St. Paul daily globe., 1892-07-03

cluded. They said it was to be ''g'r's
secret society. and they solemnly de-
clared they were going to have it that
way or not at all. For about an hour
the young ladies sat and cOhverSed, yet
no one had the courage to propose an
organization. At last. however, one of
them suggested that tn ey get to work.
They knew they ought to have presi-
dent, but how to elect ne was the ques-
ton.
One girl said she had heard her father
say that all presidents ought to be
elected by popular vote. So they Sc
lected a young lady whom they conSid-
cred a faYorite with every one, and she
declared which one of their number
should be presiding officer, and thus the
president was elected bya popular vote
Next secretary was chosen by the
voice of the whole assembly. 1t tickled
the girls immensely to vote, and after
they said "Yes!" or ''Non' they would
all laugh for the space Of about five
min nteS.
When order was permanently restored
the president announced that ques-
ton was open for discussion. The
words had hardly time to escape her
lips before sixteen girls leaped from
their chairs and sixteen simultaneous
voices shouted: "Mr. Presidentn'
The scene that followed beggars the
pen. Imagine sixteen girls ali making
a speech on the same subject at the
same time. The president raped and
rerapped on the table and tried to bring
them to order, but her voice as we'll as
the sound of the gavel was lost in the
din. 1t was evident the debaters were
we'll prepared for the discussion, for as
time wore Oh they warmed up to the
made the ceiling rattle. The lamp be-
gan to sway, the scriptural notices that
hung on the wall rose and fell, and
every now and then Il chair would be
sent furiouSly across the room as an eX-
cited speaker advanced nearer to the
front.
Fine bending of sixteen pairs of arms
in unceaSing gestlculatiOns confused
and daZzled the eye like the revolving
OF rapid machinery. and added but direr
confusion to the babel that fell upon
the ear. Occasionally two opposing
arms would become entwined as they
there was an instant pause in that
locality, and eyes would gaze back on
eyes that glared with the fire of debate.
Sometimes fair debater would stop
| for second at the end of sentence to
catch her breath and see what effect her
OratOry was having on the rest: but
when she saw that they all rushed
hcedlessly on she plunged once more
into the maddening speech, and her
voice was heard above the roar.
The president, a good talker herself,
| had at last yielded to the fearful odds
against her and sank back into her seat
| wrapped in silence and despair; the
| secretary buried her face in her hands
fIrnCn SlYtnQD "
| freighted orators floated gallantly on
over the stormy waves of debate. But
| as time wore by natures exhausted
| forces began to rebel, and at last, like
| the deacOn'S wonderful one-horse shay,
| there was grand collapse, and the
whole sixteen in the same instant
| dropped painting from the ranks.
| After fearful silence of about min
| ute one of the girls got up to remark
that she thought it was perfectly dis
| gusting for all the other girls to COM
! speak, to which there followed an ex-
| cited chorus of voices whic SAID plainly,
| although the words were not diStin-
| gulshable, that each one was under the
| same impression.
By a powerful use of the gavel, aided
by her foot, the president was able to
| quell the mutterlngS of this second
storm and declare peace in Warsaw
again. The armiStice, however, was OF
j short duration. The girls began to call
for the decision of the chair. Each one
| was sure she had made the best points,
and felt her brow warming to the laurel.
| The president arose and in a few
words stated that she could not decide
the question from the fact that she had
not been able to distinguish single
| word that WAS said.
That was enough. The last syllable
was still lingering on her lips when
! pandemonium broke loose again. Cries
of Treason" rent the air, and in great
throng they made for that president
and brought her down from the chair
with force of arms. The scene was in
| describable. The widest excitement
| prevailed, and amid the confusion,
while battle cries and shouts filed the
| room, the reporter made good his
| escape, and once more in the open all
| faltered thanks to heaven for life.
And this is the story of how the
"Girl's Secret" society rose, fouriShed
| and decayed in single night.
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