The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-02
TOOK 233 DEGREES. "
Her Husband Had Deceived Her Badly, but
His Game IL Up Forsvsr-shs VIII Give
Him Degree That VIII Psralyss Him
His skyfugls Story.


net and her hands puckered up and
blue. as though she had just got her
washing out went into the office OF
prominent Mason few mornings
since. says Peck's Sun. and took
chair.
She wiped her nose and the per-
SEPARATION from her face on blue
checked apron. and when the Mason
looked at her with an interested.
brotherly look. as though she was In
trouble. she said:
Are you the boss MasonP"
He Flushed and told her he was a
Mason, but not the highestin the land.
She hesitated moment fingered
the corner OF her apron, and curled IL
up like boy speaking piece In
school. and asked
Have you taken the whole 233 de-
grees OF Masonry"
The man laughed and told her there
were 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. aud they had 10 go TO
New York TO get the thirty-third de-
gree.
The lady studied n minute. unpinned
the safety pin that held her shawl to-
gether and put It In her mouth. took a
long breath. and said;
Where does my husband get the
other 200 degrees. thenP"
The prominent Mason said he
guessed her husband never got 200 de-
grees. unless he had degree factory.
lie said he didn't understand the lady.
docs my husband have TO sit up
with a corpse three nights week?"
she asked. her eyes flashing fire. ''Do
you keep a lot OF sick Masons on tap
for my husband to sit up withP"
The prominent Mason said he was
thankful that few Masons died. and
and only occasionally was one sick
enough 10 call for Masonic assistance.
When Mason was sick. and was away
from home. or when his family desired
1t. the brethren were only too glad to
sit up with him. but there were SO
many Masons and SO few sick that II
was only once In two or three months
that brother was called upon 10 sit
up with anybody.
''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 10 join
the Masons about two years ago; and
he has been taking degrees or sitting
up with people every night since. and
he comes home at all times OF the
night 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.
II have kept little track OF 1t. and
! figure that he has taken 233 degrees,
including the grand skyfugle degree.
which he took the night he came home
with his lip cut and his ear hanging
by q piece OF skin"
''Oh. madam" said tho prominent
Mason. There Ia no skyfugle degree
In Masonry. Your husband has lied
TO you"
That's what l think" said She as
baleful light appeared In her eye.
HE said he was taking the sky fugle
degree and fell through the slsylight.
l had him sewed up. and he was ready
for more degrees,
After he had taken thirk. about
$50 degrees. l told him | should think
he would let up on II aud put some
potatoes In the cellar for the winter.
but be- said when a man once got
started on the degrees he had TO take
them all or ne didn't amount To any
thing.
'sOne time I wanted hat TO wear
TO church with feather on II. and he
said feathers were all nonsense; aud
the next day he brought home a
leather case with n felt coal-scuttle
la H. and feather on II that couldn't
have cost less than sl0. the way
figure millinery. And when no put Il
on and ] laughed at his ridiculous
Appearance he began 10 throw his
arms around and ! asked him what
was the matter. and he said IL was the
grand hailing sign OF distress. and II !
didn't look out an avenger would ap-
pear from dark closet and run q