Seeing a Book on +the Table, he sauntered up to It and said, "Ah, one of Dick Davis' +Things." Later in the Evening he visited the only Club House in Town. +The Local Editor of the Evening Paper was playing Pin-Pool with the +Superintendent of the Trolley Line. When the New York Man came into the +Room, they began to Tremble and fell down on their Shots. + +[Illustration: NEW YORK MAN] + +The Manager of the Hub and Spoke Factory then asked the New York Man to +have a Drink. The New York Man wondered if a Small Bottle was already +cold. They said Yes, but it was a Lie. The Boy had to go out for it. + +He found One that had been in the Window of the Turf Exchange since the +Grand Opening, the Year after Natural Gas was discovered. The New York +Man drank it, remarking that it was hardly as Dry as he usually got it +at Martin's. + +The Club Members looked at Him and said Nothing. They thought he meant +Bradley-Martin's. + +Next Day the New York Man was Interviewed by the Local Editor. He said +the West had a Great Future. In the Evening he attended the Annual +Dinner of the Bicycle Club, and went Home early because the Man sitting +next to him put Ice in his Claret. + +[Illustration: SNAKE CHARMER] + +In due time he returned to New York, and Fostoria took off its White +Shirt. + +Some Weeks after that, the Cousin of the New York Man had an Opportunity +to visit the Metropolis. He rode on an Extra Ticket with a Stockman who +was shipping three Car-Load of Horses, and got a Free Ticket for every +Car-Load. + +When the Cousin arrived at New York he went to the address, and found +the New York Man at Dinner. + +There was a Sheaf of Celery on the Table. + +Opposite the New York Man sat a Chiropodist who drank. + +At his right was a Large Woman in a Flowered Wrapper--she had been +Weeping. + +At his left was a Snake-Charmer from Huber's Museum. + +The New York Man asked the Cousin to wait Outside, and then explained +that he was stopping there Temporarily. That Evening they went to +Proctor's, and stood during the Performance. + +MORAL: _A New York Man never begins to Cut Ice until he is west of +Rahway_. + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ KID _WHO_ SHIFTED _HIS_ IDEAL + + +An A.D.T. Kid carrying a Death Message marked "Rush" stopped in front of +a Show Window containing a Picture of James J. Jeffries and began to +weep bitterly. + +A kind-hearted Suburbanite happened to be passing along on his Way to +the 5:42 Train. He was carrying a Dog Collar, a Sickle, a Basket of Egg +Plums and a Bicycle Tire. + +The Suburbanite saw the A.D.T. Kid in Tears and it struck him that here +was a Bully Chance to act out the Kind-Hearted Pedestrian who is always +played up strong in the Sunday School Stories about Ralph and Edgar. + +"Why do you weep?" he asked, peering at the Boy through his +concavo-convex Nose Glasses. + +"Oh, gee! I was just Thinking," replied the Urchin, brokenly. "I was +just Thinking what chance have I got to grow up and be the Main Stem, +like Mr. Jeffries." + +[Illustration: THE KID] + +"What a perverted Ambition!" exclaimed the Suburbanite. "Why do you set +up Mr. Jeffries as an Ideal? Why do you not strive to be like Me? Is it +not worth a Life of Endeavor to command the Love and Respect of a Moral +Settlement on the Outskirts? All the Conductors on our Division speak +pleasantly to Me, and the Gateman has come to know my Name. Last year +I had my Half-Tone in the Village Weekly for the mere Cost of the +Engraving. When we opened Locust avenue from the Cemetery west to +Alexander's Dairy, was I not a Member of the Committee appointed to +present the Petition to the Councilmen? That's what I was! For Six Years +I have been a Member of the League of American Wheelmen and now I am a +Candidate for Director of our new four-hole Golf Club. Also I play Whist +on the Train with a Man who once lived in the same House with T. DeWitt +Talmage." + +Hearing these words the A.D.T. Kid ceased weeping and cheerfully +proceeded up an Alley, where he played "Wood Tag." + +MORAL: _As the Twig is Bent the Tree is Inclined._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ BASE BALL FAN _WHO_ TOOK _THE_ ONLY KNOWN CURE + + +Once upon a Time a Base Ball Fan lay on his Death-Bed. + +He had been a Rooter from the days of Underhand Pitching. + +It was simply Pie for him to tell in what year Anse began to play with +the Rockfords and what Kelly's Batting Average was the Year he sold for +Ten Thousand. + +If you asked him who played Center for Boston in 1886 he could tell you +quick--right off the Reel. And he was a walking Directory of all the +Glass Arms in the Universe. + +More than once he had let drive with a Pop Bottle at the Umpire and then +yelled "Robber" until his Pipes gave out. For many Summers he would come +Home, one Evening after Another, with his Collar melted, and tell his +Wife that the Giants made the Colts look like a lot of Colonial Dames +playing Bean Bag in a Weedy Lot back of an Orphan Asylum, and they ought +to put a Trained Nurse on Third, and the Dummy at Right needed an +Automobile, and the New Man couldn't jump out of a Boat and hit the +Water, and the Short-Stop wouldn't be able to pick up a Ball if it was +handed to him on a Platter with Water Cress around it, and the Easy One +to Third that ought to have been Sponge Cake was fielded like a +One-Legged Man with St. Vitus dance trying to do the Nashville Salute. + +[Illustration: THE FAN] + +Of course she never knew what he was Talking about, but she put up with +it, Year after Year, mixing Throat Gargle for him and reading the Games +to him when he was having his Eyes tested and had to wear a Green Shade. + +At last he came to his Ninth Inning and there were Two Strikes called +and no Balls, and his Friends knew it was All Day with him. They stood +around and tried to forget that he was a Fan. His Wife wept softly and +consoled herself with the Thought that possibly he would have amounted +to Something if there had been no National Game. She forgave Everything +and pleaded for one Final Message. His Lips moved. She leaned over and +Listened. He wanted to know if there was Anything in the Morning Papers +about the Condition of Bill Lange's Knee. + +MORAL: _There is a Specific Bacillus for every Classified Disease._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ GOOD FAIRY _WITH THE_ LORGNETTE, _AND WHY_ SHE GOT +_IT_ GOOD + + +Once Upon a Time there was a Broad Girl who had nothing else to do and +no Children to look after, so she thought she would be Benevolent. + +She had scared all the Red Corpuscles out of the 2 by 4 Midget who +rotated about her in a Limited Orbit and was known by Courtesy as her +Husband. He was Soft for her, and so she got it Mapped out with Herself +that she was a Superior Woman. + +She knew that when she switched the Current on to herself she Used up +about 6,000 Ohms an hour, and the whole Neighborhood had to put on +Blinders. + +She had read about nine Subscription Books with Cupid and Dove +Tail-Pieces and she believed that she could get away with any Topic that +was batted up to her and then slam it over to Second in time to head off +the Runner. + +Her clothes were full of Pin-Holes where she had been hanging Medals on +Herself, and she used to go in a Hand-Ball Court every Day and throw up +Bouquets, letting them bounce back and hit Her. + +[Illustration: THE MIDGET] + +Also, She would square off in front of a Camera every Two Weeks, and the +Man was Next, for he always removed the Mole when he was touching up +the Negative. In the Photograph the Broad Girl resembled Pauline Hall, +but outside of the Photograph, and take it in the Morning when she +showed up on the Level, she looked like a Street just before they put on +the Asphalt. + +But never you Fear, She thought She had Julia Arthur and Mary Mannering +Seventeen up and One to play, so far as Good Looks were concerned; and +when it came to the Gray Matter--the Cerebrum, the Cerebellum, and the +Medulla Oblongata--May Wright Sewall was back of the Flag and Pulled up +Lame. + +The Down-Trodden Man, whom she had dragged to the Altar, sized Her all +right, but he was afraid of his Life. He wasn't Strong enough to push +Her in front of a Cable Car, and he didn't have the Nerve to get a +Divorce. So he stood for Everything; but in the Summer, when She skated +off into the Woods to hear a man with a Black Alpaca Coat lecture to the +High Foreheads about the Subverted Ego, he used to go out with a few +Friends and tell them his Troubles and weep into his Beer. They would +slap him on the Back and tell him she was a Nice Woman; but he knew +better. + +Annyhow, as Bobby Gaylor used to say, she became restless around the +House, with nothing to do except her Husband, so she made up her mind to +be Benevolent to beat the Band. She decided that she would allow the +Glory of her Presence to burst upon the Poor and the Uncultured. It +would be a Big Help to the Poor and Uncultured to see what a Real +Razmataz Lady was like. + +She didn't Propose to put on Old Clothes, and go and live with Poor +People, and be One of Them, and nurse their Sick, as they do in +Settlements. Not on Your Previous Existence! She was going to be +Benevolent, and be Dead Swell at the Same Time. + +Accordingly, she would Lace Herself until she was the shape of a Bass +Viol, and put on her Tailor-Made, and the Hat that made her Face seem +longer, and then she would Gallop forth to do Things to the Poor. She +always carried a 99-cent Lorgnette in one Hand and a Smelling-Bottle in +the Other. + +"Now," she would say, feeling Behind to make sure that she was all +strung up, "Now, to carry Sunshine into the Lowly Places." + +[Illustration: THE BROAD GIRL] + +As soon as she struck the Plank Walks, and began stalking her prey, the +small Children would crawl under the Beds, while Mother would dry her +Arms on the Apron, and murmur, "Glory be!" They knew how to stand off +the Rent-Man and the Dog-Catcher; but when 235 pounds of Sunshine came +wafting up the Street, they felt that they were up against a New Game. + +The Benevolent Lady would go into a House numbered 1135A with a Marking +Brush, and after she had sized up the front room through the Lorgnette, +she would say: "My Good Woman, does your Husband drink?" + +"Oh, yes, sir," the grateful Woman would reply. "That is, when he's +working. He gets a Dollar Ten." + +"And what does he do with all his Money?" the Benevolent Lady would +ask. + +"I think he plays the Stock Market," would be the Reply. + +Then the Benevolent Lady would say: "When the Unfortunate Man comes Home +this Evening you tell him that a Kind and Beautiful Lady called and +asked him please to stop Drinking, except a Glass of Claret at Dinner, +and to be sure and read Eight or Ten Pages from the _Encyclopædia +Britannica_ each Night before retiring; also tell him to be sure and +save his Money. Is that your Child under the Bed?" + +"That's little William J." + +"How Many have you?" + +"Eight or Nine--I forget Which." + +"Be sure and dress them in Sanitary Underwear; you can get it for Four +Dollars a Suit. Will you be good enough to have the Little Boy come from +under the Bed, and spell 'Ibex' for the Sweet Lady?" + +"He's afraid of you." + +"Kindly explain to him that I take an Interest in him, even though he is +the Offspring of an Obscure and Ignorant Workingman, while I am probably +the Grandest Thing that ever Swept up the Boulevard. I must go now, but +I will Return. Next time I come I hope to hear that your Husband has +stopped Drinking and is very Happy. Tell the Small Person under the Bed +that if he learns to spell 'Ibex' by the time I call again I will let +him look at my Rings. As for you, bear in mind that it is no Disgrace to +be Poor; it is simply Inconvenient; that's all." + +Having delivered herself of these Helpful Remarks she would Duck, and +the Uplifted Mother would put a Nickel in the Can and send Lizzie over +to the Dutchman's. + +In this manner the Benevolent Lady carried forward the Good Work, and +Dazzled the whole Region between O'Hara's Box Factory and the City Dump. +It didn't Cost anything, and she derived much Joy from the Knowledge +that Hundreds of People were Rubbering at her, and remarking in Choked +Whispers: "Say, ain't she the Smooth Article?" + +But one day a Scrappy Kid, whose Mother didn't have any Lorgnette or +Diamond Ear-Bobs, spotted the Benevolent Lady. The Benevolent Lady had +been in the House telling his Mother that it was a Glorious Privilege to +wash for a Living. + +After the Benevolent Lady went away the Kid's Mother sat down and had a +Good Cry, and the Scrappy Kid thought it was up to him. He went out to +the Alley and found a Tomato Can that was not working, and he waited. + +In a little while the Benevolent Lady came out of a Basement, in which +she had been telling a Polish Family to look at her and be Happy. The +Scrappy Kid let drive, and the Tomato Can struck the Benevolent Lady +between the Shoulder Blades. She squawked and started to run, fell over +a Garbage Box, and had to be picked up by a Policeman. + +She went Home in a Cab, and told her Husband that the Liquor League had +tried to Assassinate her, because she was Reforming so many Drunkards. +That settled it with her--she said she wouldn't try to be Benevolent +any more--so she joined an Ibsen Club. + +The Scrappy Kid grew up to be a Corrupt Alderman, and gave his Mother +plenty of Good Clothes, which she was always afraid to wear. + +MORAL: _In uplifting, get underneath._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ UNINTENTIONAL HEROES _OF_ CENTREVILLE + + +In Centreville there lived two husky Young Fellows named Bill and +Schuyler--commonly abbreviated to Schuy. They did not find any +nourishing Excitement in a Grain Elevator, so they Enlisted to Free +Cuba. + +The Government gave each of them a Slouch Hat and a prehistoric Firearm. +They tied Red Handkerchiefs around their Necks and started for the +Front, each with his Head out of the Car Window. They gave the Sioux +Yell to everybody along the Track between Centreville and Tampa. + +While in Camp they played Double Pedie, smoked Corn-Cob Pipes, and +cussed the Rations. They referred to the President of these United +States as "Mac," and spoke of the beloved Secretary of War as "Old +Alger." + +After more or less Delay they went aboard a Boat, and were landed in +Cuba, where they began to Shoot at everything that looked Foreign. The +hot Rain drenched them, and the tropical Sun steamed them; they had Mud +on their clothes, and had to sleep out. When they were unusually Tired +and Hungry, they would sing Coon Songs and Roast the War Department. + +At last they were ordered Home. On the way back they didn't think of +Anything except their two Lady Friends, who worked in the Centreville +Steam Laundry. + +[Illustration: SCHUY] + +They rode into Town with a Machete under each Arm, and their Pockets +full of Mauser Cartridges. + +The first Thing they saw when they alighted from the Train was a Brass +Band. It began to play, "See the Conquering Hero Comes." + +Then eight Little Girls in White began to strew Flowers in their +Pathway. + +The Artillery company ripped out a Salute. + +Cap Gibbs, who won his Title by owning the first Steam Thrashing Machine +ever seen in the County, confronted them with a Red, White, and Blue +Sash around him. He Barked in a loud Voice--it was something about Old +Glory. + +Afterward the Daughters of the Revolution took them in Tow, and escorted +them to Pythian Hall, where they were given Fried Chicken, Veal Loaf, +Deviled Eggs, Crullers, Preserved Watermelon, Cottage Cheese, Sweet +Pickles, Grape Jelly, Soda Biscuit, Stuffed Mangoes, Lemonade, +Hickory-Nut Cake, Cookies, Cinnamon Roll, Lemon Pie, Ham, Macaroons, New +York Ice Cream, Apple Butter, Charlotte Russe, Peppermint Wafers, and +Coffee. + +While they were Feeding, the Sons of Veterans Quartet stood on the +Rostrum with their Heads together, and sang: + + "Ten-ting to-night! Ten-ting to-night, + Ten-ting on the old-ah Camp-ground!" + +At the first opportunity Bill motioned to Schuyler, and led him into the +Anteroom, where they kept the Regalia, the Kindling Wood, and the Mop. + +"Say, Schuy, what the Sam Hill does this mean?" he asked; "are we +Heroes?" + +"That's what Everybody says." + +"Do you Believe it?" + +"No matter what I Believe; I'm goin' to let 'em have their own Way. I +may want to Run for Supervisor some Day." + +MORAL: _If it is your Play to be a Hero, don't Renig._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ PARENTS _WHO_ TINKERED _WITH THE_ OFFSPRING + + +A married Couple possessed two Boys named Joseph and Clarence. Joseph +was much the older. His Parents brought him up on a Plan of their Own. +They would not permit him to play with other Boys for fear that he would +soil himself; and learn to be Rude and Boisterous. + +So they kept Him in the House, and: his Mother read to him about Little +Rollo, who never lied or cheated, and who grew up to be a Bank +President, She seemed to think that a Bank President was above +Reproach. + +Little Joseph was kept away from the Public Schools, and had to Play +Games in the Garret with two Spindly Little Girls. He learned Tatting +and the Herring-Bone Stitch. When he was Ten Years of age he could play +Chop-Sticks on the Piano; his Ears were Translucent, and his Front Teeth +showed like those of a Gray Squirrel. + +The other Boys used to make Faces at him over the Back Fence and call +him "Sis." + +In Due Time he went to College, where he proved to be a Lobster. The +Boys held him under the Pump the first Night. When he walked across the +Campus, they would whistle, "I don't Want to Play in Your Yard." He +began to drink Manhattan Cocktails, and he smoked Hemp Cigarettes until +he was Dotty. One Day he ran away with a Girl who waited on the Table +at his Boarding House, and his Parents Cast him Off. At Present he has +charge of the Cloak Room at a Dairy Lunch. + +[Illustration: JOSEPH] + +Seeing that the Home Training Experiment had been a Failure in the case +of Joseph, the Parents decided to give Clarence a large Measure of +Liberty, that he might become Acquainted with the Snares and Temptations +of the World while he was Young, and thus be Prepared to side-step the +Pitfalls when he was Older. They sent him to the Public Schools; they +allowed him to roam at large with other Kids, and stay out at Nights; +they kept Liquor on the Sideboard. + +[Illustration: CLARENCE] + +Clarence stood in with the Toughest Push in Town, and thus became +acquainted with the Snares and Temptations of the World. He learned to +Chew Tobacco and Spit through his Teeth, shoot Craps and Rush the Can. + +When his Father suggested that he enter some Business House, and become +a Credit to the Family, he growled like a Boston Terrier, and told his +Father to go Chase Himself. + +At present, he is working the Shells with a Circus. + +MORAL: _It all depends._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ HOW _HE_ NEVER TOUCHED GEORGE + + +A comic Lover named George was sitting on the Front Porch with a good +Side Hold on your old friend Mabel. They were looking into each other's +Eyes at Close Range and using a rancid Line of Nursery Talk. + +It was the kind of Conversation calculated to Jar a Person. + +George murmured that Mabel was George's own Baby-Daby and she Allowed +that he was a Tooney-Wooney little Bad Boy to hold his Itsy-Bitsy Bun of +a Mabel so tight she could hardly breave. It was a sort of Dialogue +that Susan B. Anthony would love to sit up Nights to Read. + +While they were Clinched, Mabel's Father, a large, Self-Made Man, came +down the Stairway and out to the Veranda. + +This is where the Fable begins to Differentiate. + +Although the Girl's name was Mabel and the Young Man's name was George, +and the Father was a Self-Made Man, the Father did _not_ Kick the Young +Man. + +He asked him if he had Anything to Smoke. + +George gave him an Imported Panetella and said He didn't believe it was +going to Rain. Mabel's Father said it looked Black in the West, but he +Reckoned it might blow around, like as not. Mabel said she wouldn't be +a bit Surprised if it did blow around. + +[Illustration: MABEL'S FATHER] + +Mabel's Father told Mabel she could show George where the Ice-Box wuz in +case he Expressed a Hankerin', and then he went down street to examine +some Fishing Tackle just purchased by a Friend of his in the Hay and +Feed Business. Just as Father struck the Cement Walk George changed to +the Strangle Hold. + +MORAL: _The Exception proves the Rule._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ PREACHER _WHO_ FLEW _HIS_ KITE, _BUT_ NOT BECAUSE +_HE_ WISHED _TO_ DO _SO_ + + +A certain Preacher became wise to the Fact that he was not making a Hit +with his Congregation. The Parishioners did not seem inclined to seek +him out after services and tell him he was a Pansy. He suspected that +they were Rapping him on the Quiet. + +The Preacher knew there must be Something wrong with his Talk. He had +been trying to Expound in a clear and straightforward Manner, omitting +Foreign Quotations, setting up for illustration of his Points such +Historical Characters as were familiar to his Hearers, putting the +stubby Old English words ahead of the Latin, and rather flying low along +the Intellectual Plane of the Aggregation that chipped in to pay his +Salary. + +But the Pew-Holders were not tickled. They could Understand everything +he said, and they began to think he was Common. + +So he studied the Situation and decided that if he wanted to Win them +and make everybody believe he was a Nobby and Boss Minister he would +have to hand out a little Guff. He fixed it up Good and Plenty. + +[Illustration: GUFF] + +On the following Sunday Morning he got up in the Lookout and read a Text +that didn't mean anything, read from either Direction, and then he +sized up his Flock with a Dreamy Eye and said: "We cannot more +adequately voice the Poetry and Mysticism of our Text than in those +familiar Lines of the great Icelandic Poet, Ikon Navrojk: + + "To hold is not to have-- + Under the seared Firmament, + Where Chaos sweeps, and Vast Futurity + Sneers at these puny Aspirations-- + There is the full Reprisal." + +When the Preacher concluded this Extract from the Well-Known Icelandic +Poet he paused and looked downward, breathing heavily through his Nose, +like Camille in the Third Act. + +A Stout Woman in the Front Row put on her Eye-Glasses and leaned forward +so as not to miss Anything. A Venerable Harness Dealer over at the +Right nodded his Head solemnly. He seemed to recognize the Quotation. +Members of the Congregation glanced at one another as if to say: "This +is certainly Hot Stuff!" + +[Illustration: GOOD AND PLENTY] + +The Preacher wiped his Brow and said he had no Doubt that every one +within the Sound of his Voice remembered what Quarolius had said, +following the same Line of Thought. It was Quarolius who disputed the +Contention of the great Persian Theologian Ramtazuk, that the Soul in +its reaching out after the Unknowable was guided by the Spiritual +Genesis of Motive rather than by mere Impulse of Mentality. The Preacher +didn't know what all This meant, and he didn't care, but you can rest +easy that the Pew-Holders were On in a minute. He talked it off in +just the Way that Cyrano talks when he gets Roxane so Dizzy that she +nearly falls off the Piazza. + +[Illustration: VENERABLE HARNESS DEALER] + +The Parishioners bit their Lower Lips and hungered for more First-Class +Language. They had paid their Money for Tall Talk and were prepared to +solve any and all Styles of Delivery. They held on to the Cushions and +seemed to be having a Nice Time. + +The Preacher quoted copiously from the Great Poet Amebius. He recited 18 +lines of Greek and then said: "How true this is!" And not a Parishioner +batted an Eye. + +It was Amebius whose Immortal Lines he recited in order to prove the +Extreme Error of the Position assumed in the Controversy by the Famous +Italian, Polenta. + +He had them Going, and there wasn't a Thing to it. When he would get +tired of faking Philosophy he would quote from a Celebrated Poet of +Ecuador or Tasmania or some other Seaport Town. Compared with this +Verse, all of which was of the same School as the Icelandic Masterpiece, +the most obscure and clouded Passage in Robert Browning was like a +Plate-Glass Front in a State Street Candy Store just after the Colored +Boy gets through using the Chamois. + +After that he became Eloquent, and began to get rid of long Boston Words +that hadn't been used before that Season. He grabbed a rhetorical Roman +Candle in each Hand and you couldn't see him for the Sparks. + +After which he sunk his Voice to a Whisper and talked about the Birds +and the Flowers. Then, although there was no Cue for him to Weep, he +shed a few real Tears. And there wasn't a dry Glove in the Church. + +After he sat down he could tell by the Scared Look of the People in +Front that he had made a Ten-Strike. + +Did they give him the Joyous Palm that Day? Sure! + +The Stout Lady could not control her Feelings when she told how much the +Sermon had helped her. The venerable Harness Dealer said he wished to +indorse the Able and Scholarly Criticism of Polenta. + +In fact, every one said the Sermon was Superfine and Dandy. The only +thing that worried the Congregation was the Fear that if it wished to +retain such a Whale it might have to Boost his Salary. + +[Illustration: THE JOYOUS PALM] + +In the Meantime the Preacher waited for some one to come and ask about +Polenta, Amebius, Ramtazuk, Quarolius and the great Icelandic Poet, +Navrojk. But no one had the Face to step up and confess his Ignorance of +these Celebrities. The Pew-Holders didn't even admit among themselves +that the Preacher had rung in some New Ones. They stood Pat, and merely +said it was an Elegant Sermon. + +Perceiving that they would stand for Anything, the Preacher knew what to +do after that. + +MORAL: _Give the People what they Think they want._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ HANDSOME JETHRO, _WHO WAS_ SIMPLY CUT OUT _TO_ BE _A_ +MERCHANT + + +An Illinois Squab came home from Business College with a Zebra Collar +and a pair of Tan Shoes big enough for a Coal Miner. When he alighted +from the depot one of Ezry Folloson's Dray Horses fell over, stricken +with the Cramp Colic. The usual Drove of Prominent Citizens who had come +down to see that the Train got in and out all right backed away from the +Educated Youth and Chewed their Tobacco in Shame and Abashment. They +knew that they did not belong on the same Platform with One who had +been up yender in Chicago for goin' on Twelve weeks finding out how to +be a Business Man. By Heck! + +An elderly Man approached the Youth who had lately got next to the Rules +of Commerce. The elderly Man was a Yap. He wore a Hickory Shirt, a +discouraged Straw Hat, a pair of Barn-Door Pants clinging to one lonely +Gallus and woolen Socks that had settled down over his Plow Shoes. He +was shy several Teeth and on his Chin was a Tassel shaped like a +Whisk-Broom. If you had thrown a Pebble into this Clump of Whiskers +probably you would have scared up a Field Mouse and a couple of Meadow +Larks. + +"Home agin, Jethro, be ye?" asked the Parent. + +[Illustration: JETHRO] + +"Yeh," replied the Educated Youth. With that he pulled the Corner of a +Sassy Silk Handkerchief out of his upper Coat Pocket and ignited a +Cigarette that smelt like Burning Leaves in the Fall. + +The Business Man went Home, and the Parent followed at a Respectful +Distance, now and then remarking to Himself: "Well, I'll jest swan to +Guinney!" + +Brother Lyford came in from the East Eighty to get his Dinner, and there +was Jethro in the Hammock reading a Great Work by Archibald Clavering +Gunter. + +"Git into some Overhauls an' come an' he'p Me this Afternoon," said +Lyford. + +"Oh, rats! Not on your Tintype! I'm too strong to work," replied +Jethro, who had learned Oodles of slang up in Chicago, don't you forget +it. + +[Illustration: PAW] + +So he wouldn't Stand for the Harvest Field that afternoon. In the +Evening when Paw ast him to Milk he let out an Awful Beller. Next +Morning he made a Horrible Beef because he couldn't get Loaf Sugar for +his Coffee. + +Shortly after Breakfast his Paw lured him into the Barn and Lit on him. +He got a good Holt on the Adam's Apple and choked the Offspring until +his Tongue stuck out like a Pistil. + +"You dosh-burned little Pin-Head o' Misery, you!" exclaimed the Old Man. +"Goll bing me if I think you're wuth the Powder to blow you up. You peel +them Duds an' git to Work or else mosey right off o' this Farm." + +The Son's Feelings were so outraged by this Brutal Treatment that he +left the Farm that Day and accepted a position in a Five and Ten-Cent +Store, selling Kitchen Utensils that were made of Tin-Foil and Wooden +Ware that had been painted in Water Colors. He felt that he was +particularly adapted for a Business Career, and, anyway, he didn't +propose to go out on No Man's Farm and sweat down his Collar. + +After Ten Years of Unremitting Application and Studious Frugality the +Business Man had acquired in Real Estate, Personal Property, Stocks, +Bonds, Negotiable Paper, and other Collateral, the sum of Nineteen +Dollars, but he owed a good deal more than that. Brother Lyford had +continued to be a rude and unlettered Country Jake. He had 240 acres of +crackin' Corn Land (all tiled), a big red Barn, four Span of good +Horses, sixteen Head of Cattle, a likely bunch of Shoats and a Covered +Buggy. + +MORAL: _Drink Deep, or Cut Out the Pierian Spring Altogether._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ PADUCAH'S FAVORITE COMEDIANS _AND THE_ MILDEWED STUNT + + +Once Upon a Time there was a Specialty Team doing Seventeen Minutes. The +Props used in the Act included a Hatchet, a Brick, a Seltzer Bottle, two +inflated Bladders and a Slap-Stick. The Name of the Team was Zoroaster +and Zendavesta. + +These two Troupers began their Professional Career with a Road Circus, +working on Canvas in the Morning, and then doing a Refined Knockabout in +the Grand Concert or Afterpiece taking place in the Main Arena +immediately after the big Show is over. + +When each of them could Kick Himself in the Eye and Slattery had pickled +his Face so that Stebbins could walk on it, they decided that they were +too good to show under a Round Top, so they became Artists. They wanted +a Swell Name for the Team, so the Side-Show Announcer, who was something +of a Kidder and had attended a Unitarian College, gave them Zoroaster +and Zendavesta. They were Stuck on it, and had a Job Printer do some +Cards for them. + +By utilizing two of Pat Rooney's Songs and stealing a few Gags, they put +together Seventeen Minutes and began to play Dates and Combinations. + +Zoroaster bought a Cane with a Silver Dog's Head on it, and Zendavesta +had a Watch Charm that pulled the Buttonholes out of his Vest. + +[Illustration: ZOROASTER] + +After every Show, as soon as they Washed Up, they went and stood in +front of the Theater, so as to give the Hired Girls a Treat, or else +they stood around in the Sawdust and told their Fellow-Workers in the +Realm of Dramatic Art how they killed 'em in Decatur and had 'em +hollerin' in Lowell, Mass., and got every Hand in the House at St. Paul. +Occasionally they would put a Card in the Clipper, saying that they were +the Best in the Business, Bar None, and Good Dressers on and off the +Stage. Regards to Leonzo Brothers. Charley Diamond please write. + +They didn't have to study no New Gags or work up no more Business, +becuz they had the Best Act on Earth to begin with. Lillian Russell was +jealous of them and they used to know Francis Wilson when he done a Song +and Dance. + +They had a Scrap Book with a Clipping from a Paducah Paper, which said +that they were better than Nat Goodwin. When some Critic who had been +bought up by Rival Artists wrote that Zoroaster and Zendavesta ought to +be on an Ice Wagon instead of on the Stage, they would get out the Scrap +Book and read that Paducah Notice and be thankful that all Critics +wasn't Cheap Knockers and that there was one Paper Guy in the United +States that reckanized a Neat Turn when he seen it. + +But Zoroaster and Zendavesta didn't know that the Dramatic Editor of +the Paducah Paper went to a Burgoo Picnic the Day the Actors came to +Town, and didn't get back until Midnight, so he wrote his Notice of the +Night Owls' performance from a Programme brought to him by the Head +Usher at the Opera House, who was also Galley Boy at the Office. + +Zoroaster and Zendavesta played the same Sketch for Seventeen Years and +made only two important Changes in all that Time. During the Seventh +Season Zoroaster changed his Whiskers from Green to Blue. At the +beginning of the Fourteenth Year of the Act they bought a new Slap-Stick +and put a Card in the Clipper warning the Public to beware of Imitators. + +[Illustration: ZENDAVESTA] + +All during the Seventeen Years Zoroaster and Zendavesta continued to +walk Chesty and tell People how Good they were. They never could +Understand why the Public stood for Mansfield when it could get +Zoroaster and Zendavesta. The Property Man gave it as his Opinion that +Mansfield conned the Critics. Zendavesta said there was only one Critic +on the Square, and he was at Paducah. + +When the Vodeville Craze came along Zoroaster and Zendavesta took their +Paducah Scrap Book over to a Manager, and he Booked them. Zoroaster +assured the Manager that Him and his Partner done a Refined Act, +suitable for Women and Children, with a strong Finish, which had been +the Talk of all Galveston. The Manager put them in between the Trained +Ponies and a Legit with a Bad Cold. When a Legit loses his Voice he +goes into Vodeville. + +Zoroaster and Zendavesta came on very Cocky, and for the 7,800th Time +Zoroaster asked Zendavesta: + +"Who wuz it I seen you comin' up the Street with?" + +Then, for the 7,800th Time, by way of Mirth-Provoking Rejoinder, +Zendavesta kicked Zoroaster in the Stomach, after which the Slap-Stick +was introduced as a Sub-Motive. + +The Manager gave a Sign and the Stage Hands Closed in on the Best Team +in the Business, Bar None. + +Of course Zoroaster and Zendavesta were very sore at having their Act +killed. They said it was no way to treat Artists. The Manager told them +they were too Tart for words to tell it and to consider Themselves set +back into the Supper Show. Then They saw through the whole Conspiracy. +The Manager was Mansfield's Friend and Mansfield was out with his +Hammer. + +At Present they are doing Two Supper Turns to the Piano Player and a Day +Watchman. They are still the Best in the Business, but are being used +Dead Wrong. However, they derive some Comfort from reading the Paducah +Notice. + +MORAL: _A Dramatic Editor should never go to a Burgoo Picnic--especially +in Kentucky._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ FLORA _AND_ ADOLPH _AND A_ HOME GONE WRONG + + +One morning a Modern Solomon, who had been chosen to preside as Judge in +a Divorce Mill, climbed to his Perch and unbuttoned his Vest for the +Wearisome Grind. He noticed that the first Case looming up on the Docket +was that of Flora Botts vs. Adolph Botts. + +The Applicant, Mrs. Botts, and Adolph, the Other Half of the Domestic +Sketch, were already inside the Railing, each attempting to look the +other out of Countenance. + +"Break!" ordered the Judge. "Don't act as if you were at Home. Now, what +has Adolph been doing?" + +It seemed that she alleged Cruelty, Neglect, Inhuman Treatment, Violent +Temper, Threats, etc., etc. + +"We have no Chills-and-Fever Music to lend Effect to the Sad Narrative +you are about to Spring," said the Judge, looking down at the Plaintiff, +who belonged to the Peroxide Tribe. "Furthermore, we will take it for +granted that when you first met Defendant your Innocence and Youth made +it a Walkaway for his Soft Approaches, and that you had every Reason to +believe that he was a Perfect Gentleman. Having disposed of these +Preliminaries, let us have the Plot of the Piece." + +So she told her Story in a Tremulous, Viola Allen kind of Voice, while +her Lawyer wept. + +[Illustration: MODERN SOLOMON] + +He was ready to Weep for anyone who would hand him $8. +Afterthought--make it $7.50. + +It was a Dark Tale of how Botts, the Viperish Defendant, had Sneered at +her, called her Oh-Such-Names, humiliated her in the presence of +Callers, and nagged her with Sarcastic Comments until her Tender +Sensibilities had been worn to a Frazzle. + +Then the Defendant went on the Stand and entered a General Denial. He +had been all that a Rattling Good Husband could be, but she had been a +regular Rudyard Kipling Vampire. She had continued to make his Life one +lingering Day-After of Regret. His Record for Patience and +Long-Suffering had made Job's Performance look like an Amateur's +Half-Try. + +[Illustration: THE VIPER] + +"There is more in this Case than appears on the Surface," said the +Modern Solomon. "In order to fix the Blame we shall have to dig up the +First Cause. I will ask Chemical Flora to tell us the Story of her Past +Life." + +"My Parents were Poor, but Refined," said Mrs. Botts. "They gave me +Every Advantage. After I finished the High School I attended a +Conservatory, and every one said I had Talent. I should have been an +Elocutionist. Once I went to Rockford and recited "The Tramp's Story" at +a Club Social, and I got a Lovely Notice. I am especially good at +Dialect Recitations." + +"Humorous?" asked the Court. + +"Yes, sir; but I can turn right around and be Pathetic all of a +sudden, if I want to be." + +[Illustration: CHEMICAL FLORA] + +"I suppose that Botts, after he had lived with you for awhile, didn't +have any Hankering Desire to hear you Recite," suggested the Modern +Solomon. + +"That's just it. When I'd offer to get up in Company and speak Something +he'd ask me please not to Recite, and if I had to make a Show of myself, +for God's Sake not to tackle anything Humorous, with a Conservatory +Dialect to it." + +"But you wouldn't let him Stop you?" + +"Not on your Life." + +"I'd believe you, even if you wasn't under Oath. Now, will Mr. Botts +answer me one Question? Has he any Ambition on the Side?" + +"Although I am a Bookkeeper for a Gravel-Roofing Concern, I have always +believed I could Write," replied Adolph Botts. "About four years ago I +began to prepare the Book for a Comic Opera. A Friend of mine who works +in a Hat Store was to Compose the Music. I think he has more Ability +than Victor Herbert." + +"Did this Friend think Well of your Libretto?" asked the Wise Judge. + +"Yes, sir; he said it was the Best Thing that had been done since +'Erminie.' In fact, everybody liked my Book." + +"Except your Wife," suggested the Court. + +"That's it, exactly. I wanted Sympathy and Encouragement and she gave me +the Metallic Laugh. There is one Patter Song in my Opera that Every One +who comes to my House has been Crazy to hear. Whenever I started to Sing +it she would talk in a loud Voice. She never seemed to Appreciate my +Stuff. I think the Bleach affected her Head." + +"Has the Opera been produced?" asked the Court, with Humane Hesitancy. + +"No, the Eastern Managers were all tied up with Harry B. Smith," replied +Mr. Botts. "Then there's a Prejudice against Western Talent." + +"Well, Mr. Botts, in View of all the Evidence, I have decided to give +you a Decree of Divorce from Flo of the Wheaten Tresses," said the +Modern Solomon. + +"But look here!" exclaimed the Defendant, "I haven't applied for any +Divorce." + +"You don't have to. I give it to you anyway. As for you, Mrs. Botts, I +will give you a Decree also. The Alimony will be $25 per." + +"Thanks." + +"I don't think you grasp the Decision. When I say that the Alimony is +$25 per, I mean that Mrs. Botts will be required to pay that Amount to +Adolph every week." + +"Shameful!" + +"Don't be too hasty. I further Decree that Mr. Botts must pay the same +Amount to Flora every Week." + +"That simply makes it a Stand-Off," remarked Mr. Botts, who was puzzled. + +"My idea of the Case, neatly expressed," said the Modern Solomon. "Each +of you is Divorced from the Other, and if Either of you ever Marries +again, He or She will be jerked before this Tribunal and sentenced to +Ten Years of Hard Labor in some Penal Institution." + +Whereupon the Court took a Noon Recess of 3-1/2 hours. + +Moral: _Genius must ever walk Alone._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ COPPER _AND THE_ JOVIAL UNDERGRADS + + +One Night three Well-Bred Young Men, who were entertained at the Best +Houses wherever they went, started out to Wreck a College town. + +They licked two Hackmen, set fire to an Awning, pulled down many Signs, +and sent a Brick through the Front Window of a Tailor Shop. All the +Residents of the Town went into their Houses and locked the Doors; +Terror brooded over the Community. + +A Copper heard the Racket, and saw Women and Children fleeing to Places +of Safety, so he gripped his Club and ran Ponderously, overtaking the +three Well-Bred Young Men in a dark part of the Street, where they were +Engaged in tearing down a Fence. + +He could not see them Distinctly, and he made the Mistake of assuming +that they were Drunken Ruffians from the Iron Foundry. So he spoke +harshly, and told them to Leave Off breaking the Man's Fence. His Tone +and Manner irritated the University Men, who were not accustomed to +Rudeness from Menials. + +One Student, who wore a Sweater, and whose people butt into the Society +Column with Sickening Regularity, started to Tackle Low; he had Bushy +Hair and a Thick Neck, and his strong Specialty was to swing on +Policemen and Cabbies. + +[Illustration: STUDENT] + +At this, his Companion, whose Great Grandmother had been one of the +eight thousand Close Relatives of John Randolph, asked him not to Kill +the Policeman. He said the Fellow had made a Mistake, that was all; they +were not Muckers; they were Nice Boys, intent on preserving the +Traditions of dear old _Alma Mater_. + +The Copper could hardly Believe it until they led him to a Street Lamp, +and showed him their Engraved Cards and Junior Society Badges; then he +Realized that they were All Right. The third Well-Bred Young Man, whose +Male Parent got his Coin by wrecking a Building Association in Chicago, +then announced that they were Gentlemen, and could Pay for everything +they broke. Thus it will be seen that they were Rollicking College Boys +and not Common Rowdies. + +The Copper, perceiving that he had come very near getting Gay with our +First Families, Apologized for Cutting In. The Well-Bred Young Men +forgave him, and then took his Club away from him, just to Demonstrate +that there were no Hard Feelings. On the way back to the Seat of +Learning they captured a Night Watchman, and put him down a Man-Hole. + +MORAL: _Always select the Right Sort of Parents before you start in to +be Rough._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ PROFESSOR _WHO_ WANTED _TO BE_ ALONE + + +Now it happens that in America a man who goes up hanging to a Balloon is +a Professor. + +One day a Professor, preparing to make a Grand Ascension, was sorely +pestered by Spectators of the Yellow-Hammer Variety, who fell over the +Stay-Ropes or crowded up close to the Balloon to ask Fool Questions. +They wanted to know how fur up he Calkilated to go and was he Afeerd and +how often had he did it. The Professor answered them in the Surly Manner +peculiar to Showmen accustomed to meet a WebFoot Population. On the +Q.T. the Prof. had Troubles of his own. He was expected to drop in at a +Bank on the following Day and take up a Note for 100 Plunks. The +Ascension meant 50 to him, but how to Corral the other 50? That was the +Hard One. + +This question was in his Mind as he took hold of the Trapeze Bar and +signaled the Farm Hands to let go. As he trailed Skyward beneath the +buoyant silken Bag he hung by his Knees and waved a glad Adieu to the +Mob of Inquisitive Yeomen. A Sense of Relief came to him as he saw the +Crowd sink away in the Distance. + +Hanging by one Toe, and with his right Palm pressed to his Eyes, he +said: "Now that I am Alone, let me Think, let me Think." + +[Illustration: THE PROFESSOR] + +There in the Vast Silence He Thought. + +Presently he gave a sigh of Relief. + +"I will go to my Wife's Brother and make a Quick Touch," he said. "If he +refuses to Unbelt I will threaten to tell his Wife of the bracelet he +bought in Louisville." + +Having reached this Happy Conclusion, he loosened the Parachute and +quickly descended to the Earth. + +MORAL: _Avoid Crowds._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF A_ STATESMAN _WHO_ COULDN'T MAKE GOOD + + +Once there was a Bluff whose Long Suit was Glittering Generalities. + +He hated to Work and it hurt his Eyes to read Law, but on a Clear Day he +could be heard a Mile, so he became a Statesman. + +Whenever the Foresters had a Picnic they invited him to make the +Principal Address, because he was the only Orator who could beat out the +Merry-Go-Round. + +The Habit of Dignity enveloped him. + +Upon his Brow Deliberation sat. He wore a Fireman's moustache and a +White Lawn Tie, and he loved to Talk about the Flag. + +At a Clam-Bake in 1884 he hurled Defiance at all the Princes and +Potentates of Europe, and the Sovereign Voters, caught up by his +Matchless Eloquence and Unswerving Courage, elected him to the +Legislature. + +While he was in the Legislature he discovered that these United States +were an Asylum for the Down-Trodden and oppressed of the Whole World, +and frequently called Attention to the Fact. When some one asked him if +he was cutting up any Easy Money or would it be safe for a Man with a +Watch to go to Sleep in the same Room with him, he would take a Drink of +Water and begin to plead for Cuba. + +[Illustration: STATESMAN] + +Once an Investigating Committee got after him and he was about to be +Shown Up for Dallying with Corporations, but he put on a fresh White Tie +and made a Speech about our Heroic Dead on a Hundred Battle-Fields, and +Most People said it was simply Impossible for such a Thunderous Patriot +to be a Crook. So he played the Glittering Generality stronger than +ever. + +In Due Time he Married a Widow of the Bantam Division. The Reason she +married him was that he looked to her to be a Coming Congressman and she +wanted to get a Whack at Washington Society. Besides, she lived in a +Flat and the Janitor would not permit her to keep a Dog. + +About Ten Days after they were Married he came Home at 4 A.M. in a +Sea-Going Hack and he was Saturated. Next Morning she had him up on the +Carpet and wanted to know How About It. + +[Illustration: THE BANTAM] + +He arose and put his Right Hand inside of his Prince Albert Coat and +began. + +"Madam," he said, "During a Long, and, I trust, a not altogether +fruitless Career as a Servant of the Peepul, I have always stood in the +Fierce Light of Publicity, and my Record is an Open Book which he who +runs may----" + +"Nix! Nix!" she said, rapping for order with a Tea-Cup. "Let go of the +Flying Rings. Get back to the Green Earth!" + +He dilated his Nostrils and said: "From the Rock-Bound Hills of Maine in +the North to the Everglades of Florida----" + +"Forget the Everglades," she said, rapping again. "That Superheated +Atmosphere may have a certain Tonic Effect on the Hydrocephalous Voter, +but if you want to adjust yourself with Wifey, you come down to Cases." + +So he went out after Breakfast and bought a $22 Hat in order to Square +himself. + +MORAL: _Some Women should be given the Right to Vote._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ BRASH DRUMMER _AND THE_ PEACH _WHO_ LEARNED _THAT_ +THERE WERE OTHERS + + +A well-fixed Mortgage Shark, residing at a Way Station, had a Daughter +whose Experience was not as large as her prospective Bank Roll. She had +all the component Parts of a Peach, but she didn't know how to make a +Showing, and there was nobody in Town qualified to give her a quiet +Hunch. + +She got her Fashion Hints from a Trade Catalogue, and took her Tips on +Etiquette and Behavior from the Questions and Answers Department of an +Agricultural Monthly. + +The Girl and her Father lived in a big White House, with Evergreen Trees +and whitewashed Dornicks in front of it, and a Wind-Pump at the rear. +Father was a good deal the same kind of a Man as David Harum, except +that he didn't let go of any Christmas Presents, or work the Soft Pedal +when he had a chance to apply a Crimp to some Widow who had seen Better +Days. In fact, Daughter was the only one on Earth who could induce him +to Loosen Up. + +Now, it happened that there came to this Town every Thirty Days a brash +Drummer, who represented a Tobacco House. He was a Gabby Young Man, and +he could Articulate at all Times, whether he had anything to Say or +not. + +[Illustration: DAUGHTER] + +One night, at a Lawn Fête given by the Ladies of the Methodist +Congregation, he met Daughter. She noticed that his Trousers did not bag +at the Knees; also that he wore a superb Ring. They strolled under the +Maples, and he talked what is technically known as Hot Air. He made an +Impression considerably deeper than himself. She promised to Correspond. + +On the occasion of his next Visit to the Way Station, he let her wear +his Ring, and made a Wish, while she took him riding in the Phaeton. He +began to carry her Photograph in his Watch, and show it to the Boys +employed at the House. Sometimes he would fold over one of her Letters +so they could see how it started out. He said the Old Man had Nothing +But, and he proposed to make it a case of Marry. Truly, it seemed that +he was the principal Cake in the Pantry, and little did he suspect that +he could be Frosted. + +[Illustration: IN THE EAST] + +But Daughter, after much Pleading, induced Father to send her to a +Finishing School in the East. (A Finishing School is a Place at which +Young Ladies are taught how to give the Quick Finish to all Persons who +won't do.) + +At School, the Daughter tied up with a Chum, who seldom overlooked a +Wednesday Matinee, and she learned more in three Weeks than her +Childhood Home could have shown her in three Centuries. + +Now she began to see the other Kind; the Kind that Wears a Cutaway, with +a White Flower, in the Morning, a Frock, with Violets, in the +Afternoon, and a jimmy little Tuxedo at Night. + +[Illustration: A STRANGE MAN] + +For the first time she began to listen to Harness that had Chains to it, +and she rode in Vehicles that permitted her to glance in at the Second +Stories. + +She stopped wearing Hats, and began to choose Confections. She selected +them Languidly, three at a time. + +Then the Bill to the Way Station, and Father down with Heart Failure. + +She kept Mr. Sothern's Picture on her Dresser, with two Red Candles +burning in front of it, and every time she thought of Gabby Will, the +Crackerjack Salesman, she reached for the Peau d'Espagne and sprayed +herself. + + * * * * * + +One Day when the Tobacco Salesman came up Main Street with his Grips, +on his way to visit the Trade, he met the Drug Clerk, who told him that +She was Home on a Visit. So he hurried through with his Work, got a +Shave, changed ends on his Cuffs, pared his Nails, bought a box of +Marshmallows, and went out to the House. + +Daughter was on the Lawn, seated under a Canopy that had set Father back +thirty-two Dollars. There was a Hired Hand sprinkling the Grass with a +Hose, and as Will, the Conversational Drummer, came up the Long Walk, +Daughter called to the Hired Hand, and said: "Johnson, there is a +Strange Man coming up the Walk; change the Direction of the Stream +somewhat, else you may Dampen him." + +The Drummer approached her, feeling of his Necktie, and wondered if she +would up and Kiss him, right in broad Daylight. She didn't. Daughter +allowed a rose-colored Booklet, by Guy de Maupassant, to sink among the +Folds of her French Gown, and then she Looked at him, and said: "All +Goods must be delivered at the Rear." + +"Don't you Know me?" he asked. + +"Rully, it seems to me I have seen you, Somewhere," she replied, "but I +cahn't place you. Are you the Man who tunes the Piano?" + +"Don't you remember the night I met you at the Lawn Fête?" he asked; and +then, Chump that he was, and all Rattled, he told her his Name, instead +of giving her the scorching Come-Back that he composed next Day, when it +was Too Late. + +"I meet so many People traveling about," she said; "I cahn't remember +all of them, you know. I dare say you called to see Pu-pah; he will be +here Presently." + +Then she gave him "Some one's else," "Neyether," "Savoir-Faire," and a +few other Crisp Ones, hot from the Finishing School, after which she +asked him how the Dear Villagers were coming on. He reminded her that he +did not live in the Town. She said: "Only Fahncy!" and he said he +guessed he'd have to be Going, as he had promised a Man to meet him at +Jordan's Store before the Bank closed. + +As he moved toward the St. Nicholas Hotel he kept his Hand on his Solar +Plexus. At five o'clock he rode out of Town on a Local. + +MORAL: _Anybody can Win unless there happens to be a Second Entry._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ SISTER MAE, _WHO_ DID _AS_ WELL _AS_ COULD BE EXPECTED + + +Two Sisters lived in Chicago, the Home of Opportunity. + +Luella was a Good Girl, who had taken Prizes at the Mission Sunday +School, but she was Plain, much. Her Features did not seem to know the +value of Team Work. Her Clothes fit her Intermittently, as it were. She +was what would be called a Lumpy Dresser. But she had a good Heart. + +Luella found Employment at a Hat Factory. All she had to do was to put +Red Linings in Hats for the Country Trade; and every Saturday Evening, +when Work was called on account of Darkness, the Boss met her as she +went out and crowded three Dollars on her. + +The other Sister was Different. + +She began as Mary, then changed to Marie, and her Finish was Mae. + +From earliest Youth she had lacked Industry and Application. + +She was short on Intellect but long on Shape. + +The Vain Pleasures of the World attracted her. By skipping the Long +Words she could read how Rupert Bansiford led Sibyl Gray into the +Conservatory and made Love that scorched the Begonias. Sometimes she +just Ached to light out with an Opera Company. + +When she couldn't stand up Luella for any more Car Fare she went out +looking for Work, and hoping she wouldn't find it. The sagacious +Proprietor of a Lunch Room employed her as Cashier. In a little While +she learned to count Money, and could hold down the Job. + +[Illustration: THE BOSS] + +Marie was a Strong Card. The Male Patrons of the Establishment hovered +around the Desk long after paying their Checks. Within a Month the +Receipts of the Place had doubled. + +It was often remarked that Marie was a Pippin. Her Date Book had to be +kept on the Double Entry System. + +Although her Grammar was Sad, it made no Odds. Her Picture was on many a +Button. + +A Credit Man from the Wholesale House across the Street told her that +any time she wanted to see the Telegraph Poles rush past, she could +tear Transportation out of his Book. But Marie turned him down for a +Bucket Shop Man, who was not Handsome, but was awful Generous. + +[Illustration: MAE] + +They were Married, and went to live in a Flat with a Quarter-Sawed Oak +Chiffonier and Pink Rugs. She was Mae at this Stage of the Game. + +Shortly after this, Wheat jumped twenty-two points, and the Husband +didn't do a Thing. + +Mae bought a Thumb Ring and a Pug Dog, and began to speak of the Swede +Help as "The Maid." + +Then she decided that she wanted to live in a House, because, in a Flat, +One could never be sure of One's Neighbors. So they moved into a +Sarcophagus on the Boulevard, right in between two Old Families, who +had made their Money soon after the Fire, and Ice began to form on the +hottest Days. + +Mae bought an Automobile, and blew her Allowance against Beauty Doctors. +The Smell of Cooking made her Faint, and she couldn't see where the +Working Classes came in at all. + +When she attended the theater a Box was none too good. Husband went +along, in evening clothes and a Yachting Cap, and he had two large +Diamonds in his Shirt Front. + +Sometimes she went to a Vogner Concert, and sat through it, and she +wouldn't Admit any more that the Russell Brothers, as the Irish +Chambermaids, hit her just about Right. + +She was determined to break into Society if she had to use an Ax. + +At last she Got There; but it cost her many a Reed Bird and several +Gross of Cold Quarts. + +In the Hey-Day of Prosperity did Mae forget Luella? No, indeed. + +She took Luella away from the Hat Factory, where the Pay was three +Dollars a Week, and gave her a Position as Assistant Cook at five +Dollars. + +MORAL: _Industry and Perseverance bring a sure Reward._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF_ HOW _THE_ FOOL-KILLER BACKED OUT _OF A_ CONTRACT + + +The Fool-Killer came along the Pike Road one Day and stopped to look at +a Strange Sight. + +Inside of a Barricade were several Thousands of Men, Women and Children. +They were moving restlessly among the trampled Weeds, which were clotted +with Watermelon Rinds, Chicken Bones, Straw and torn Paper Bags. + +It was a very hot Day. The People could not sit down. They shuffled +Wearily and were pop-eyed with Lassitude and Discouragement. + +A stifling Dust enveloped them. They Gasped and Sniffled. Some tried to +alleviate their Sufferings by gulping down a Pink Beverage made of +Drug-Store Acid, which fed the Fires of Thirst. + +Thus they wove and interwove in the smoky Oven. The Whimper or the +faltering Wail of Children, the quavering Sigh of overlaced Women, and +the long-drawn Profanity of Men--these were what the Fool-Killer heard +as he looked upon the Suffering Throng. + +"Is this a new Wrinkle on Dante's Inferno?" he asked of the Man on the +Gate, who wore a green Badge marked "Marshal," and was taking Tickets. + +"No, sir; this is a County Fair," was the reply. + +[Illustration: THE FOOL-KILLER] + +"Why do the People congregate in the Weeds and allow the Sun to warp +them?" + +"Because Everybody does it." + +"Do they Pay to get in?" + +"You know it." + +"Can they Escape?" + +"They can, but they prefer to Stick." + +The Fool-Killer hefted his Club and then looked at the Crowd and shook +his Head doubtfully. + +"I can't tackle that Outfit to-day," he said. "It's too big a Job." + +So he went on into Town, and singled out a Main Street Merchant who +refused to Advertise. + +MORAL: _People who expect to be Luny will find it safer to travel in a +Bunch._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ CADDY _WHO_ HURT HIS HEAD WHILE THINKING + + +One Day a Caddy sat in the Long Grass near the Ninth Hole and wondered +if he had a Soul. His Number was 27, and he almost had forgotten his +Real Name. + +As he sat and Meditated, two Players passed him. They were going the +Long Round, and the Frenzy was upon them. + +They followed the Gutta Percha Balls with the intent swiftness of +trained Bird Dogs, and each talked feverishly of Brassy Lies, and +getting past the Bunker, and Lofting to the Green, and Slicing into the +Bramble--each telling his own Game to the Ambient Air, and ignoring what +the other Fellow had to say. + +As they did the St. Andrews Full Swing for eighty Yards apiece and then +Followed Through with the usual Explanations of how it Happened, the +Caddy looked at them and Reflected that they were much inferior to his +Father. + +His Father was too Serious a Man to get out in Mardi Gras Clothes and +hammer a Ball from one Red Flag to another. + +His Father worked in a Lumber Yard. + +He was an Earnest Citizen, who seldom Smiled, and he knew all about the +Silver Question and how J. Pierpont Morgan done up a Free People on the +Bond Issue. + +[Illustration: MEDITATIVE CADDY] + +The Caddy wondered why it was that his Father, a really Great Man, had +to shove Lumber all day and could seldom get one Dollar to rub against +another, while these superficial Johnnies who played Golf all the Time +had Money to Throw at the Birds. The more he Thought the more his Head +ached. + +MORAL: _Don't try to Account for Anything._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ MARTYR _WHO_ LIKED _THE_ JOB + + +Once in a Country Town there was a Man with a Weak Back. + +He could put a Grindstone into a Farm Wagon if any one wanted to bet him +the Segars, but every time he lifted an Ax, something caught him right +in the Spine and he had to go into the House and lie down. So his Wife +took Boarders and did the Cooking herself. + +He was willing to divide the Labor, however; so he did the Marketing. +Only, when he had bought the Victuals, he would squat on a Shoe-Box with +the Basket between his Legs and say that he couldn't see what Congress +wuz thinkin' of. + +He had certain Theories in regard to the Alaskan Boundary and he was +against any Anglo-American Alliance becuz Uncle Sam could take care of +himself at any Turn in the Road, comin' right down to it, and the +American People wuz superior to any other Naytionality in every Way, +Shape, Manner and Form, as fur as that's concerned. Then his Wife would +have to send Word for him to come on with the Groceries so she could get +Dinner. + +Nearly Everybody Sympathized with her, because she had to put up with +such a big Hulk of a no-account Husband. She was looked upon as a +Martyr. + +[Illustration: A MARTYR] + +One Day the Husband was Sunstruck, being too Lazy to move into the +Shade, and next Day he Passed Away without an Effort. The Widow gave him +the best Funeral of the Year and then put all the Money she could rake +and scrape into a Marble Shaft marked "At Rest." + +A good many People said she was Better Off without him, and it was +certainly a Good Riddance of Bad Rubbish. + +They hoped that if she ever Married again she'd pick out Somebody that +wuzn't afraid to Work, and had Gumption enough to pound Sand into a +Rat-Hole. + +There was General Satisfaction when she became the Wife of Mr. Gladden, +who owned the General Store. He built a new House, hired a Girl and had +the Washing sent out. She could go into the Store and pick out Anything +she wanted, and he took her riding in his new Runabout every Evening. + +Consequently, she was very Miserable, thinking of the Jewel she had +lost. + +MORAL: _If the Woman thinks he's All Right, you keep on your own Side of +the Fence._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ BOHEMIAN _WHO_ HAD HARD LUCK + + +Once upon a Time there was a Brilliant but Unappreciated Chap who was +such a Thorough Bohemian that Strangers usually mistook him for a Tramp. + +Would he brush his Clothes? Not he. When he wore a Collar he was Ashamed +of himself. He had Pipe-Ashes on his Coat and Vest. He seldom Combed his +Hair, and never Shaved. + +Every Evening he ate an Imitation Dinner, at a forty-cent Table d'Hôte, +with a Bottle of Writing Fluid thrown in. He had formed a little Salon +of Geniuses, who also were out of Work, and they loved to Loll around +on their Shoulder-Blades and Laugh Bitterly at the World. + +The main Bohemian was an Author. After being Turned Down by numerous +Publishers, he had decided to write for Posterity. Posterity hadn't +heard anything about it, and couldn't get out an Injunction. + +He knew his Works were good, because all the Free and Untrammeled Souls +in the Spaghetti Joint told him so. He would read them a Little Thing of +his Own about Wandering in the Fields with Lesbia, and then he would +turn to a Friend, whose Face was all covered with Human Ivy, and ask +him, point blank: "Is it, or is it not, Better than the Dooley Stuff?" + +[Illustration: THOROUGH BOHEMIAN] + +"There is no Comparison," would be the Reply, coming through the +Foliage. + +Wandering in the Fields with Lesbia! Lesbia would have done Well. If he +had Wandered in the Fields at any Time he would have been Pinched on +Suspicion that he was out for Turnips. + +The sure-enough Bohemian was a Scathing Critic. If Brander Matthews only +knew some of the Things said about him, there would be Tear Marks on his +Pillow. And Howells, too. Bah! My, but he was Caustic. + +The way he burned up Magazine Writers, it's a Wonder they didn't get +after him for Arson. + +One day, while standing on the Front Stoop at his Boarding House, trying +to think of some one who would submit to a Touch, a Flower Pot fell from +a Window Ledge above him, and hit him on the Head. He was put into an +Ambulance and taken to a Hospital, where the Surgeons clipped his Hair +short, in order to take Three Stitches. While he was still Unconscious, +and therefore unable to Resist, they Scrubbed him with Castile Soap, +gave him a good Shave, and put him into a snowy-white Gown. + +His Friends heard of the Accident, and went to the Hospital to offer +Condolence. When they found him he was so Clean and Commonplace that +they lost all Respect for him. + +MORAL: _Get a good Make-Up and the Part plays itself._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ COMING CHAMPION _WHO WAS_ DELAYED + + +In a certain Athletic Club which rented two rooms over a Tin-Shop there +was one Boy who could put it All Over the other Members. + +He knew how to Jab and Counter and Upper-Cut and Bore in with the Left +and Play for the Wind. He had Lumps on his Arms and a good Pair of +Shoulders, and every one in the Club told him he had the makings of a +World-Beater. He used to coax Grocery Clerks and Grammar-School Children +to put on the Gloves with him, and then he would go around them, like a +Cooper around a Barrel, and Trim them right and proper. + +His friends would stand and watch him make Monkeys of these anæmic +Amateurs, and gradually the Conviction grew within them that he could +Lick anybody of his Weight. The Boy believed them when they told him he +ought to go after the Top-Notchers. + +He gave up his Job in the Planing Mill and became a Pugilist. The +Proprietor of a Cigar Store acted as his Manager, and began to pay his +Board. This Manager was Foxy. He told the Boy that before tackling the +Championship Class it would be better to go out and beat a lot of +Fourth-Raters, thereby building up a Reputation and at the same time +getting here and there a Mess of the Long Green. + +[Illustrations: MANAGER] + +In the same Town there was an Undertaker who had Sporting Blood in his +Veins, and he sought out the Manager and made a Match in behalf of an +Unknown. + +The boy went into Training in a Stable. He had a yellow Punching Bag, a +Sponge, a Bath-Robe and several Towels. Two Paper-Hangers who were out +of Work acted as his Trainers. They rubbed him with Witch Hazel all day, +and in the Evening the Boy stood around in a Sweater and Talked out of +the corner of his Mouth. He said he was Trained to the Minute, as Hard +as Nails and Fit as a Fiddle, and he would make Mr. Unknown jump out of +the Ring. + +As the Day of the Battle approached it came out that the Unknown was a +Scrapper who had been fairly Successful at one Time, but had ceased to +be a Live One several Years before. He was imported especially for this +Contest with the Coming Champion. + +[Illustration: THE COMING CHAMPION] + +When he arrived in Town it was evident that he lacked Condition. He had +been dieting himself on Pie and Beer, and any Expert, such as the Cigar +Store Man, could tell by looking at him that his Abdomen was not hard +enough to withstand those crushing Body Blows such as the Boy was in the +Habit of Landing--on the Punching Bag. Accordingly the Word went around +that the imported Pug was too Fat and had bad Wind. + +It began to resemble a Cinch. + +The Manager went out and bet more Money, and the Coming Champion was +Nervous for fear that he would kill the Has-Been if he connected too +strong on the Point of the Jaw. He thought it would be better to wear +him down with Short-Arm blows and make him Quit. He had read that it was +Dangerous to punish a Physical Wreck, who might have Heart Trouble or +something like that. The Boy was a Professional Pugilist, but he had +Humane Instincts. + +When the Boy came to the Train which was to carry the Participants and +the Spectators to the Battle-Field he was attended by four Comrades, who +had Ice, Beef Tea, Brandy, Alcohol, Blankets and other Paraphernalia. +They made a Couch for him in the Baggage Car, and had him lie down, so +that he might conserve all his Strength and step into the Ring as fresh +as possible. The so-called Unknown had no one to Handle him. He sat +Alone in the Men's Car, with a queer Telescope Valise on his Knees, and +he smoked a Cigarette, which was in direct Violation of all the Rules of +Training. + +At last the Company arrived at the Secluded Spot, and a Ring was staked +out. + +The Coming Champion was received with Loud Cheers. He wore a new Pair of +Gymnasium Shoes, spotless Trunks, and around his Waist was an American +Flag, presented by his Admirers in the Athletic Club. + +In a few Moments the Imported Scrapper came into the Ring, attended by +the Sporty Undertaker. He wore an old Pair of Bike Shoes and faded Work +Trousers, chopped off at the Knees, while his Belt was a Shawl-Strap. +He was chewing Gum. + +[Illustration: AND SEE!] + +After he put on the Gloves he looked over at the Coming Champion and +remarked to the Undertaker that he (the Coming Champion) seemed to be a +Nice Young Fellow. After which he Yawned slightly, and wanted to know +what Time they would get a Train back to Town. + +The Bell rang, and there in the Center of the Ring stood the Tottering +Has-Been and the Coming Champion. + +The Has-Been was crouched, with his Head drawn in, turtle-fashion, his +Legs spraddled, and oh, the hard, vicious Expression on that Face, as he +Fiddled Short and looked intently at the Coming Champion's Feet. This +was a very confusing and unprofessional Thing to do, as the Boy had not +been accustomed to boxing with People who looked at his Feet. He +wondered if there was anything the matter with his Gymnasium Shoes. + +In a Moment or two he saw that the Physical Wreck was afraid to Lead, so +he did some nimble Foot Work, and his Gloves began to describe +Parabolas--then all at once somebody turned off the Sunshine. + +They threw Cold Water on him, held a Bottle of Ammonia to his Nose and +stuck Pins in under his Finger-Nails. + +At last his Eye-Lids fluttered, and he turned a dim and filmy Gaze on +his faithful Seconds gathered about him. + +"Oh, how the Birds sing!" he murmured. "And see! The Aurora Borealis is +trying to climb over Pain's Fire-Works." + +"Cheer up!" said the Manager. "He took a Mean Advantage of you and Hit +you when you wasn't Looking." + +"Ah, yes, it all comes back to me. Did I win?" + +"Not quite," replied the Manager, who feared to tell him the whole +Truth. + +"You say he Hit me?" asked the Coming Champion. + +"Yes." + +"With a Casting?" + +"We couldn't tell. He was in such a Hurry." + +All this Time the Victor was sitting on the Station Platform with the +Undertaker. He was Remarking that it seemed to be a very Purty Country +thereabouts, and he'd often wished he could close in on enough of the +Gilt to buy him a nice piece of Land somewhere, inasmuch as he regarded +a Farmer as the most independent Man on Earth. + +Next week there was a familiar Name back on the Time-Card at the Planing +Mill. + +MORAL: _In all the Learned Professions, Many are Called but Few are +Chosen._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ LAWYER _WHO_ BROUGHT IN _A_ MINORITY REPORT + + +At a Bazaar, the purpose of which was to Hold Up the Public for the +Benefit of a Worthy Cause, there were many Schemes to induce Visitors to +let go of their Assets. One of the most likely Grafts perpetrated by the +astute Management was a Voting Contest to Determine who was the Most +Beautiful and Popular Young Lady in the City. It cost Ten Cents to cast +one Vote. The Winner of the Contest was to receive a beautiful Vase, +with Roses on it. + +A prominent Young Lawyer, who was Eloquent, Good Looking, and a Leader +in Society, had been selected to make the Presentation Speech after the +Votes had been counted. + +In a little while the Contest had narrowed down until it was Evident +that either the Brewer's Daughter or the Contractor's Daughter was the +Most Beautiful and Popular Young Lady in the City. The Brewer and his +Friends pushed Ten Dollar Bills into the Ballot Box, while the +Contractor, just before the Polls closed, slipped in a Check for One +Hundred Dollars. + +When the Votes were counted, the Management of the Bazaar was pleased to +learn that the Sixty-Cent Vase had Netted over Seven Hundred Dollars. It +was Announced that the Contractor's Daughter was exactly Nine Dollars +and Twenty Cents more Beautiful and Popular than the Brewer's Daughter. + +[Illustration: THE MINORITY REPORT] + +Thereupon the Committee requested that the Eloquent Young Lawyer step to +the Rostrum and make the Presentation Speech. There was no Response; the +Young Lawyer had Disappeared. + +One of the Members of the Committee started on a Search for him, and +found him in a dusky Corner of the Japanese Tea Garden, under the Paper +Lanterns, making a Proposal of Marriage to a Poor Girl who had not +received one Vote. + +MORAL: _Never believe a Relative._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE TWO_ MANDOLIN PLAYERS _AND THE_ WILLING PERFORMER + + +A very attractive Debutante knew two Young Men who called on her every +Thursday Evening, and brought their Mandolins along. + +They were Conventional Young Men, of the Kind that you see wearing +Spring Overcoats in the Clothing Advertisements. One was named Fred, and +the other was Eustace. + +The Mothers of the Neighborhood often remarked, "What Perfect Manners +Fred and Eustace have!" Merely as an aside it may be added that Fred +and Eustace were more Popular with the Mothers than they were with the +Younger Set, although no one could say a Word against either of them. +Only it was rumored in Keen Society that they didn't Belong. The Fact +that they went Calling in a Crowd, and took their Mandolins along, may +give the Acute Reader some Idea of the Life that Fred and Eustace held +out to the Young Women of their Acquaintance. + +The Debutante's name was Myrtle. Her Parents were very Watchful, and did +not encourage her to receive Callers, except such as were known to be +Exemplary Young Men. Fred and Eustace were a few of those who escaped +the Black List. Myrtle always appeared to be glad to see them, and they +regarded her as a Darned Swell Girl. + +[Illustration: MYRTLE] + +Fred's Cousin came from St. Paul on a Visit; and one Day, in the Street, +he saw Myrtle, and noticed that Fred tipped his Hat, and gave her a +Stage Smile. + +"Oh, Queen of Sheba!" exclaimed the Cousin from St. Paul, whose name was +Gus, as he stood stock still, and watched Myrtle's Reversible Plaid +disappear around a Corner. "She's a Bird, Do you know her well?" + +"I know her Quite Well," replied Fred, coldly. "She is a Charming Girl." + +"She is all of that. You're a great Describer. And now what Night are +you going to take me around to Call on her?" + +Fred very naturally Hemmed and Hawed. It must be remembered that Myrtle +was a member of an Excellent Family, and had been schooled in the +Proprieties, and it was not to be supposed that she would crave the +Society of slangy old Gus, who had an abounding Nerve, and furthermore +was as Fresh as the Mountain Air. + +He was the Kind of Fellow who would see a Girl twice, and then, upon +meeting her the Third Time, he would go up and straighten her Cravat for +her, and call her by her First Name. + +Put him into a Strange Company--en route to a Picnic--and by the time +the Baskets were unpacked he would have a Blonde all to himself, and she +would have traded her Fan for his College Pin. + +If a Fair-Looker on the Street happened to glance at him Hard he would +run up and seize her by the Hand, and convince her that they had Met. +And he always Got Away with it, too. + +In a Department Store, while waiting for the Cash Boy to come back with +the Change, he would find out the Girl's Name, her Favorite Flower, and +where a Letter would reach her. + +Upon entering a Parlor Car at St. Paul he would select a Chair next to +the Most Promising One in Sight, and ask her if she cared to have the +Shade lowered. + +Before the Train cleared the Yards he would have the Porter bringing a +Foot-Stool for the Lady. + +At Hastings he would be asking her if she wanted Something to Read. + +At Red Wing he would be telling her that she resembled Maxine Elliott, +and showing her his Watch, left to him by his Grandfather, a Prominent +Virginian. + +[Illustration: FRED AND EUSTACE] + +At La Crosse he would be reading the Menu Card to her, and telling her +how different it is when you have Some One to join you in a Bite. + +At Milwaukee he would go out and buy a Bouquet for her, and when they +rode into Chicago they would be looking out of the same Window, and he +would be arranging for her Baggage with the Transfer Man. After that +they would be Old Friends. + +Now, Fred and Eustace had been at School with Gus, and they had seen his +Work, and they were not disposed to Introduce him into One of the most +Exclusive Homes in the City. + +They had known Myrtle for many Years; but they did not dare to Address +her by her First Name, and they were Positive that if Gus attempted any +of his usual Tactics with her she would be Offended; and, naturally +enough, they would be Blamed for bringing him to the House. + +But Gus insisted. He said he had seen Myrtle, and she Suited him from +the Ground up, and he proposed to have Friendly Doings with her. At last +they told him they would take him if he promised to Behave. Fred warned +him that Myrtle would frown down any Attempt to be Familiar on Short +Acquaintance, and Eustace said that as long as he had known Myrtle he +had never Presumed to be Free and Forward with her. He had simply played +the Mandolin. That was as Far Along as he had ever got. + +Gus told them not to Worry about him. All he asked was a Start. He said +he was a Willing Performer, but as yet he never had been Disqualified +for Crowding. Fred and Eustace took this to mean that he would not +Overplay his Attentions, so they escorted him to the House. + +As soon as he had been Presented, Gus showed her where to sit on the +Sofa, then he placed himself about Six Inches away and began to Buzz, +looking her straight in the Eye. He said that when he first saw her he +Mistook her for Miss Prentice, who was said to be the Most Beautiful +Girl in St. Paul, only, when he came closer, he saw that it couldn't be +Miss Prentice, because Miss Prentice didn't have such Lovely Hair. Then +he asked her the Month of her Birth and told her Fortune, thereby coming +nearer to Holding her Hand within Eight Minutes than Eustace had come +in a Lifetime. + +[Illustration: THE WILLING PERFORMER] + +"Play something, Boys," he Ordered, just as if he had paid them Money to +come along and make Music for him. + +They unlimbered their Mandolins and began to play a Sousa March. He +asked Myrtle if she had seen the New Moon. She replied that she had not, +so they went Outside. + +When Fred and Eustace finished the first Piece, Gus appeared at the open +Window, and asked them to play "The Georgia Camp-Meeting," which had +always been one of his Favorites. + +So they played that, and when they had Concluded there came a Voice from +the Outer Darkness, and it was the Voice of Myrtle. She said: "I'll tell +you what to Play; play the Intermezzo." + +Fred and Eustace exchanged Glances. They began to Perceive that they had +been backed into a Siding. With a few Potted Palms in front of them, and +two Cards from the Union, they would have been just the same as a Hired +Orchestra. + +But they played the Intermezzo and felt Peevish. Then they went to the +Window and looked out. Gus and Myrtle were sitting in the Hammock, which +had quite a Pitch toward the Center. Gus had braced himself by Holding +to the back of the Hammock. He did not have his Arm around Myrtle, but +he had it Extended in a Line parallel with her Back. What he had done +wouldn't Justify a Girl in saying, "Sir!" but it started a Real Scandal +with Fred and Eustace. They saw that the only Way to Get Even with her +was to go Home without saying "Good Night" So they slipped out the Side +Door, shivering with Indignation. + +After that, for several Weeks, Gus kept Myrtle so Busy that she had no +Time to think of considering other Candidates. He sent Books to her +Mother, and allowed the Old Gentleman to take Chips away from him at +Poker. + +They were Married in the Autumn, and Father-in-Law took Gus into the +Firm, saying that he had needed a good Pusher for a Long Time. + +At the Wedding the two Mandolin Players were permitted to act as Ushers. + +MORAL: _To get a fair Trial of Speed, use a Pace-Maker._ + + + + +_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ MAN _WHO_ DIDN'T CARE _FOR_ STORYBOOKS + + +Once there was a blue Dyspeptic, who attempted to Kill Time by reading +Novels, until he discovered that all Books of Fiction were a Mockery. + +After a prolonged Experience he came to know that every Specimen of +Light Reading belonged to one of the following Divisions: + +1. The Book that Promises well until you reach the Plot, and then you +Remember that you read it Summer before last. + +2. The book with the Author's Picture as a Frontispiece. The Author is +very Cocky. He has his Overcoat thrown back, so as to reveal the Silk +Lining. That Settles it! + +3. The Book that runs into a Snarl of Dialect on the third Page and +never gets out. + +4. The delectable Yarn about a Door-Mat Thief, who truly loves the Opium +Fiend. Jolly Story of the Slums. + +5. The Book that begins with a twenty-page Description of Sloppy +Weather: "Long swirls of riven Rain beat somberly upon the misty Panes," +etc., etc. + +You turn to the last Chapter to see if it Rains all the way through the +Book. This last Chapter is a Give-Away. It condenses the whole Plot and +dishes up the Conclusion. After that, who would have the Nerve to wade +through the Two Hundred and Forty intermediate Pages? + +[Illustration: ALL A MOCKERY] + +6. The Book in which the Pictures tell the Story. After you have seen +the Pictures there is no need to wrestle with the Text. + +7. The Book that begins with a Murder Mystery--charming Picture of +Gray-Haired Man discovered Dead in his Library--Blood splashed all over +the Furniture--Knife of Curious Design lying on Floor. + +You know at once that the most Respected and least _sus_pected Personage +in the Book committed the awful Crime, but you haven't the Heart to +Track him down and compel him to commit Suicide. + +8. The Book that gets away with one Man asking another: "By Jove, who is +that Dazzling Beauty in the Box?" + +The Man who asks this Question has a Name which sounds like the Title of +a Sleeping Car. + +You feel instinctively that he is going to be all Mixed Up with that +Girl in the Box before Chapter XII. is reached; but who can take any +real Interest in the Love Affairs of a Man with such a Name? + +9. The Book that tells all about Society and how Tough it is. Even the +Women drink Brandy and Soda, smoke Cigarettes, and Gamble. The clever +Man of the World, who says all the Killing Things, is almost as Funny as +Ally Sloper. An irritable Person, after reading nine Chapters of this +kind of High Life, would be ready to go Home and throw his Grandmother +into the Fire. + +10. The dull, gray Book, or the Simple Annals of John Gardensass. A +Careful Study of American Life. + +In Chapter I. he walks along the Lane, stepping first on one Foot and +then on the Other, enters a House by the Door, and sits in a four-legged +wooden Chair, looking out through a Window with Glass in it. Book +denotes careful Observation. Nothing happens until Page 150. Then John +decides to sell the Cow. In the Final Chapter he sits on a Fence and +Whittles. True Story, but What's the Use? + +Why continue? The Dyspeptic said that when he wanted something really +Fresh and Original in the Line of Fiction he read the Prospectus of a +Mining Corporation. + +MORAL: _Only the more Rugged Mortals should attempt to Keep Up on +Current Literature._ + + + + +OTHER BOOKS _By_ GEORGE ADE + + +DOC' HORNE + +A STORY OF THE STREETS AND TOWN, with many illustrations by John T. +McCutcheon. 16mo, cloth, $1.25. + +_Seventh Thousand_ + + +PINK MARSH + +A STORY OF THE STREETS AND TOWN, with forty full-page illustrations by +John T. McCutcheon. 16mo, cloth, $1.25. + +_Eighth Thousand_ + + +ARTIE + +A STORY OF THE STREETS AND TOWN, with many illustrations by John T. +McCutcheon. 16mo, cloth, $125. + +_Twenty-first Thousand_ + + +Mr. Ade's books are too well known to require comment here. They may be +had of all booksellers, the three volumes mentioned above together in a +box, or from the publishers, postpaid, on receipt of the price. + +HERBERT S. STONE & COMPANY +CHICAGO NEW YORK + + + + +PRINTED BY R.R. DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY AT THE LAKESIDE PRESS, +CHICAGO, ILL. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fables in Slang, by George Ade + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FABLES IN SLANG *** + +***** This file should be named 25322-8.txt or 25322-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/3/2/25322/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |
