Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-09-30

Full REVELATIONS MADE-THE LAST
END OF MAN IS GRIEF.
[ was to be examined for admission
to the Association Of Reporters the
night was favorable for the enterprise.
had gone to my room Oh the third
floor Of the Kimball, slipped into my
new jeans suit and was attaching a
rosebud to my coat when an arrow with
note attached came through the
window. My first impulse W to read
the mysterious note. 7 did 50. All it
contained Was:
1.-The bridge, Midnight" A cold
wave went down my backbone. With
great presence of mind 1 reached up.
turned out the gas, and hurriedly lock-
ed the door. Placing my ear to the key
hole / listened not a sound broke the
stiffness or rha night eycent the confus-
ed murmur of voices down III the vesti
bule, the roar and thunder Of passing
trains, and the car rattling over the
stony street. The moment was propi
tious. Climbing upon chair [ pass
ed. through the transOm and descended
safely in the hail With one quick bound
I reached and turned up the gas, and
was then comparatively safe. [ could
see any man who might discover me.
From doorway to doorway l passed ST.
lently, meeting no one except three or
four pofters, and reached the stairway
in perfect security. still controlling my
excitement and placing one foot before
the other rapidly, l reached the second
vii aaf
like tread, | passed tue nrominaders in
the arcade, giided down the remaining
stars. handed Colonel Galloway my key
and with sight of relief, passed out in
to the portentous night.
AS soon as | reached secluded place
I stopped and shook hands with myself
in silent congratuiation. | had escaped
from acrowGeG hotel, end nobody knew
where l was going. My exit was as
complete secret as IS the intention of a
legislator when he rests his uncertain
hand on anything in reach, and with
an anxious eye fixed on the placid spea-
ker, SAYS, "UnaccustOmed as | am to
public speaking, etc."
I reached the bridge unmolested. Not
soul was visible-they never are. 1
knew that somewhere behind me the
great capitol of the state stood silent and
grand before me THE CONSTITUTION
building lowered aloft. II stood on the
bridge palace and q prison on either
hand" Which should it bes
The questioned was decided for me.
Two fellows, painted and masked into
shapes no moral ever before imagined,
seized me. Before I could speak 1 was
dragged over the edge of the bridge and
down rope ladder. We swung against
a wall. and on noiseiess hinges a secret
door flew open. My captors entered
with me and it closed.
"Hurry! the hour approaches J" ex-
claimed hidden voice. We hurried.
The two Dromios who had me seemed
to have complete charge of the eXcur-
sion, and | would not interfere. We
went down to the subterranean hall. l
in the middle. and ali three in a jog
trot another door flew open, and we
burst into vaulted chamber of huge
dimensions. l was rushed to the mid
die, iammed down on stool, two gi-
gantic pens were thrust through my
coat tails into the floor to keep me seat
ed-uselees precautiOns--and as a sol
emn bell struck the midnight hour, the
imps who brought me Frustrated them
selves before stone throne in silence.
1 looked up; it was about all [ could
| do, and ( was sorry | did that; a mask
ed battery of the most distingue looking
devils | ever dreamed of, sat in semi
circle before me, and from the throne,
mallet in hand, the quintesence of hide
business gazed down upon me. Scarcely
had the echoes of the bell died away be
fore a hollow voice that issued from a
sickly looking terror, who seemed tt
act as clerk, proclaimed: 1.-The oandi
date for admission to our ranks has ar
rived" l analyzed his remark mental
ly and could find no fault with it.
had arrived Let the examination O.
the candidate begin; examine him first
on general matters" The enthroneC
mogul punctuated his wishes with {
blow of the nlallet that like to have jos
tied me off the stool The hollow voice
| began and I answered as soon as posi-
| BILE.
"Who is president of the United
States ?"
II cannot tell lie-samuel J. Til
den"
Bang came down the mallet.
| "There is no such word in our profes
sion as lie; "typhogIaphical error' il
the proper expresssOn."
l did not care to argue the question II
such place, so simply nodded m.
head. The hollow looking interroga
ton point curled himself again.
(Which is the most rapid inilitar.
movement mentioned in history :"
1.-THE retreat OF Conkiing from Nara
gansett Pier; this WAS not mer
change of base, it was a virtual, II not
virtuous abandonment of the Chase"
One member of the masked batter.
chuckled, but was instantly suppressed
The clerk, though imuch annoyed, con
tipued.
"What will be the popular song 10
Corbin to sing next summer"
'Where! OH where, are the Heore'
chi}dren?"
"What is now the republicans mot
to-"
"Anything to meet Grant"
The clerk laid dow his lists ana avail
ed further orders.
hi n, oh clyot0hinVH ~