The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-23
Playing 233 Degrees of MasOnrJ on {
Wife.

A middle-aged lady, with a black alpaca
dress worn shiny at the elbows, and a
cheap shawl, and a cheap bonnet, and her
hands puckered up and blue, as though she
had just got her washing out, went into the
office of a prominent Mason, a few mornings
since, and took a chair. She wiped her
nose and the perspiration from her face on a
blue-checked apron, and when the Mason
looked at her with an interested look, as
though she was in trouble, she said:
Are you the boss Mason p
He blushed, told her he was a Mason,
but not the highest in the land. She hest
tated a moment, fingered the corner of her
apron, and curled it up like a boy speaking
a piece in school, and asked:
Have you taken the whole two hundred
and ~thirty-three degrees of Masonry2'
The man laughed, and told her there
were only thirty-three degrees, and that ne
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 had to go to New York to
get the thirty-third degree.
The lady studied a minute, unpinned the
safety.pin that held her shawl together, and
put 1t in her mouth, took a long breath, and
said:
where does my husband get the ether
two hundred degrees then p
The prominent Mason said he guessed
her husband never got two hundred de-
grees, unless he had a degree factory. He
said he didn't understand the lady.
Does my husband have to set up with a
corpse three nights a week p she asked,
her eyes flashing fire. and do they keep
a lot of sick Masons on tap for my husband
to set up with the other three nights p
The prominent Mason said he was thank
full that few Masons died, and only OCCASION
ally Was one sick enough to call for Masonic
assistance.
But why do you ask these questions,
madam ? said the prominent Mason.
The woman picked the fringe of her
shawl, hung her head down and said
well, my husband began to join the
Masons about two years ago, and has been
taking degrees or sitting up with people
every night since. He has come home
twice with the wrong clothes on, and when
[ asked him how it was, he said it was a
secret he could not reveal under penalty Of
being shot with a cannon. All he would say
was that he took a degree. | have kept IA
little track of it, and | figure that he has
taken 233 degrees, including the grand
Sky Fugle degree, which he took the night
he came home with his lip cut, and his ear
hanging by a piece of skin.
o, madam said the prominent Mason,
there is no Sky Fugle degree in Masonry.
Your husband has deceived you
That's what [ think said she, as a bale
full light appeared in her eye. He said he
was taking the Sky Fugle degree. and fell
the sky light. | had him sewed up and he
was ready for more degrees. After he had
taken a hundred and fifty degrees. | told
him | should think he would let up on it,
and put some potatoes in the cellar for
Winter, but he said when a man once got
; started on the degrees he had to take them
all, or he didn't amount to anything. Some
with him in the morning, and they talk
hands, and raising lem out One night
when he was asleep | heard him whisper Il
raise you ten dollars and when | asked
him what it meant, he said they had been
r. ising d purse for a widow. Another time
he raised up in bed after he had been
asleep, and shouted, i stand pat and when
| asked him what he meant he said he was
ruined if he told it. He said he had spoken
the pass word, and if the brethren heard of
it they would put him out of the way,
even as Morgan was put out of the way
Mister, is 4 stand pat your pass word
The Mason told her it was not. That the
words she had spoken was an expression
used by men when playing draw poker, and
he added that he didn't believe her husband
was a Masen at all, bu; that he had been
lying to her all these years.
She sighed and said, That's what
thought when he came home with n lot of
ivory chips in his pocket. He said he used
them at the lodge to vote on candidates, and
that a white chip elects and a blue rejects a
candid tie. If you will look the m.tter up
and see if he has joined the Masons will
be obliged to you. He says he has taken
all the 233 degrees. and now the boys wants
him to join the knights of Pythias. l want
to get out an injunction to prevent him
from Joining anything else until we can get
some under clothes for Winter. I'll tell you
what | will do. The next time he says
anything about Sky Fugle degrees, | will
take a wash-board and make him think that
there is one degree in Masonry that he has
skipped. and now goodbye. You have COM
forted me greatly. and | will lay a kewa to-
night till my husband comes from the lodge
with his pat hand, and will make him
think he has forgot his ante
The lady went out to buy some bar soap.
and the prominent Mason resumed his bust
ness with q feeling that we are not truly
good, and there is che 'ting going on all
around.-Milwakee Sum.