Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-01-14

| pered to Mrs. Van Klubber, who was
| sitting at little distance trying to look
| unconscious, and succeeding about as
well as man who knows that he will
be called on for the next 'extemporanc.
| GUS speech at banquet, and is afraid
he hasn't learned it thoroughly. 1t was
a very unparliamentary proceeding all
around, anyway. l read up about it
last night, and | think l could have
them all impeached If it were worth
while"
"Really"
Nancy" in warning tone from Mrs.
Van Klevver, you remember what |
said about adjourning our friendship"
"Pll try, dear, but l was SO interest
ed"
so was |. People began whispering
and wondering what was the matter.
The woman back of me snlckered.
"I'll bet that Mrs. Caucus is elect
ed,' she said. We'll, l don't like her,
but | wouldn't mind seeing the machine
defeated"
THE machine" inquired Miss De
Korus.
"Yes."
whats thaty"
"Why, that's-well, In this case it was
Mrs. Van. That'll do for the present
| haven't looked up it's general applica-
ton yet. know it was Mrs. Van be-
cause she really was beaten"
you don't say so!'
"Bravo Nancy! Youll work up to
Maud's eloquence before I'm through
Yes, she was"
"And that frumpy Mrs. Caucus elect
ed?"
"Why, no. Mrs. Caucus wasn't really
in it. She had only five votes. But let
me tell you. After lot of whispering
and excitement Mrs. Brown went back
to the chair and banged the table with
little wooden hammer and asked the
meeting to come to order. There was
n dead silence.
"'The tellers have counted the votes
and will announce the result said Mrs
Brown in a sort of stunned, bewildered
way.
"Then Mrs. Smith got up.
""The result of the vote for president
is as follows (you know how she always
pipes up): Mrs. Van Klcvver, 20 votes;
Mrs. Van Klubber, II, and Mrs. eau
Gus, s.
"Wep there was funny murmur
through the room and Mrs. Brown hit
the table till she was red in the face.
"This meeting will please come to
order she said. And then, when they
had quicted down she went on: Mrs.
Katherine Van Klevver has been duly
elected president of the club. Of
course, if Mrs. Van Klevyer wishes to
withdraw, not having been consulted,
as | believe, in adyance-why-er-
how is that Mrs. Van KlevverT she
has located me and was leaning over
the table in my direction.
"There was nothing to be done but
face the music, because, l tell you,
Nancy, l wasn't going to be railroaded
that's what Jack said-out of Office
by that crowd. So got up and as did
[ turned around and gave a sort of
confidential and appealing wink to the
women back of me. the ones who had
elected me without knowing it."
"What could you-what Gid you say?'
demanded Miss De Korus.
well, in the first place, said
'Ahom! All public speakers do that.
Didn't you ever notice that? Yes,
said: 'Ahem! Mrs. Chairman'-I(
caught on to that much!-'while this
honor is, as you know'-emphasis on
undeserved'-I gave the women back Of
me another look over my shoulder
where was |? Oh, yes!-'undeseryed,
would not be guilty Of such lack of
appreciation as to decline it.
Somehow, the audience began to see
that it was Il joke, and they liked it.
You know those women who are al
ways at the head of things get TO be so
overbearng that people get tired of it,
and the audience was simply tickled to
death to have the leaders beaten at
their own game. The women clapped
and said 'Bravor and Hear! hearr"
"And what did you do?" asked Miss
De Korus rapturously.
"Oh, l bowed to the right and the left
as if | were presidential candidate
United States president, | mean-and
said 'Ahemr again. Mrs. Brown bang
ed the table some more. She thought
was going to get out of it some way"
"And how did you"
"IIow did 1? didn't. I'm in it. and
mean to stay in it as long as want to-.
I'll show them how TO run club as
they've never seen one run before"
But you don't know anything about
parliamentary practice"
"What If l don't? They don't know
much themselves. And I'm their presi-
dent, anyway! They can't get around
that. Why, Jack said last night that l
| don't even have to recognize them If |
don't want to, and they won't dare say
a word"
what does Jack think about it?"
"Oh, he says I'm great, simply great!