Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-04-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
Two Many Degrees.

The middle3aged lady, with a black
alpaca dress, worn shiny at the
elbows, and a cheap shawl, and a
cheap bonnet,o and her hands all
puckered up and blue, as though she
had just got her washing out, went
into the office of prominent Mason
a few mornings since, and took a
chair. She said:
''Are you the Boss Mason2''
lie blushed, told her he was a Ma
son but not the highest in the land.
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.
The other degree could only be taken
by 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, and said:
''Where does my husband get the
other two hundred degrccs!''
The prominent Mason said he
guessed her husband never got two
hundred degrees, unless he had de-
gree factory He said he didn't un-
derst;;nd t::c lady.
+tEoes my husband have to set up
with corpse three nights week 20
she asked, her eyes flashing fire.
do you keep lot of sick Masons
on tap for my husband 10 set up with
f,0sa nfI,cT- fI,roo
The prominent Mason said he was
thankful that few Masons died, and
only occasionally one was sick enough
to call for Masonic assistance. ''But
why do you ask these questions,
madam" said the prominent Mason.
The woman picked the fringe off
her shawl, Lung her head down, and
said:
''Wcll, my husband begun to join
the MaSons about two years ago, and
he has been taking degrees or setting
up with people ever since, and he
comes home at all time OF the right,
smelling of beer and cheese 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. lie has
come twice with the wrong pair OF
drawers on, and when 1 asked him
how it was, he said it was Il secret
he could not reveal under penalty of
being shot with cannon. All he
would say was. that he took degree.
1 have kept little tract of It, and i
fiCrIra hot lao 1Nac- %nl- Il
including the grand Sky Fuglc de-
gree, which he took the night he came
home with his lip cut and his car
hanging by piece of skim
go, madam" said the prominent
Mason, .'there is no Sky Fugle degree
in Masonry; your husband has lied
to you.''
s.That's what I Think said she,
as balefuI light appeared in her
eye. ''iIe said he was taking the
Sky FugEc degree, and fell through
the sky light. / had him sewed up.
and he was ready for moro degrees.
After he had taken, L should think.
about hundred and fifty degrees.
told him L should think he would let
up on it, ard put some potatoes in
the cellar for winter; but he said
when man got started on the degrees
he had to take them all, or he didn't
amount to anything. One time i
wanted hat to wear to church with
feather on it, and he said feathers
were all nonsense, and next day he
brought home leather case with 4
felt coaiskuttle in it, and a feather
OH it that couldn't have cost less
than ten dollars, the way 1 figure
millinery. And when he put it on
and L laughed at his ridiculous ap-
pcarance, he began to throw his arms
around, and 1 asked him what vas
the matter, and he said that was the
first hailing sign of distress, and if
didn't look ou0 an ayenger would ap-
pear from dark closet and run a
toadstielbeT through NE for scoffer.
He must have spent fortune on the
hundred and Fifty degrees. One
morning he came home with. his coat
tail split right up the back, and his
pants torn just as though dog had
chewed him, and one eye closed up,
and a wad of hair pulled right ont
of his head, and he said he had been
taking the 2OOth degree but he
wouldn't tell NE how it happened,
because it was dead secret. Some
times n brother Mason comes homo
with him early in the morning. and
they talk about 'ful-fush,' and they
botF act full as they stand on the
steps and talk about their pat hands,
and raising 'em OUT and calling,
'bob-tial fiush-' One night when he