The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-04-14
TOO MANY DEGREES.
GPecE's Sun.l

Mason, DOt not the hlSneSt IN the lanu.
She asked him if he had taken the
whole 233 degrees in Masonry.
The man assured her that there were
only thirty-three degrees, and that he
had only taken thirty-two. Tho other
degree could only be taken by very
few who were recommended by the
Grand Lodge, and they had to 60 to
New York to get the thirty-tbird de-
gree. The lady studied minute, and
said:
"Where does my husband get the
other two hundred degrees ~
The promincus Mason said he guess
ed her husband never got two hun
dred degrees, unless he had a degree
factory. He said he didn't understand
the lady.
s'Does my husband have to set up
with corpse three nights a week ."
she asked, her eyes flashing fire. edo
you keep lot of sick Masons on tap
for my husband to set up with the
other three nights ?"
"The prominent Mason said he was
thankful that few NIasons died, and
only occasionally one was sick enough
to call for Masonic assistance. "But
why do you ask these questions, mad
am:" asked the prominent Mason.
The woman picked the fringe of her
shawl, hung her head down, and said
"Weil, my husband begun to join
the Masons about two years ago, and
he has been taking degrees or sitting
up with people ever since, and he
comes home at all time Of the night,
smelling of beer and cheese. 1 thought
at first that the cheese was the result
of his going to the morgue to help
carry brother Masons home after they
had been found in the river. He has
come twice with the wrong pair of
drawers on, and when asked him
how it was, he said it was secret he
could not reveal under penalty of be-
ing shot with cannon. All he would
say was that he took degree. have
kept little track of it, and l figure
that he has taken 233 degrees, includ-
ing the grand Sky Fugle degree, which
he took the night he came home with
his lip cut and his ear hanging by q
piece Of skin"
go, madam" said the prominent
Mason, sthere is no Sky Fugie degree
in Masonry your husband has lied to
YOU"
"Thats what l Think" said she, as
Il baleful light appeared in her eye.
"l1e said he was taking the Sky Fugle
degree, and fell through the sky-light.
1 had him scwed up, and he was ready
for moro degrees. After he had taken,
l should think, about Il hundred and
fifty degrees. | told him / should
think he would let up on it, and put
some potatoes in tho cellar for winter
but he said when Il man got started on
the degrees he had to take them all, or
he didn't amount to anything. One
timc l wanted Il hat to wear to church
with feather ON it, and he said feath-
crs were all nonsense, and next day he
brought homea leather case with Il felt
coalskuttle in it, and a feather on it
that couldn't have cost less than ten
dollars, the way l figure millinery.
And when he put it on and / laughed
Mt his ridiculous appearance he began
to throw his arms around, and asked
him what was the matter, and he said
that was the first hailing sign of dis
tress, and if I didn't look out an aven-
ger would appear from dark closet
and run a toadsticker through me for
a scoffer. Ho must have spent for
tune on the hundred and fifty degrees
One morning he came home with his
coat-tail split right up the back, and
his pants torn justas though dog had
cheWed him, and one eye closed up,
and wad of hair pulled right out of
his head, and he said he had been taxi
ing the 200th degree, but he wouldn't
tell me how it happened, because it
was adead secret. Sometimes a broth
Mason comes home with him early in
the morning, and they talk about a
sfulffush,' and they both act full as
they stand on the steps aud talk about
their 'pat hands, and raising 'em
out and calling and 'bob-tail fiush.'
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 raising purse
for poor widow. Another time he
raised up in bed, after he had been
asleep, and shouted, q stand pat,' and
when 1 asked him what it meant he
said he was ruined if told of 1t. He
said he had spoken the password, and
if the brethren heard of it they would
put him out of the way even as Nor
gan was put out of the way. Mister,
is Il stand pat your password ?''
The Mason told her that 1t 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 that her husband was a
Mason at all, but he had been lying to