The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-26
HUNTING FOR r.

MIR. OFlannigan's Report of the Proceedings
of the Geographical Society.
New York sun.
This is O'Flannigans account Of it as he told
| it to me- have made no alterations, being un-
! willing to take any responsibilities upon myself
| in matter of such Importance He said:
There are more fools in the world than you
would think for. When our geographical soci-
ETY. met last we found that we had got hold Of
one. This was the new member. SO ! just set
| it down as maxim. then, that if fools can work
their way into even geographical society, there
4 isn't any place that's safe against them. How
ever, that's neither here nor there; simply men
ton it in passing; it hasn't anything to do with
what started out to tell you about
Well as was saying before, was loaded up
solid with my sublime project. was Tester
ing volcano of excitement. 1t was as much as
could do to hold in until my turn should come. And
when it did come, at last, Twas in such state
that could only pant it out in broken phrases
with gaspings for breath between. 1t made an
immense stir. 1t was received with prodigious
favor. The end of every sentence was drowned
in applause. closed ysaying:
SO, gentlemen, my project, in word, is to
| send out discovery expedition to search for a
new and director road to Hail. pronounced it
| hail. out Of Difference to the society, all the
members being religious; but you can pronounce
| it your own way
81 sat down amid a storm of applause which
| lasted several minutes, during which my hand
was wrung by throng after throng of geog
raphers, who said my idea was the grandest one
| OF the age, and would make my name immortal
Quiet was hardly. restored when the new
member spoke up and said:
But who wants to go to HaiF He pro-
nouneed 1t the old way
! 1T was most strange question. Members
| glanced at each other In surprised and some
| what affronted way, and said nothing. Then
| the new member spoke up again:
i Nobody wants to go to Hail; nobody wants
to travel any road to Hail; so where in the ma
ton IS the use IN hunting up q new one!
i After an awkward pause the president said
| with cold and cruel blandness of tone and
manner:
1t is evident that our new acquisition Is
not familiar with the ways of geographical
societies. If he will reflect moment, it may
occur to him that his question need be changed
in words only, not in sense to read, 'sWhere
is the use in searching for the northwest pass
! age?7'
!" Tt was an awful shot Ipitied the poor ass
with all my heart; and could see that Others
did, too, though naturally we couldn't help
! enjoying the annihilating completeness of the
| presidents retort. But what do you think2 1t
never phazed the new member at all He didn't
know he was hit-he actually didn't. No, he
/ looked up as sweet and innocent as the child I'M
born, and says:
6 In my day have wanted to ask that very
question as much as upward of half million
times.
IF he didn't say it, wish may never STIR.
And he didn't stop there, either, but goes right
| on as calm as anything, and says
HWhat do you want Of a northwest passage,
\ anyway, after you've got ito Do you calculate
| that anybody is going to use itg
Use itf says the president. who saw that
4 sarcasm was wasted on this nunhse11ll and