The river press., 1882-12-06
A DREADFUL HUSBAND.
Playing 2s3 Degrees Of Masonry on q Wife

Playing 2s3 Degrees OF Masonry on Wife
A middle-aged lady, with o black al
paca dress, worn shiny at the elbows,
and cheap shawl, and cheap bonnet,
and her hands puckered up and blue, as
though she had just got her washing out
went into the office ola prominent Ma
son few mornings ago and took chair
She wiped her nose and the perspiration
from her face on blue-checked apron,
and when the Mason looked at her, with
an interested, brotherly look as though
she were in trouble, she said:
"Are you the boss Mason?"
He blushed, told her he was Mason,
but not the highest in the land. She
hesitated one moment, fingered the cor
ner Of her apron, and curled it up like
boy speaking a piece in school, and
asked:
Have yon taken the whole 233 de-
grees of Masonry?n
The man laughed and told her there
were only thirty-three degrees and he
had only taken. thirty-two. The other
| degree could only be taken by a very
| few who were recommended by the
| Grand Lodge and they have to go to
New York to get the thirty-third degree
The lady studied moment, unpinned
the safety-pn that held her shawl to-
1 gethnr, but it III her mouth, took a long
breath and then said:
"Where does my husband get the
other 200 degrees, then?'
The prominent Mason said he guessed
her husband never got 200 degrees, un-
less he had degree factory. He said
he didn't understand the lady. .IL8
Does my husband have to setup with
a corpse three nights Week?h she
asked her eyes flashing fire. And do
they keep lot of sick Masons on tap for
my husband to sit up with the other
three nights?n
| The prominent Mason said he was
/ thankful that few Masons died. and only
occasionally was one sick enough to call
for Masonic assistance.
i "But why do you ask the questions,
madam?' said the prominent Mason.
The woman picked up the fringe o1
her shawl, hung her head down, and
said:
"Well, my husband began to join the
Masons about two years ago, and he has
4 been taking degrees or sitting up with
people every night since. He has come
home twice with the wrong pair Of
drawers on, and when asked him how
it was, he said it was secret he coulc
not reveal under the penalty of being
, shot with cannon All he would say
was he took degree. / have kept a lit
, tie track of it and I figure that he ha.
taken 233 degrees, including the grane
Sky Fuglc degree, which he took th'
night he came home with his lip cut ant
his ear hanging by piece Of skin"
"Oh; madam" said the prominen
Mason, there is no Sky Fugle degree
in Masonry. Your husband has de
ceived you.n
That's what I Think she said, as
baleful light appeared in her eye. III
said he was taking the Sky Fugle degre
and fell through the skylight. ha,
him sewed up and he was ready TO
! more degrees. After he had tax en- abou
$50 degrees / told him should think b
would let up on it and put some potatoe
! in the cellar for winter, but he said tha
when man once got started on the de
: grees he had to take them all or h
G didn't amount to anything. Sometime
1 brother Mason comes home along wit
7 him in the morning and they talk abou
. d full flush and about their pat hands
j and raising them out One night whe
2 he was asleep heard him whisper,
2 raise you ten dollars, and when aske
him what he meant, he said they In
|, been raising q purse for II poor widow
!, Another time he raised up in bed, afte