The San Francisco call., 1895-11-16

famous. 1t will not be because Mr.. Red
ding has been without invitations, for
that is not the fact. he has been showered
with them; so many, indeed. that he
knows not which one to accept.
No one who really appreciates Mr.. Red
ding would dare say that he is not per-
fectly able to accept them all if it were a
mere matter of being present, but the dis
comfort that confronts Mr.. Redding is
caused by not knowing which one to ac-
cept first.
The fact that Mr.. Redding is such a
Jolly good fellow is really no fault of his,
nor is' he to blame for being in such de-
mand. A long life of modesty hath pre-
vailed him not, and be is at present
plunged into a ouandary regarding the
wisdom Of move that he is very soon due
| to make.
That portion of the Bohemian Club
known as the Moulin Rouge has stated in
distinct and definite terms that they ex-
pect Mr.. Redding to dine with them previ-
Gus to his departure SO that he can be
properly ushered into his Pullman sleeper
by the true disciples of the real Bohemia.
Mr. Redding hesitated:
On the same day he received an invita-
tion from the knights of the Round Table,
who announced some years ago (wlthln
Mr.. Redding's hearing, it rs claimed), that
no branch of Bohemia was SO thoroughly
in touch with all that was written in the
ritual of the order. as the Knights of the
Round Table. Whether the "all nights of
the branch were referred to has never been
definitely known, but those who belong
are supposed, to understand. They de-
cided in most solemn convention assem-
bled that Mr.. Redding should dine with
them>ere he took up his folding-bed and
walked East. They not only came to the
conclusion that he would hear their
would be countenanced. Mr.. .Redding
was invited.
l. Mr.. Redding hesitated.
"And it. is written saith the Officia
Board, "that our brother and friend shall
sit at our table, drink of our wassail, eat of
our meat and partake of our cheer, for
with Joseph D, we are in hip and thigh,
cheek by iowl and bot by mug. We are
the archangels of the Temple of the
Mighty Spread, and by the owl that blink
eth there are none others. And it is writ
ten,'' further saith the Official Board,
that our brother and companion shall
gather with us at the Temple of the
Mighty Spread, and that the feast shall be
prolonged into the dawning. Thus Horace
Platt hath spoken. Selah."
Still Mr.. Redding hesitated.
AS matter of fact, he still hesitates,
and his brain throbs with the emotion
that this enormous influx of invitations
has awakened. The Moulin Rouge crowd
say that he will go out into the world
blasted and notified with the fever of con-
triton if he dimes with either of the other
two elements, and that he will be forever
hooded in the years to come.
The Knights of the Round Table curl
their lip and scoff aloud at the prospect of
any one else assuming that Mr. Redding
will sit at their board for farewell dinner.
They are of the belief that such accept
ance on the part of the favored one would
be a fitting excuse to deprive Mr.. Redding
of his armor that he has worn with such
credit to himself in the past.
The Official Board stands by and in
stately way pusheth aside all fears regard
ing Mr.. Reddlng's ultimatum. They say
that he will repair to the redroom and
there with quill and ink issue a manifesto
telling the lower lights to get into the be-
bic.
In the meantime Mr.. Redding is still hes
itating.
The three factions are making all neces-
sary. arrangements to properly dine the
much sought after Joseph D., and each one
is confident that he will be present at the
appointed place and hour. ALI the deli
cacies the market affords will be on tap
and wine will be of the earliest vintage.
Mr. Redding is feeling his way with eau
ton and when he signifies his choice there
will be a pair of defeated and disappointed
walls waited up-or down-that can be
heard in Milpitas. The strife is reaching
a climax and the greatest gourmets' war
ever waged in the Bohemian Club is now on.
Whether the Moulin Rouge, the Round
Table or the Official Board will win is